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Molybdenum production and use fall in first quarter
11/07/2016
Global production of molybdenum decreased to 117.8 million pounds in the first quarter of 2016, down 5% from 124.1 million pounds in the previous quarter, and down 7% compared with the same period in 2015. Global use of molybdenum in the first quarter also fell to 121.2 million pounds, down 2% from 123.7 million pounds in the previous quarter and down 6% compared with the same period in 2015, figures released today by the International Molybdenum Association (IMOA) show.
South America remained the biggest producer, with 44.6 million pounds in the first quarter of 2016, down 1% from 45.1 million pounds in the previous quarter, but 33% greater than in the same period in 2015. Production in China fell from 39.5 million pounds in the last quarter of 2015 to 34.7 million pounds in the first quarter of 2016, a fall of 12%, and 22% less compared to the same period in 2015. Production in North America was 25.2 million pounds in the first quarter, down 12% from 28.8 million pounds in the previous quarter, and 33% less than in the same quarter in 2015. Production in other countries increased by 24% to 13.3 million pounds.
China remained the biggest user, at 38.6 million pounds in the first quarter of 2016, down 10% from 43.1 million pounds in the last quarter of 2015, and a fall of 13% compared to the same period in 2015. Europe was the second largest user at 33.4 million pounds, down 4% from 32.5 million pounds in the previous quarter, but up by 3% compared to the same period in 2015.
Usage in the USA was 13.8 million pounds, down 3% from 13.2 million pounds in the last quarter of 2015, but an increase of 4% compared to the same quarter in 2015, while usage in Japan fell by 7% to 11.9 million pounds, 11% less than in the same period last year. Usage in the CIS countries decreased slightly from 5.1 to 4.9 million pounds, while usage in other countries increased from 17.1 to 18.7 million pounds.
General information for media
IMOA is a non profit trade association, representing the majority of the molybdenum industry worldwide. It works to raise awareness about the unique properties of molybdenum, its beneficial effects on materials performance, its safety in use and its contribution to sustainable development.
Molybdenum is added to alloy steels to improve strength, toughness, hardenability and weldability for numerous applications in the automotive, shipbuilding, construction, mining, chemical, oil & gas and energy generation industries. In stainless steels and superalloys, it improves corrosion resistance and high-temperature performance and finds uses in many industrial applications. It is also used in a variety of products from catalysts and lubricants to pigments and paint.
IMOA has a strict antitrust compliance policy which delegates of all meetings are required to observe. All such meetings are observed by legal counsel.
For more information please email the communications team at media@imoa.info.
For up-to-date information please follow IMOA on Twitter and LinkedIn.
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