Global use of molybdenum in the third quarter of 2014 fell slightly to 136.4 million pounds, down 3% from 139.9 million pounds in the previous quarter and 1% lower than the same quarter in 2013,
North America remained the biggest producer, with production rising from 49.9 million pounds in the second quarter of 2014 to 53.3 million pounds in the third quarter, an increase of 7% on the previous quarter and an increase of 20% compared to the same quarter in 2013.
Production in China also increased, from 49.6 million pounds in the second quarter of 2014 to 51.1 million pounds in the third, an increase of 3%. Production in South America rose from 34.4 million pounds in the second quarter of 2014 to 36.9 in the third. Production in other countries remained virtually unchanged at 8.9 million pounds.
Biggest user
China remained the biggest user, with 47.5 million pounds in the third quarter of 2014, virtually unchanged from the previous quarter, but 10% less than the 52.9 million pounds recorded in the same quarter in 2013.
Europe was the second largest user with 34.3 million pounds, down 8% from 37.4 million pounds in the previous quarter and down 1% compared to the same quarter in 2013.
Usage in the USA increased by 3% to 16.3 million pounds compared with 15.8 in the previous quarter, while use in Japan decreased fractionally from 15.0 million pounds in the second quarter of 2014 to 14.9 million pounds in third quarter.
Usage in the CIS countries decreased by 8% to 6.0 million pounds, while usage in other countries fell fractionally to 17.4 million pounds.
