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Global production rises year on year in Q3 2020 while use falls
27/01/2021
Figures released today by the International Molybdenum Association (IMOA) show that the global production of molybdenum rose by 5% to 149.5 mlbs when compared to the same quarter of 2019, a 1% rise when compared to the previous quarter of 2020.
Global use of molybdenum fell by 1% to 138.5mlbs when compared to the same quarter of the previous year, but rose 9% when compared to the previous quarter.
South America remained the largest producer of molybdenum at 53.3mlbs. Production there rose 10% when compared to the same quarter of the previous year and 8% when compared to the previous quarter. China, the second largest producer, saw the only percentage fall in production, 12%, to 45.4mlbs when compared to the same quarter of the previous year. This represented a 4% fall when compared to the previous quarter of the same year. North American production rose 13% to 37.3 mlbs when compared to the same quarter of the previous year, 2% when compared to the previous quarter. Production in other regions saw the largest percentage increase, 39%, to 13.5mlbs when compared to the same quarter of the previous year, however this represented a 9% fall when compared to the previous quarter.
Molybdenum use in all regions increased when compared to the previous quarter. However, China was the only region to see an increase in usage when compared to the same quarter of the previous year. China remained the largest user of molybdenum at 63.0 mlbs, a 15% rise when compared to the same quarter of the previous year and a 7% rise when compared to the previous quarter. Europe remained the second largest user at 27.6 mlbs, a 5% increase when compared to the previous quarter but 9% lower than the same quarter of the previous year. Use in other regions increased 21% to 22.6 mlbs when compared to the previous quarter, but this represented a fall of 2% when compared to the same quarter of the previous year. The USA saw a 20% rise in use to 11.4 mlbs when compared to the previous quarter, although this represented a 19% drop in usage when compared to the same quarter of the previous year. Japan saw a 3% increase in usage to 10.5mlbs when compared to the previous quarter, but a 19% fall in comparison to the same quarter of the previous year. CIS saw the greatest fall in usage, 30%, to 3.4 mlbs when compared to the same quarter of the previous year, however this was a rise of 5% when compared to the previous quarter.
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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