The United States has received its first-ever shipment of tungsten concentrate from Rwanda, marking a significant milestone in Washington’s effort to diversify its supply chains for critical minerals essential to advanced technologies and clean energy.
The shipment, sourced from the Trinity Nyakabingo Mine, arrived at Global Tungsten and Powders’ (GTP) processing facility in Towanda, Pennsylvania, under a commercial partnership involving Trinity Metals, GTP, and Traxys.
The deal was finalized in August when Trinity Metals announced a commercial agreement to supply tungsten concentrate (WO₃) directly from its Nyakabingo Mine to the United States.
The signing ceremony was attended by U.S. Ambassador to Rwanda Eric Kneedler and Deputy Rwandan Ambassador to the United States Arthur Asiimwe, Business Insider Africa reported.
Trinity Metals Chairman Shawn McCormick described the milestone as a symbol of mutual benefit and deepening ties between the two countries.
“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,” he said.
“In turn, the nearly 7,000 employees of Trinity Metals and the government of Rwanda will benefit from such market access and the deepening of strategic ties between the two countries.”
Don’t Miss This
Rwanda And Uganda Invest Billions To Transform East Africa’s Aviation And Trade
Rwanda’s Embassy in Washington, D.C., confirmed that the tungsten shipment successfully arrived at GTP’s Pennsylvania facility.
“This direct Rwanda–US shipment of tungsten marks an important step in strengthening our bilateral trade ties and underscores Rwanda’s position as a trusted supplier of critical minerals,” the embassy said in a statement.
Rwanda has become one of Africa’s fastest-growing exporters of conflict-free minerals.
In 2024, the country earned $1.7 billion from mineral exports, up from $373 million in 2017, with projections to reach $2.2 billion by 2029.
Despite its success, Rwanda’s mining growth has been accompanied by regional political tensions, particularly with the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), which has accused Kigali of benefiting from minerals smuggled out of eastern Congo, allegations Rwanda denies.
Nevertheless, Rwanda’s structured and transparent mining sector has established it as a reliable source of ethically mined materials.
For Washington, the partnership goes beyond trade, reflecting a geopolitical strategy to reduce reliance on China for critical minerals.
The U.S. views Rwanda as a strategic partner in Africa’s Great Lakes region, and the U.S. International Development Finance Corporation (DFC) has already provided funding to support environmental and social governance programs at Trinity Metals, highlighting a broader engagement beyond commerce.
Analysts say the deal marks the beginning of a new phase in U.S.-African cooperation, one where resource diplomacy plays a central role in strengthening supply chain security, promoting peacebuilding, and advancing regional stability.
Don’t Miss This:
Tanzania, Rwanda Strengthen Ties With New Agreements On Trade And Transport
Image Credit: Global Trade Metal Portal
