U.S. Strategic Push Fuels Optimism for Almonty Shares

A significant political development in the United States is creating favorable conditions for tungsten, a shift that rarely goes unnoticed by financial markets. The launch of a new initiative called "Project Vault" is generating considerable interest among suppliers of critical minerals, with Almonty Industries positioned as a direct beneficiary. This sentiment propelled the company's stock to a record high this week.

For investors, the core implication is the potential for a sustained boost in both demand and valuation, should tungsten receive enhanced state-backed support as a strategic commodity.

The immediate market reaction was underscored by a major analyst revision. Following the U.S. announcement, DA Davidson significantly raised its price target for Almonty to US$18.00, up from a previous target of US$12.00, while reiterating its "Buy" rating. The firm cited tightening global tungsten supply and the direct support mechanism provided by the new American stockpiling program as key reasons for the upgrade.

"Project Vault": A Geopolitical Catalyst

The primary momentum originates from Washington, where the U.S. government confirmed "Project Vault," a multi-billion dollar program designed to build a strategic reserve of critical minerals. Tungsten is explicitly listed within the initiative as a resource of high strategic importance.

The market logic is clear. The program aims to reduce dependency on foreign supply chains, with a particular focus on China, which currently dominates the global tungsten market. Consequently, investors are rapidly reassessing Almonty. According to the source material, the company is increasingly being valued not merely as a commodity producer, but as a potentially geopolitically relevant, non-Chinese source of tungsten oxide.

Should investors sell immediately? Or is it worth buying Almonty?

Sangdong Mine: A Key Operational Timeline

Alongside this external catalyst, a crucial company-specific milestone is approaching. Based on operational updates, the Sangdong tungsten mine in South Korea remains on schedule to achieve commercial production by the end of the first quarter of 2026.

A significant de-risking event noted in the source is the first delivery of ore to processing plants, which demonstrates that logistical systems are operational, thereby reducing execution uncertainty. Once fully ramped up, Sangdong has the potential to become one of the largest tungsten mines outside of China, perfectly aligning with the procurement goals of Western nations and the underlying rationale of "Project Vault."

The source indicates a clear valuation divergence within the mining sector: projects located in "friendly" jurisdictions like South Korea or Portugal command higher valuations than assets in higher-risk regions. Almonty is thus squarely positioned within the trend favoring supply chains from allied countries.

The end of Q1 2026 now stands as the next major focal point. This is when Sangdong is slated to transition to commercial operations—a timeline that coincides with a U.S. program explicitly enhancing tungsten's strategic status.