The price of molybdenum on the LME is down to its lowest level since July of 2010. Weak demand for stainless steel and the summer slowdown in the production of steel are factors. This could represent a bottom for the price as supporting factors come into play in the coming months.
Japan will need massive amounts of steel to rebuild what the tsunami washed away. Infrastructure and new automobiles will pave the way for steel demand in the country. While the events in Japan are horrific and depressing, and may affect global markets for quite some time, the need for steel will likely use up a large portion of the surplus that is currently holding down the price of moly.
MGold Resources Inc. (CVE:MNI) is undertaking a non-brokered private placement of up to $500,000 of units.
Augusta Resource Corporation (TSE:AZC,AMEX:AZC) announces that the Environment Impact Statement contractor SWCA of Tucson, Arizona has delivered yesterday.
Analysts are bullish for the future of the molybdenum market stemming from growth projection in China. Steel demand, and consequently, demand for moly is expected to grow by 9 percent through 2012.
In April 2007, when the Sprott molybdenum fund was created, the minor metal was on a fast track. When the fund was created the metal was trading consistently at US $25 per lb; after the ETF was up and running moly cruised to US $ 40 per lb.
Slower Chinese buying impacted Ferro-molybdenum prices between last Wednesday and Friday; however, the US’s proposed $136 Billion infrastructure spending plan capped the downside. Western-grade Ferro-molybdenum fell to $24.50-26.50 per kg from $26-28 per kg previously, with the bulk of material sold towards the low end of the range.
After holding its ground much longer than other base metals, molybdenum’s price point has given way to the global economic current. The metal was stable in the $32 to $35 a pound range for much of this year; holding its value compared to the price plummet of the other base metals.
A fluctuating greenback coupled with fears of a global recession has sent many of the metals on a tailspin. In just the past few months, the spot prices for base metals copper, zinc, and nickel are down 12%, 30%, and 42% respectively.
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