Rwanda’s largest mining company, Trinity Metals, said exports from its Nyakabingo Tungsten Mine now account for up to 20 percent of the United States’ monthly consumption of primary tungsten concentrate.
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In a statement on Wednesday, June 17, the company said that more than 320 tonnes of high-grade tungsten concentrate have been shipped from Rwanda to the US since a commercial supply arrangement involving US-based Global Tungsten & Powders (GTP) and Trinity Metals&039; offtake partner and commodities trader Traxys was launched in August 2025.
The concentrate is processed at GTP’s facility in Pennsylvania into tungsten powders used in defence, aerospace, and other industrial applications.
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According to Trinity Metals, a recent increase in shipments has doubled the volume supplied to GTP, pushing the company’s share of America’s monthly primary tungsten concentrate requirements to as much as one-fifth.
The development comes as the US seeks to diversify supply chains for strategic minerals amid growing global demand and Rwanda&039;s ambitions to increase minerals exports.
"Demand for tungsten in the US is growing fast, both for defence and industrial applications," said Shawn McCormick, chairman of Trinity Metals, noting that the US currently has no domestic production of primary tungsten concentration.
He said Rwanda is becoming an increasingly important supplier of fully traceable and certified conflict-free tungsten to the US market, adding that the company aims to triple production in the coming years.
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"As Rwanda’s largest mineral producer and exporter, Trinity Metals is proud to support Rwanda’s role in helping to meet America’s strategic requirements, and given the ever-growing importance of critical minerals, we see a clear opportunity for the creation of a US-Rwanda Strategic Partnership Agreement on Critical Minerals as exists with other countries on the continent."
Trinity Nyakabingo Mine is Africa’s largest tungsten producer and Rwanda’s biggest mineral exporter.
The latest milestone builds on a historic breakthrough achieved last year when the first direct shipment of tungsten concentrate from Rwanda arrived in the United States, establishing a new supply route between Rwanda’s mining sector and American industry.
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In a post on X, the Rwanda Mines, Petroleum and Gas Board (RMB) welcomed the development, commending the company for the milestone.
RMB said that initiative like the one involving Trinity Metals "strengthen sector performance, drive sustainable growth, and reinforce the country&039;s position as a reliable global supplier of critical minerals."
Traxys Head of Tin and Specialty Metals, Ioannis Kallinikos, commended the supply of the Rwandan tungsten to the US market.
"Traxys is proud to be the catalyst in enabling the international reach of Africa’s most significant tungsten producer, Trinity Metals’ Nyakabingo Mine," Kallinikos said.
"The product is distributed to established blue-chip consumers in the American and European markets."
Trinity Metals was formed in 2022 through the merger of three mines, Nyakabingo Tungsten Mine, Rutongo Tin Mine, and Musha Tin and Tantalum Mine.