The first-ever direct shipment of Rwandan tungsten arrived in Pennsylvania. The delivery, made by Trinity Metals, reached Global Tungsten and Powders (GTP) on Tuesday, September 30, 2025.
The Embassy of Rwanda in Washington confirmed the arrival, describing the development as a turning point for Rwanda’s position in global supply chains.
“This direct Rwanda-US shipment of tungsten marks an important step in strengthening our bilateral trade ties and highlights Rwanda’s position as a trusted supplier of critical minerals,” the embassy said.
The consignment was received at GTP’s facilities in Towanda, Pennsylvania, where the tungsten will be refined into high-quality powders and carbide products.
GTP, part of Austria’s Plansee Group, has been processing tungsten for more than a century and supplies advanced materials for aerospace, defense, and high-performance manufacturing industries.
The agreement between Trinity Metals and GTP was signed in August, paving the way for Rwanda’s tungsten to enter the American market directly for the first time. Speaking at the event, Trinity Metals Chairman Shawn McCormick welcomed the achievement.
“It is an honor to see our material from Rwanda here at one of the largest tungsten processors in the world being converted into products that will help make America safer, stronger, more prosperous. In turn, the nearly 7,000 employees of Trinity Metals and government of Rwanda will benefit from such market access and the deepening of strategic ties between the two countries,” he said.
Executives at GTP and the Plansee Group also celebrated the shipment. Eric Rowe, Plansee Group’s Director of Global Raw Materials, described it as a landmark moment.
“We welcome this initial shipment of responsibly produced tungsten raw material to our mix and the American critical minerals supply chain. It is truly a historic moment to witness the arrival of this product in America from Rwanda,” he said.
The shipment also drew praise from Traxys, the global commodities firm that facilitated the deal. “Traxys is proud to be the catalyst in enabling the reach of Africa’s most significant tungsten producer, Trinity Nyakabingo Mine, to a consumer of the caliber of GTP,” said Ioannis Kallinikos, the company’s Head of Tin and Specialty Metals.
Trinity Metals, formed in 2022 from the merger of three historic Rwandan mines, operates the Nyakabingo Mine, Africa’s largest tungsten producer and the fourth-largest globally.
It produces about 120 tonnes of wolframite, the main tungsten-bearing mineral, each month. Beyond tungsten, the company is advancing exploration of lithium and benefits from support by the US International Development Finance Corporation to strengthen environmental and social standards across its operations.
Rwanda has emerged as a growing hub for conflict-free and responsibly sourced minerals. In 2024, mineral exports earned the country $1.7 billion, a remarkable rise from $373 million in 2017.
The government projects this figure to climb to $2.2 billion annually by 2029, with tungsten and other critical minerals playing a central role in that growth.
