Platts reported that trading of spot molybdenum oxide in the Asian market is slow while traders await 2012 deals.
Ferro-molybdenum and molybdic oxide continued their rally this past week, as frightening low stockpiles have traders worried that if the purchases accelerate, there simply won’t be enough moly to go around.
Demand from Asian markets has boosted molybdenum over the past weeks, in spite of lagging North American demand. The strategic metal is currently trading in the range of $10.60 to $10.80 a pound, up from $10 to $10.50 a pound less than two weeks ago.
Molybdenum miners may dramatically slash output in an effort to coax a rebound in the price of the alloying metal, priming the industry for a rapid price ascent when stainless steel demand rebounds.
Chinese imports of molybdenum concentrate and molybdenum oxide nearly doubled from January to February as overseas sellers stepped up competition with Chinese producers. This did little, although, to correct prices.
Imports of molybdenum into China surged in February as overseas sellers stepped up competition with Chinese producers. Imports of moly have surged because Chinese producers have found themselves largely unable to compete with cheaper import offers.
Monday, November 7, 2011