International Molybdenum Association (IMOA) shows that the global production of molybdenum fell by 3% to 142.8 mlbs in Q2 2021 when compared to the same quarter of 2020, a 2% fall when compared to Q1 2021.
Global use of molybdenum rose 32% to 167.0 mlbs when compared to the same quarter of the previous year, an 11% rise when compared to the previous quarter.
China was the largest producer of molybdenum at 52.8mlbs in Q2 2021, a 16% increase when compared to the same quarter of the previous year but a 3% increase when compared to the previous quarter. South America saw a 9% fall to 44.8mlbs when compared to the same quarter of the previous year, although this represented a 2% fall when compared to the previous quarter. North American production fell 18% to 30.4mlbs when compared to the same quarter of the previous year, although this represented a 19% fall when compared to the previous quarter. Production in other regions rose 32% to 14.7mlbs when compared to the previous quarter, a 2% fall when compared to the same quarter of the previous year.
Molybdenum usage increased in all regions when compared to the same quarter of 2020 and Q1 2021. China remained the largest user of molybdenum at 73.3mlbs, a 22% rise when compared to the same quarter of the previous year and a 19% rise when compared to the previous quarter. Europe remained the second largest user of molybdenum at 35.4mlbs, a 34% rise when compared to the same quarter of the previous year, although this represented only a 2% rise when compared to the previous quarter. Usage in other regions increased by 43% to 23.6mlbs when compared to the same quarter of the previous year, a 9% rise when compared to the previous quarter. Usage in the USA saw the biggest percentage rise, 64%, to 15.6 mlbs when compared to the same quarter of the previous year, an 11% rise when compared to the previous quarter. Usage in Japan rose 31% to 13.3mlbs when compared to the same quarter of the previous year, a 6% rise when compared to the previous quarter. While usage in the CIS rose 34% to 5.8mlbs when compared to the same quarter of the previous year, a 4% rise when compared to the previous quarter.