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Molybdenum production up, use down slightly

The International Molybdenum Association (IMOA), London, has announced that global production of molybdenum increased to 150.3 million lbs. for Q3 2014, up 5 percent from 142.9 million lbs. in the previous quarter and 11 percent higher compared with the same period in 2013. Global use of molybdenum in Q3 2014 fell slightly to 136.4 million lbs., down 3 percent from 139.9 million lbs. in the previous quarter and 1 percent lower than the same quarter in 2013.

North America remained the biggest producer, with production rising from 49.9 million lbs. in Q2 2014 to 53.3 million lbs. in Q3, an increase of 7 percent on the previous quarter and an increase of 20 percent compared to the same quarter in 2013.

Production in China also increased, from 49.6 million lbs. in Q2 2014 to 51.1 million lbs. in Q3, an increase of 3 percent. Production in South America rose from 34.4 million lbs. in Q2 2014 to 36.9 in Q3. Production in other countries remained virtually unchanged at 8.9 million lbs. China remained the biggest user, with 47.5 million lbs. in Q3 2014, almost unchanged from the previous quarter, but 10 percent less than the 52.9 million lbs. recorded in Q3 2013.

Europe was the second-largest user with 34.3 million lbs., down 8 percent from 37.4 million lbs. in the previous quarter and down 1 percent compared to the same quarter in 2013.

Usage in the U.S. increased by 3 percent to 16.3 million lbs., compared with 15.8 million in the previous quarter, while use in Japan decreased fractionally from 15.0 million lbs. in Q2 2014 to 14.9 million lbs. in Q3. Usage in the CIS countries decreased by 8 percent to 6.0 million lbs., while usage in other countries fell fractionally to 17.4 million lbs.