Global use of molybdenum in the first quarter of 2014 decreased to 136.1 million pounds, down 2% from 138.2 million pounds in the previous quarter but 7% higher than the same quarter in 2013, figures released today by the International Molybdenum Association (IMOA) show.

Global production slowed to 133.4 million pounds for the first quarter, down 6% from 141.4 million pounds in the previous quarter, but was also 7% higher compared with the same period in 2013.

China remained the biggest user, with 46.6 million pounds in the first quarter of 2014, a decrease of 10% from 51.8 million pounds in the previous quarter, but 11% higher than the same quarter in 2013.

Europe was the second largest user with 36.9 million pounds, an increase of 5% from 35.1 million pounds in the previous quarter and an increase of 3% compared to the same quarter in 2013.

Usage in the USA increased by 4% to 14.8 million pounds compared with 14.2 in the previous quarter, while use in Japan also increased slightly from 14.4 million pounds in the last quarter of 2013 to 14.8 million pounds in first quarter of 2014. Usage in the CIS countries increased fractionally to 6.1 million pounds, whilst usage in other countries also increased to 16.9 million pounds.

China remained the biggest producer, but recorded the biggest percentage decrease, falling from 51.2 million pounds in the last quarter of 2013 to 44.1 million pounds in the first quarter of 2014, although this still represented a 5% increase on the same quarter in 2013.

North American production increased slightly from 43.2 million pounds in the last quarter of 2013 to 43.7 million pounds in the first quarter of 2014. Production in South America fell slightly from 38.1 million pounds in the last quarter of 2013 to 36.6 million pounds in the first quarter of 2014, although this was still 32% higher than production in the same quarter in 2013. Production in other countries was static at 8.9 million pounds.

• [Editor:Mango]