Austrian powder metallurgy leader Plansee and tungsten miner Almonty have extended their long-term tungsten concentrate supply agreement for the Sangdong mine in South Korea.One of the largest tungsten mines under construction globally, Sangdong is a cornerstone project in the Western effort to build a non-China tungsten supply chain. The agreement reinforces Plansee's vertical integration from mine to tungsten powder and cemented carbide, further enhancing its ability to secure supply of refractory metal powders (tungsten and tungsten alloys).Tungsten is a key raw material for refractory metal powders used in metal 3D printing, serving applications such as high-temperature molds, nuclear industry components, and military shielding parts. The shift toward locking in upstream mining resources reflects that competition in refractory metal powders has moved upstream to the mining stage.Value for powder buyers: (1) China accounts for roughly 80% of global tungsten supply; as Sangdong ramps up production, it will divert overseas demand for tungsten raw materials, affecting the competitive landscape of tungsten powder exports in the medium to long term. (2) Domestic tungsten powder producers should monitor export control policies and price differentials relative to overseas replacement capacity. (3) The ability to secure upstream raw materials is becoming a key criterion for international customers when selecting refractory metal powder suppliers.