On-site Observations at the Osaka INTERMOLD Mold Exhibition

The Osaka INTERMOLD Mold Exhibition, held from April 15 to 17, exhibited a gradual increase in human traffic. The first day primarily focused on industry exchanges and information gathering, with a steady flow of professional visitors. Starting from the second day, human traffic in various exhibition areas significantly increased, with the precision mold materials section attracting the highest number of buyers. Inquiries were highly concentrated on tungsten carbide products.

This surge in on-site inquiries reflects the current tight supply situation of tungsten carbide in Japan. Multiple traders with deep experience in the Japanese market revealed during exchanges that, due to factors such as reduced upstream mineral resources and limited local processing capacity, Japan's domestic tungsten carbide inventory continues to tighten. It is estimated that by around May 2026, the inventory of commonly used grades of tungsten carbide will gradually bottom out, and the market supply gap will continue to widen. "In the past, we could meet production needs by preparing stock one month in advance. Now, we need to coordinate at least three months ahead, and even then, it is difficult to guarantee timely access to sufficient supplies,"lamented a procurement manager from a Tokyo-based mold manufacturer. As a core raw material for stamping mold production, the stability of tungsten carbide supply directly impacts the production progress of precision mold manufacturing. The current inventory crisis has left many Japanese mold manufacturers struggling with production and stockpiling.

Notably, Japanese buyers still exhibit a strong preference for brands. Even though Chinese suppliers' tungsten carbide products are comparable to Japanese domestic brands in terms of core performance indicators such as hardness and wear resistance, and even offer advantages in supply efficiency, buyers still prioritize confirming whether the products are from Japanese domestic brands. This preference stems from the long-established supply chain collaboration habits in Japanese manufacturing, where buyers are more familiar with the quality control and supply standards of domestic brands and tend to prioritize working with known brands.

However, under the practical pressure of inventory shortages and limited supply sources, many buyers have begun to relax their procurement standards and actively explore the products and supply capabilities of high-quality overseas suppliers. Our company, with its ample inventory of tungsten carbide, attracted significant attention from buyers at this exhibition. In response to the imminent inventory shortage in the Japanese market by May, we prepared stock in advance and maintain sufficient quantities of commonly used grades of tungsten carbide, enabling us to quickly meet buyers' spot demands. Compared to the generally long delivery cycles in the market, our self-owned inventory eliminates the need for lengthy raw material procurement and production processing, giving us a clear advantage in delivery times.

At the same time, we have always maintained rational pricing. Although affected by fluctuations in the international raw material market, our prices have seen minor increases, they remain far below the premium levels of scarce supplies in the market, making our quotations more stable and reasonable. Leveraging the advantages of ample inventory, short delivery times, and affordable prices, we successfully engaged in in-depth discussions with multiple Japanese buyers, laying the foundation for future long-term cooperation.

The Osaka Mold Exhibition not only allowed us to witness the tight supply situation in the Japanese tungsten carbide market but also helped us understand the core needs of overseas customers for stable supply and cost-effective mold materials. In the future, we will continue to ensure stable tungsten carbide inventory, meet the supply demands of the global precision mold industry with high-quality products and efficient services, and help customers overcome production material challenges.