US invites proposals to boost supply of tungsten and 12 other critical minerals

The US military is seeking proposals to expand domestic production of 13 critical minerals used in defense and high‑tech applications. The initiative aims to reduce reliance on foreign supply chains amid heightened geopolitical tensions and growing risks to global commodities trade.

Key takeaways:

• The US military is seeking proposals to expand domestic production of 13 critical minerals vital for defense and high‑tech applications.

• Heightened geopolitical tensions, including US‑Israel strikes on Iran, are increasing urgency around securing reliable mineral supply chains.

• Tightening global supply and national‑security concerns have already driven price volatility, with minerals such as tungsten seeing sharp increases.

US military requests proposals to boost critical mineral supply

The US military, via the Defense Industrial Base Consortium (DIBC), announced that the US military has invited companies to submit proposals for projects to boost domestic supplies of 13 critical minerals essential for defense and other applications, according to a document published by the DIBC on Friday February 27, first reported by Reuters.

The list of 13 minerals includes arsenic, samarium, bismuth, tungsten, gadolinium, vanadium, germanium, ytterbium, graphite, yttrium, hafnium, zirconium and nickel.

Potential projects include solutions for raw mineral sourcing, separation and processing, metal production, alloying, and recycling, among others, the document showed.

All proposals must be submitted by Friday March 20, the DBIC said.

Tungsten prices surge on security concerns

Defense applications use tungsten in several ways, including in missile stabilization systems and anti‑drone ammunition.

Prices of tungsten surged in 2025 due to tighter export controls and rising national security concerns, Fastmarkets reported.

Fastmarkets’ weekly price assessment for tungsten APT 88.5% WO3 min cif Rotterdam and Baltimore duty-free was $1,890-1,998 per mtu WO3 on Friday February 27, up by 9.52% from $1,650-1,900 per mtu WO3 the week before.

Role of the DIBC vs. DLA

The DIBC has the aim of incentivizing and developing US supply chains for critical minerals essential for national security and defense applications, according to the organization.

The DIBC is distinct from the Defense Logistics Agency (DLA), which handles procurement for the US National Defense Stockpile (NDS).

The US and Israel began a series of strikes against Iran one day after the document was published.

Conflict involving Iran and other parties across the Middle East has created uncertainty for global commodity trade and logistics, with freight markets closely monitoring developments affecting key transport routes.

Rising geopolitical tensions add urgency

The DBIC’s request forms part of a broader US government push to boost supplies of various critical materials.

The US government has ramped up its efforts to stockpile critical materials for its national stockpile and invested in several projects producing them, especially over the past two years.

Part of broader US push to build strategic resilience

The latest example of the US stockpiling drive was the publication of several Requests for Information (RFIs) by the DLA on Wednesday March 4, with the intention of procuring nickel, lithium, chromium, tin and tellurium.