Lianyou Metals Co., Ltd. (hereinafter referred to as “Lianyou Metals”) was founded in May 2018 as Taiwan’s first specialized manufacturer of rare metal raw materials—specifically tungsten and cobalt—produced through circular resource reutilization. Leveraging proprietary patented technologies, the company recycles, purifies, and refines secondary hardened alloys as well as tungsten and cobalt scrap, transforming them into high-quality raw materials for critical rare metal applications.
For Taiwan, a country lacking indigenous rare metal resources and reliant on imports, Lianyou Metals plays a strategic role in strengthening domestic self-sufficiency, filling gaps in the industrial supply chain, and mitigating raw material shortages.
Key Competitive Advantages
Technological Edge and Circular Economy Model
Lianyou Metals applies its proprietary hydrometallurgical technology and a suite of patented processes—including metal recovery, grinding, drying, electrolysis, and oxidation—to recycle and refine complex metal-bearing materials. Its energy-efficient, environmentally friendly operations integrate low energy consumption, high recovery yields, wastewater reuse, and reduced carbon emissions, enabling the effective transformation of challenging recycling inputs into high-quality tungsten and cobalt raw materials.
Anchored in the principles of the circular economy, Lianyou Metals pursues a zero-waste recycling strategy and pioneers the “urban mining” business model. Industrial by-products, such as secondary hardened alloys and secondary tungsten and cobalt resources, are recovered, smelted, and processed back into usable raw materials that re-enter the earliest stages of industrial production. By converting end-of-life resources into primary inputs, the company strengthens rare-metal resource security and advances the development of a closed-loop supply chain.
Industry Position and International Certifications
According to data from ITC Trademap.org, Lianyou Metals ranked second worldwide in export volume for tungstate products in 2024, underscoring its leadership in the global tungsten recycling market. With the introduction of U.S. reciprocal tariffs and Chinese export restrictions in 2025, rare and precious metals are increasingly recognized as strategic resources. In this context, Lianyou Metals’ export volumes are projected to surpass those of China, positioning the company as the world’s largest exporter and one of the few Taiwanese enterprises to achieve a leadership role in strategic resources.
Today, Lianyou Metals stands among the world’s top three sodium tungstate producers. The company has been certified by the Responsible Minerals Initiative (RMI) as a conflict-free smelter and has also received UL 2809 verification from UL Solutions, confirming 100% recycled metal content.
Main Products and Application Industries
Lianyou Metals’ core product is sodium tungstate, a critical upstream raw material in the tungsten value chain. It is extensively applied across strategic industries, including automotive components, aerospace engines, electronic parts, semiconductor packaging molds, medical equipment, precision machine tools, defense applications, and infrastructure.
Its subsidiary, Lianyou Resources Co., Ltd., has launched production of high-value battery-grade cobalt sulfate solution, a key material for electric vehicle batteries. Looking ahead, the company will expand its portfolio of advanced recycled cobalt products—such as refined cobalt carbonate, tricobalt tetroxide, and cobalt metal powder—which are widely used in hard alloys and magnetic materials and represent high-value, technology-intensive applications.
Future Outlook
Looking ahead, Lianyou Metals will continue to invest in technological innovation and strategic partnerships, with a focus on advancing high-value downstream applications of its tungsten and cobalt product lines. By fostering a circular economy for these two critical metals, the company aims to reduce dependence on natural resource extraction, lower overall consumption, and establish a closed-loop ecosystem for Taiwan’s strategic materials.
Through these efforts, Lianyou Metals is strengthening Taiwan’s self-sufficiency in key resources, expanding its international market presence, and positioning itself as a benchmark enterprise in advancing both industrial self-reliance and the green transformation of Taiwan’s manufacturing supply chain.