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Molybdenum production and use down
13/08/2015
Global production of molybdenum fell to 128.8 million pounds in the first quarter of 2015, down 13% from 148.1 million pounds in the previous quarter, and 5% lower compared with the same period in 2014, figures released today by the International Molybdenum Association (IMOA) show.
Global use of molybdenum in the first quarter of 2015 also fell slightly to 132.7 million pounds, down 3% from 136.2 million pounds in the previous quarter and 5% lower than the same quarter in 2014.
China remained the biggest producer, although production fell from 55.8 million pounds in the last quarter of 2014 to 46.3 million pounds in the first quarter of this year, a decrease of 17%. Production was 5% lower compared to the same quarter in 2014.
Production in North America also fell, from 42.7 million pounds in the last quarter of 2014 to 37.8 million pounds in the first quarter of 2015, a decrease of 12%. Production in South America was down from 39.9 million pounds in the last quarter of 2014 to 34.2 million pounds in the first quarter of 2015. Production in other countries increased to 10.5 million pounds.
China remained the biggest user, with 47.8 million pounds in the first quarter of 2015, down slightly compared with the previous quarter and with the same quarter in 2014.
Europe was the second largest user with 34.4 million pounds, up 3% from 33.5 million pounds in the previous quarter but down 8% compared to the same quarter in 2014.
Usage in the USA fell by 7% to 14.1 million pounds compared with 15.2 in the previous quarter, while use in Japan fell from 14 million pounds in the last quarter of 2014 to 13.3 million pounds in first quarter of 2015. Usage in the CIS countries decreased by 3% to 5.7 million pounds, while usage in other countries fell by 1% to 17.4 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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