Molybdenum News Center

2018 Global Molybdenum Output up 1%; China Is the Largest Producer

Global molybdenum output in 2018 increased by 1% to 571 million pounds from 568.2 million pounds in 2017, according to figures released by the International Molybdenum Association (IMOA). 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 2017's 202.3 million pounds. 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 increase of 8%. 

Use in the CIS also saw an 8% rise to 21.2 million pounds from 19.6 million pounds in 2017. 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 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.

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