South Korea’s Sangdong Mine Produces First Saleable Tungsten Concentrate

First Saleable Tungsten Concentrate Marks a New Production Stage

Almonty Korea Tungsten Corp. has produced the first bulk bag of saleable tungsten concentrate at the Sangdong Mine in Yeongwol County, Gangwon Province, South Korea. The initial production totals about 1 tonne and is ready for shipment, marking a transition from project commissioning to commercial operations.

Final Certification Clears the Way for Commercial Processing

The first saleable concentrate follows the issuance of mining facility inspection certificates on September 17 for the Sangdong processing plant and crushing facilities. The facilities were inspected by the Korea Mine Rehabilitation and Mineral Resources Corporation on September 14 and were found to meet the relevant requirements. The certification allows Almonty Korea Tungsten to commercially process ore from the mine into tungsten concentrate for domestic supply and overseas export.

Processing Plant Moves From Commissioning to Production

The Sangdong processing operation uses crushing, grinding and flotation to separate tungsten-bearing material from mined ore. Development of the processing facilities began with engineering work in 2020, followed by construction from 2021. Key grinding equipment, including a semi-autogenous grinding mill and a ball mill, was installed in 2024, while ore was placed on the run-of-mine pad during 2025 as the company worked to stabilize the production process.

Output Will Increase as Production Stabilizes

Almonty Korea Tungsten plans to gradually increase production as the processing operation becomes more stable. The company said it expects to supply customers in South Korea and overseas markets once the production process has been sufficiently established. The first saleable concentrate therefore represents the beginning of the production ramp-up rather than full-scale output.

Most Phase I Production Is Already Under Long-Term Contract

Sangdong's initial production is already substantially covered by a long-term offtake agreement with Global Tungsten & Powders, a member of Austria's Plansee Group. The agreement was amended in July 2026 to extend the term to 21 years from first delivery and increase the total contracted volume to 4.41 million metric tonne units of tungsten concentrate. Following the production ramp-up, the minimum contracted volume is 210,000 MTU per year, covering more than 90% of Phase I production.

Sangdong Adds New Tungsten Supply to the Global Market

With the processing plant now authorized for commercial operation and the first saleable concentrate prepared for shipment, Sangdong has entered a new stage in its development. The mine is expected to progressively increase output and supply both domestic and international customers, adding a new source of tungsten concentrate to global supply outside China.