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Global molybdenum production and use increases in 2018

08/05/2019

Global production of molybdenum in 2018 rose by 1% to 571 million pounds from 568.2 million pounds in 2017, figures released today by the International Molybdenum Association (IMOA) show. Global use was 582.8 million pounds in 2018, a rise of 4% from 558 million pounds in 2017.

China remained the largest producer with 201.9 million pounds in 2018, up 1% from 200.2 million pounds in 2017. Production in South America, the second largest producer, fell 2% to 194.9 million pounds from 197.9 million pounds. North America produced 134.5 million pounds in 2018, a rise of 5% from 127.6 million pounds in 2017. Production in other regions fell by 7% in 2018 to 39.8 million pounds from 42.5 million pounds in 2017. Production in Q4 of 2018 rose significantly by 13% in comparison to Q3, with a rise of 29% in China, 11% in North America and a 3% rise in South America but a 1% fall in other regions.

China remained the largest user of molybdenum, at 214.5 million pounds a 6% increase from 202.3 million pounds in 2017. Europe remained the second largest user at 143.3 million pounds, a 2% increase from 140.5 in 2017. Japan saw one of the biggest percentage rises in use from 52.2 million pounds in 2017 to 56.4 million pounds in 2018 an 8% increase. Use in the CIS also saw an 8% rise to 21.2 million pounds from 19.6 million pounds in 2017. While usage in other regions rose by 1% to 87.3 million pounds from 86.1 million pounds in 2017. Use in the USA increased 5% to 60.0 million pounds from 57.2 million pounds in 2017.

In Q4 global usage fell 7% compared to Q3 2018 and 7% when compared to the same quarter in 2017. Usage in China fell 17% in Q4 to 47.4 million pounds compared to 56.9 million pounds in Q3 2018 and was 18% lower when compared to Q4 2017.


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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