Molybdenum market update on April 15, 2025
The domestic molybdenum market in China continued to experience a significant downward trend, with prices for molybdenum concentrate, ferromolybdenum, and molybdenum bars falling by approximately 50 yuan/ton-degree, 4,000 yuan/ton, and 5 yuan/kg, respectively. However, despite this decline, market transaction volumes did not see a notable increase.
In the molybdenum concentrate market, trading activity remained subdued. With steel procurement price continuing to slide and reduced inquiry and procurement enthusiasm from downstream users, suppliers rationally adjusted their quotations downward. Since last week, molybdenum concentrate price have dropped by about 130 yuan/ton-degree, a decline of 3.82%. In the ferromolybdenum market, operations remained under pressure. Persistent downward pressure from steel companies on ferromolybdenum price, coupled with relatively high molybdenum concentrate price, has put intermediate smelting enterprises at significant risk of cost-profit inversion. In the molybdenum chemical and product market, affected by a lack of confidence in price stabilization from upstream markets and terminal customers maintaining essential procurement, holders’ quotations were generally adjusted within a reasonable range.
According to data from the China Iron and Steel Association, in early April 2025, the social inventory of five major steel varieties across 21 cities totaled 9.83 million tons, a decrease of 530,000 tons or 5.1% from the previous period, continuing a downward trend. Compared to the beginning of the year, inventories increased by 3.24 million tons, a rise of 49.2%, but compared to the same period last year, they decreased by 3.25 million tons, a drop of 24.8%. Regionally, steel social inventories across the seven major regions declined to varying degrees, except in Northeast China, where inventories remained flat. South China saw the largest absolute inventory reduction, while North China recorded the largest percentage decline.
Price of molybdenum products on April 15, 2025
Molybdenum crucible picture
