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Quarterly molybdenum production and use in equilibrium
20/08/2012
Global use of molybdenum in the first quarter of 2012 remained steady at 129.4 million pounds, figures released by the International Molybdenum Association (IMOA) show.This compared with 129.7 million lbs the previous quarter and 129.6 for the same quarter last year.
Global production has increased slightly to come close to equilibrium at 129.1 million lbs this quarter, up from 126.6 in the previous quarter and 126.7 for the same quarter last year.
China remained the biggest consumer, using 41.9 million pounds in the first quarter of 2012, despite recording a 12% decrease compared with the previous quarter’s total of 47.8.
Europe was the second largest consumer with 37.2 million lbs, an increase of 5% from 35.5 the previous quarter.
Usage in the USA increased by 12% to 15.4 million lbs compared with 13.7 in the last quarter of 2011, whilst use in Japan edged marginally higher to 13.6 million lbs from 13.4 in the previous quarter.
Usage in the CIS countries increased fractionally to 4.5 million lbs.Usage in other countries reached 16.8 million lbs, a 13% increase from 14.8 million lbs in the last quarter.
China was also the biggest producer, recording 50.7 million lbs in the first quarter of 2012 compared with 47.4 in the last quarter of 2011 and 40.6 for the same period last year.
North America recorded the biggest increase, with production rising to 42.5 million lbs from 39.4 in the previous quarter. South American production fell by 13% from 32.1 million lbs last quarter to 28 this quarter.Production in other countries remained virtually static at 7.8 million lbs.
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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