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Global production and use of molybdenum rises year on year in Q1 2021
12/07/2021
Figures released today by the International Molybdenum Association (IMOA) show that the global production of molybdenum rose by 2% to 146 mlbs when compared to the same quarter of 2020, although this represented a 10% fall when compared to the previous quarter.
Global use of molybdenum rose 24% to 153 mlbs when compared to the same quarter of the previous year, but fell 1% when compared to the previous quarter.
China became the largest producer of molybdenum at 51.2 mlbs. Production there rose 10% when compared to same quarter, Q1, of the previous year, although this represented a 9% fall when compared to the previous quarter of 2020. South America, the second largest producer, saw a 3% rise to 45.9 mlbs when compared to the same quarter of the previous year, although this represented an 11% fall when compared to the previous quarter. North American production fell 4% to 37.7 mlbs when compared to the same quarter of the previous year, which represented a 5% fall when compared to the previous quarter. Production in other regions fell 8% to 11.2mlbs in comparison to the same quarter of the previous year, a 19% fall when compared to the previous quarter.
Molybdenum usage increased in all regions, with the exception of Japan, when compared to the same quarter of the previous year. Usage increased in all regions, with the exception of China, when compared to the previous quarter. China remained the largest user of molybdenum at 61.7 mlbs, a significant 53% rise when compared to the same quarter of the previous year, although this represented a 10% fall when compared to the previous quarter. Europe remained the second largest user of molybdenum at 34.8 mlbs, a 12% increase when compared to the same quarter of the previous year and a 10% rise when compared to the previous quarter. Usage in other regions increased by 9% to 24.2 mlbs when compared to the same quarter of the previous year, a 1% rise when compared to the previous quarter. The USA saw an 11% rise in use to 14 mlbs, a 10% rise when compared to the previous quarter. Japan saw the only fall in usage, 1%, to 12.6 mlbs when compared to the same quarter of the previous year, but this represented an 8% increase when compared to the previous quarter. Usage in the CIS increased 23% to 5.6 mlbs when compared to the same quarter of the previous year, a 5% rise 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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