Global molybdenum production rises year-on-year, says IMOA

Global use of molybdenum fell 1% to 138.5 mlbs when compared to the same quarter of the previous year, but rose 9% when compared to the previous quarter.

South America remained the largest producer of molybdenum at 53.3 mlbs. Production there rose 10% when compared to the same quarter of the previous year and 8% when compared to the previous quarter. China, the second largest producer, saw the only percentage fall in production, 12%, to 45.4 mlbs when compared to the same quarter of the previous year. This represented a 4% fall when compared to the previous quarter of the same year. North American production rose 13% to 37.3 mlbs when compared to the same quarter of the previous year, 2% when compared to the previous quarter. Production in other regions saw the largest percentage increase, 39%, to 13.5mlbs when compared to the same quarter of the previous year, however this represented a 9% fall when compared to the previous quarter.

Molybdenum use in all regions increased when compared to the previous quarter. However, China was the only region to see an increase in usage when compared to the same quarter of the previous year. China remained the largest user of molybdenum at 63 mlbs, a 15% rise when compared to the same quarter of the previous year and a 7% rise when compared to the previous quarter. Europe remained the second largest user at 27.6 mlbs, a 5% increase when compared to the previous quarter, but 9% lower than the same quarter of the previous year. Use in other regions increased 21% to 22.6 mlbs when compared to the previous quarter, but this represented a fall of 2% when compared to the same quarter of the previous year. The USA saw a 20% rise in use to 11.4 mlbs when compared to the previous quarter, although this represented a 19% drop in usage when compared to the same quarter of the previous year. Japan saw a 3% increase in usage to 10.5 mlbs when compared to the previous quarter, but a 19% fall in comparison to the same quarter of the previous year. CIS saw the greatest fall in usage, 30%, to 3.4 mlbs when compared to the same quarter of the previous year, however this was a rise of 5% when compared to the previous quarter.