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Home > Minerals > Molybdenum
This table presents detailed data on the reported consumption of molybdenum materials in the United States, categorized by various end uses and accompanied by information on consumer stocks. The data, expressed in kilograms of molybdenum content, covers a range of applications including different steel types, superalloys, chemical uses, and miscellaneous products. Understanding these consumption patterns is crucial for assessing the demand dynamics of molybdenum, a key alloying element that enhances strength, corrosion resistance, and high-temperature performance in industrial metals. This information supports economic and industrial planning by providing insights into market trends, supply chain status, and potential growth areas within sectors reliant on molybdenum.
Analysis of the 2022 and 2023 data reveals several notable trends. Total molybdenum consumption increased slightly from approximately 15.8 million kilograms in 2022 to 16.0 million kilograms in 2023. Stainless and heat-resisting steel remained the largest single end use, with consumption holding steady around 2.5 million kilograms in 2022 and slightly decreasing to 2.49 million kilograms in 2023. Full alloy steels showed an increase from 4.3 million kilograms to 4.4 million kilograms, indicating sustained demand in high-performance steel applications. Consumer stocks of molybdenum materials decreased marginally from 2.04 million kilograms at the end of 2022 to 1.9 million kilograms by the end of 2023, suggesting a modest drawdown in inventories. Additionally, the "Other" category under miscellaneous uses saw a significant rise from 5.84 million kilograms to 7.63 million kilograms, highlighting growing or diversified applications of molybdenum beyond traditional steel and alloy sectors.
| TABLE 3 | |||||||||||||
| U.S. REPORTED CONSUMPTION, BY END USES, AND CONSUMER STOCKS OF MOLYBDENUM MATERIALS1 | |||||||||||||
| (Kilograms of molybdenum content) | |||||||||||||
| Other | |||||||||||||
| Molybdic | Ammonium and | Molybdenum | molybdenum | ||||||||||
| End use | oxides | Ferromolybdenum2 | sodium molybdate | scrap | products | Total | |||||||
| 2022: | |||||||||||||
| Steel: | |||||||||||||
| Carbon | W | 414000 | r | -- | W | -- | 414000 | r | |||||
| High-strength low-alloy | 534000 | 217000 | -- | -- | -- | 751000 | |||||||
| Stainless and heat-resisting | 1720000 | 676000 | -- | W | 114000 | 2510000 | |||||||
| Full alloy | 3180000 | r | 1120000 | -- | -- | W | 4300000 | r | |||||
| Tool | W | W | -- | W | -- | W | |||||||
| Total | 5430000 | r | 2430000 | r | -- | W | 114000 | 7970000 | r | ||||
| Cast irons (gray, malleable, ductile iron) | W | 52200 | r | -- | W | -- | 52200 | r | |||||
| Superalloys | W | W | -- | (3) | 1060000 | 1060000 | |||||||
| Alloys (other than steels, cast irons, superalloys): | |||||||||||||
| Welding materials (structural and hard-facing) | -- | W | -- | -- | W | W | |||||||
| Other alloys | W | 60800 | -- | -- | W | 60800 | |||||||
| Mill products made from metal powder4 | -- | -- | -- | -- | W | W | |||||||
| Cemented carbides and related products5 | -- | -- | -- | -- | W | W | |||||||
| Chemical and ceramic uses: | |||||||||||||
| Pigments | W | -- | (3) | -- | -- | W | |||||||
| Catalysts | 618000 | r | -- | (3) | -- | W | 618000 | r | |||||
| Other | -- | -- | -- | -- | W | W | |||||||
| Miscellaneous and unspecified uses: | |||||||||||||
| Lubricants | -- | -- | -- | -- | 152000 | 152000 | |||||||
| Other | 1180000 | r | 610000 | (3) | (3) | 4050000 | r | 5840000 | r | ||||
| Grand total | 7230000 | r | 3150000 | r | (3) | (3) | 5370000 | r | 15800000 | r | |||
| Stocks, December 31 | 633000 | r | 433000 | 8740 | (6) | (6) | 2040000 | r | |||||
| 2023:e | |||||||||||||
| Steel: | |||||||||||||
| Carbon | W | W | -- | W | -- | W | |||||||
| High-strength low-alloy | W | 220000 | -- | -- | -- | 220000 | |||||||
| Stainless and heat-resisting | 1720000 | 653000 | -- | W | 110000 | 2490000 | |||||||
| Full alloy | 3230000 | 1170000 | -- | -- | W | 4400000 | |||||||
| Tool | W | W | -- | W | -- | W | |||||||
| Total | 4950000 | 2050000 | -- | W | 110000 | 7100000 | |||||||
| Cast irons (gray, malleable, ductile iron) | W | 52900 | -- | W | -- | 52900 | |||||||
| Superalloys | W | W | -- | (3) | 992000 | 992000 | |||||||
| Alloys (other than steels, cast irons, superalloys): | |||||||||||||
| Welding materials (structural and hard-facing) | -- | W | -- | -- | W | W | |||||||
| Other alloys | W | 37200 | -- | -- | W | 37200 | |||||||
| Mill products made from metal powder4 | -- | -- | -- | -- | W | W | |||||||
| Cemented carbides and related products5 | -- | -- | -- | -- | W | W | |||||||
| Chemical and ceramic uses: | |||||||||||||
| Pigments | W | -- | (3) | -- | -- | W | |||||||
| Catalysts | W | -- | (3) | -- | W | W | |||||||
| Other | -- | -- | -- | -- | W | W | |||||||
| Miscellaneous and unspecified uses: | |||||||||||||
| Lubricants | -- | -- | -- | -- | 152000 | 152000 | |||||||
| Other | 2440000 | 873000 | (3) | (3) | 4310000 | 7630000 | |||||||
| Grand total | 7390000 | 3010000 | (3) | (3) | 5570000 | 16000000 | |||||||
| Stocks, December 31 | 600000 | 400000 | 2000 | (6) | (6) | 1900000 | |||||||
rRevised. W Withheld to avoid disclosing company proprietary data; included in “Miscellaneous and unspecified uses: Other.” -- Zero.
1Table includes data available through August 15, 2023. Data are rounded to no more than three significant digits; may not add to totals shown and may include estimated data.
2Includes calcium molybdate.
3Withheld to avoid disclosing company proprietary data; included in “Other molybdenum materials: Miscellaneous and unspecified uses: Other.”
4Includes ingot, wire, rod, and sheet.
5Includes construction, mining, oil and gas, and metal working machinery.
6Withheld to avoid disclosing company proprietary data; included in “Total.”
Source: United States Geological Survey Mineral Resources Program
See also: Molybdenum statistics | Mineral commodity prices