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Global molybdenum production and use rises in 2025
01/04/2026
Global production of molybdenum was at 672.6 million pounds (mlbs) in 2025, a rise of 4% from 648.3 mlbs in 2024, figures released by the International Molybdenum Association (IMOA) show. Global usage rose 3% to 671.8 mlbs from 653.6 mlbs the previous year.
China remained the largest producer of molybdenum in 2025 at 302.1 mlbs, up 1% from 297.7 mlbs in 2024. Production in South America, the second largest producer, remained broadly static at 175.6 mlbs compared to the previous year. North America saw the largest rise in production, 17%, to 133.7 mlbs from 114.5 mlbs the previous year. Production in Other Regions remained static at 61.3 mlbs compared to 2024.
Global production in Q4 2025 saw a 1% rise to 168.4 when compared to both the previous quarter and the same quarter of the previous year. In Q4, in comparison to the previous quarter, North America saw the largest rise in production, 10%, to 35.5 mlbs, while South America saw a 3% rise to 45.4 mlbs. Production in China fell 3% to 72.7 mlbs in Q4 when compared to the previous quarter, while production in Other Regions fell 6% to 14.7 mlbs.
In 2025, China, the largest users of molybdenum, saw the largest increase in usage, 9%, to 337.8 mlbs, when compared to 2024. Usage in the USA rose 3% to 65.7 mlbs. Europe, the second largest user of molybdenum, saw a 7% decrease in usage to 114.3 mlbs, while Other Regions saw a 1% fall to 93.1 mlbs. Japan saw a 3% fall to 42.6 mlbs, while CIS saw the largest fall, 12%, to 18.3 mlbs.
In Q4 2025 global usage fell 2% to 166.4 mlbs when compared to the previous quarter, with a fall of 5% in China, 4% in Japan and 2% in the USA. Europe saw the largest increase in usage, 9%, when compared to the previous quarter, while CIS saw a 5% rise. Usage in Other Regions remained static when compared to the previous quarter.
General information for media
- IMOA’s Annual Review offers more information on IMOA’s work and achievements
- IMOA is a non profit trade association, representing the majority of the molybdenum industry worldwide. It works to raise awareness about the unique properties of molybdenum, its beneficial effects on materials performance, its safety in use and its contribution to sustainable development.
- Molybdenum is added to alloy steels to improve strength, toughness, hardenability and weldability for numerous applications in the automotive, shipbuilding, construction, mining, chemical, oil & gas and energy generation industries. In stainless steels and superalloys, it improves corrosion resistance and high-temperature performance and finds uses in many industrial applications. It is also used in a variety of products from catalysts and lubricants to pigments and paint.
- IMOA has a strict antitrust compliance policy which delegates of all meetings are required to observe. All such meetings are observed by legal counsel.
- For more information please email the communications team at media@imoa.info.
- For up-to-date information please follow IMOA on LinkedIn.
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