Molybdenum market update on August 5, 2025
The overall domestic molybdenum market continues to exhibit a high-level decline, with the price of molybdenum concentrate decreasing by an additional 50 yuan per ton-unit, ferromolybdenum by an additional 2,000 yuan per ton, and ammonium tetramolybdate by an additional 2,000 yuan per ton. Under these conditions, industry players are focusing on the shipment dynamics of molybdenum mining enterprises and steel companies' bidding prices for ferromolybdenum.
In the molybdenum concentrate market, with supply and demand in a state of weak balance, the buying and selling atmosphere remains relatively stable. According to Xinhua News, Chile’s state-owned copper company Codelco reported on July 31 that its El Teniente copper-molybdenum mine collapsed due to an earthquake that afternoon. This may lead to a short-term reduction in molybdenum output from the mine. Codelco, one of the world’s largest copper producers, is also the second-largest molybdenum producer globally. On August 1, a copper-molybdenum mine in Yunnan sold 128 tons of 40-45% molybdenum concentrate at a transaction price of 4,186 yuan per ton-unit.
In the ferromolybdenum market, product transaction prices are around 272,000 yuan per ton. Amid tight supplies of low-priced goods and strong resistance from steel companies to high-priced goods, intermediate smelting enterprises face a dilemma in pricing, bearing significant operational pressure.
In the molybdenum chemical products market, the overall atmosphere is marked by caution. With upstream market confidence in price support weakening and terminal customers’ rigid demand remaining unchanged, holders are generally maintaining rational quotations.
In terms of news, data from the China Iron and Steel Association (CISA) shows that in late July, the social inventory of five major steel product varieties in 21 cities reached 7.85 million tons, increased by 100,000 tons, a rise of 1.3% compared to the previous period; increased by 1.26 million tons, a rise of 19.1% compared to the beginning of the year; and decreased by 2.55 million tons, a drop of 24.5% compared to the same period last year. By region, social steel inventories in the seven major areas showed varying increases and decreases, with inventories in the Northwest and Northeast continuing to decline; inventories in East China remained stable; and other regions saw increases, with Central China recording the largest increase in both volume and percentage.
Price of molybdenum products on August 5, 2025
Molybdenum crucible picture
