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Global Molybdenum Production Increased While Usage Fell in Q4, 2019

Global molybdenum production increased while usage fell in the fourth quarter of 2019 compared with the third quarter, according to the data of International Molybdenum Association (IMOA). 

Figures released by the IMOA show that Global production of molybdenum rose by 1% to 143.9 million pounds (mlbs) when compared to the previous quarter of 2019, a 4% rise when compared to the same quarter of last year. Global use of molybdenum fell 8% to 136.4 mlbs, a fall of 7% when compared to the same quarter of the previous year.

China remained the largest producer of molybdenum at 52.8 mlbs, an increase of 4% on the previous quarter but a 15% increase when compared to the same quarter of the previous year. Production in South America saw the largest percentage increase of 10% to 48.3 mlbs when compared to the previous quarter, but this represented a fall of 2% when compared to the same quarter of the previous year. Production in North America saw the largest percentage fall of 13% to 33.4 mlbs, although this represented a 2% increase when compared to the same quarter of the previous year. Production fell 6% in other countries to 9.4 mlbs when compared to the previous quarter, a 5% fall when compared to the same quarter as the previous year. 

Global molybdenum usage fell 8% to 136.4 mlbs when compared to the previous quarter, a 7% fall when compared to the same quarter of the previous year. China remained the largest user at 53.6 mlbs, a 4% decrease when compared to the previous quarter, but a 6% decrease when compared to the same quarter of the previous year. 

While Europe remained the second largest user at 30.2 mlbs, it experienced the largest drop in usage, a 16% drop when compared to the previous quarter and an 11% drop when compared to the same quarter of the previous year. Other countries used 20.6 mlbs, a 5% drop when compared to the previous quarter and a 7% drop when compared the same quarter of the previous year. Molybdenum use in the USA fell for the second consecutive quarter to 13.7 mlbs, a 2% fall when compared to the previous quarter and a 7% fall when compared to the same quarter of the previous year. 

Japan saw a 9% decrease in its usage to 13.3 mlbs when compared to the previous quarter, a 6% fall when compared to the same quarter of the previous year. CIS saw a 15% reduction in their usage to 5 mlbs when compared to the previous quarter, an 8% reduction in comparison to the same quarter of the previous year.

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