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Production falls, use rises slightly in Q3 2013
03/03/2014
Global use of molybdenum in the third quarter of 2013 was 134.1 million pounds, up just over 1% from 132.2 million pounds in the previous quarter, figures released today by the International Molybdenum Association (IMOA) show. Global production fell slightly to 129.3 million pounds, down 2% from 132 million pounds in the previous quarter.
China remained the biggest user, with 49.2 million pounds in the second quarter of 2013, an increase of 5% from 46.8 million pounds in the previous quarter. Europe was the second largest user with 33.9 million pounds, down 4% from 35.4 million pounds in the previous quarter but an increase of 4% compared to the same quarter in the previous year.
Use in the USA increased by 6% to 14.5 million pounds compared with 13.7 million pounds in the previous quarter. Use in Japan fell fractionally to 14.6 million pounds compared to 14.7 million pounds in the previous quarter.
In the CIS countries, use remained static at 5.7 million pounds, whilst in other countries it increased slightly from 16.0 to 16.2 million pounds.
China was once again the biggest producer although production in the third quarter of 2013 dipped 4% to 46.1 million pounds compared to 48.2 million pounds in the previous quarter. North American production fell by a similar proportion from 46.5 to 44.6 million pounds. South American production increased from 27.7 million pounds in the second quarter to 29.0 million pounds in the third quarter, whilst production in other countries remained unchanged at 9.5 million pounds.
Commenting on the figures, IMOA Secretary-General Tim Outteridge said: “Production was very close to the level recorded for the same quarter in 2012, with two consecutive quarters of growth in South America but some falls in output elsewhere. Global use increased again, up 4% from the same quarter in 2012, with use in both the USA and China increasing for two consecutive quarters.”
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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