Definition of Molybdenum Alloy Industry
Molybdenum alloy is a non-ferrous alloy made of molybdenum with other elements added as the basis, and has various characteristics. Its high density gives it stability in complex environments. Despite its high density, it has a low melting point and is suitable for high-temperature applications. Its low vapor pressure makes it stable in a high vacuum environment and suitable for high-end fields such as aerospace. Its small thermal expansion and high thermal strength ensure stable structure and performance at high temperatures and enhance reliability. Its strong toughness can resist cracking and deformation under extreme conditions. Its corrosion resistance keeps it intact and stable in various environments. Molybdenum alloys are widely used, such as hot processing molds, molten metal processing, thermal spraying and chemical treatment.
Classification of Molybdenum Alloy Industry
Molybdenum alloys are mainly divided into binary molybdenum alloys and multi-component molybdenum alloys. Binary molybdenum alloys include tungsten-molybdenum alloys (W-Mo), molybdenum-copper alloys (Mo-Cu), molybdenum-zirconium alloys (Mo-Zr), molybdenum-titanium alloys (Mo-Ti), etc. As for multi-component molybdenum alloys, they include Mo-Ti-Zr-C series, Mo-Hf-Zr-O series, etc.
Development History of Molybdenum Alloy Industry
The development history of molybdenum alloy industry can be traced back to the early 20th century, when it was mainly used in military fields, such as rocket and missile manufacturing. With the passage of time, molybdenum alloy gradually entered the civilian field and was widely used in high temperature alloys, electronic components, aerospace, medical equipment and other fields. At the beginning of the 21st century, with the advancement of materials science and technology, the preparation and application technology of molybdenum alloys continued to improve, and its application in modern fields such as nuclear energy, semiconductor manufacturing, and environmental protection technology gradually increased. At the same time, the industry also pays attention to sustainable development and environmental protection, which has promoted the recycling and reuse of molybdenum alloys, as well as the development of alternative traditional materials, making it a material industry with broad prospects.
Upstream, midstream and downstream of molybdenum alloy industry
Molybdenum alloy is an important metal material, and its upstream raw materials are mainly molybdenum and other added elements. Molybdenum alloy has excellent properties such as high melting point, high strength and corrosion resistance, so it is widely used in downstream industries such as aerospace, electronics and electrical appliances, chemical industry, and metallurgy. For example, in the field of aerospace, molybdenum alloys are used to manufacture high-temperature components and rocket engine nozzles; in the field of electronics and electrical appliances, molybdenum alloys are used to manufacture high-temperature resistance wires and electrode materials; in the chemical and metallurgical industries, molybdenum alloys are used to manufacture corrosion-resistant pipes and containers.
Market size and growth rate of my country’s molybdenum alloy industry
In recent years, my country’s molybdenum alloy industry market has continued to show a strong growth momentum. From the production data, the national molybdenum alloy output reached 28.953 million tons in 2018, and it is remarkable that by 2022 this figure has climbed to 31.596 million tons, and the growth trend is very obvious. At the same time, the market size of the molybdenum alloy industry is also continuing to expand. The market size in 2018 was 680.396 billion yuan, and by 2022 it had grown to 824.656 billion yuan, showing strong growth in the industry. As an important alloying trace element, molybdenum plays a key role in high-temperature alloys and can significantly improve the performance of high-temperature alloys, thereby promoting the continued growth of high-temperature alloy demand and further driving the long-term growth of molybdenum demand. In addition, in the steel industry, molybdenum is also widely used as an additive for various alloy steels. It can significantly improve the strength and toughness of steel, while enhancing its corrosion resistance and wear resistance, providing a broader application prospect for the steel industry.
Supply and demand of molybdenum alloy market
In my country, as the world’s largest consumer of molybdenum, its demand has an important influence on the global trend. According to the latest data from the International Molybdenum Association, my country’s molybdenum consumption reached an astonishing 268.9 million pounds in 2022, which is about 122,000 tons in tons, accounting for 42.58% of the global molybdenum consumption demand. Undoubtedly, my country plays a pivotal role in the global molybdenum market.
In terms of molybdenum production, China has emerged as the world’s largest molybdenum producer due to its rich reserves of molybdenum resources, demonstrating its dominant position in the global molybdenum industry. In recent years, with the continuous development and growth of downstream industries in the industry, my country’s molybdenum industry has also gained rapid development momentum. This trend can be confirmed by the data recently released by the International Molybdenum Association: In 2022, my country’s molybdenum production achieved an impressive performance of 112,800 tons, a year-on-year increase of 12%.
Molybdenum alloy industry operation
The production and sales volume of my country’s molybdenum alloy industry has maintained steady growth. According to data, my country’s molybdenum production was 91,580 tons in 2018, and by 2021, this figure had climbed to 100,833 tons, making China the only region in the world where molybdenum production has continued to grow. In the same year, the sales volume of molybdenum alloys in my country also reached 262.247 million tons. In 2022, my country’s molybdenum production continued to rise, and the output in the second quarter had reached 28,621.5 tons, a year-on-year increase of 14%.
In the market share distribution of the molybdenum alloy industry, the five giant companies dominated, and their combined market share reached an astonishing 52%, reflecting the industry’s high concentration trend. Specifically in 2021, the company’s molybdenum production accounted for 16% of the country’s total production, further consolidating its leading position in the industry.
Import and export data of my country’s molybdenum alloy industry
my country’s molybdenum alloy industry is active in import and export trade. According to the latest statistics, in 2021, my country’s imports of molybdenum products reached 57,800 tons, with a total import value of US$772 million. In the same year, the export volume was 45,600 tons, and the export value was as high as US$961 million, showing my country’s important position in the global molybdenum product trade. However, after entering 2022, the trade data for the first eight months has changed significantly. Specifically, my country’s imports of molybdenum products totaled 24,800 tons, a significant decrease of 46.24% compared with the same period last year, reflecting the improvement of domestic molybdenum product production and the reduction of dependence on external supply. During the same period, the export volume totaled 24,500 tons. Although this number is still huge, it fell by 9.21% compared with the same period last year.
Molybdenum alloy industry policy
The Chinese government’s support policies for the molybdenum alloy industry mainly cover environmental protection, resource protection and industrial upgrading. In terms of environmental protection, the government encourages enterprises to adopt clean production technologies to reduce pollution to the environment. At the same time, through means such as resource taxes, strengthen the protection of rare metal resources and prevent over-exploitation. In addition, in order to adapt to the development needs of emerging industries such as new energy and new materials, the government also promotes technological innovation and industrial upgrading in the molybdenum alloy industry.
Specifically, my country has included molybdenum in the mandatory production plan for rare metals. For example, the mandatory production plan for molybdenum concentrate (containing 45% molybdenum) was 185,000 tons in 2010, and it was increased to 200,000 tons in 2011. The implementation of these policies is aimed at regulating the supply and demand balance of molybdenum, protecting limited resources and promoting the healthy development of the industry.
Problems in the molybdenum alloy industry
The market competition in the molybdenum alloy industry is fierce, and the problem of overcapacity is more prominent. Due to the high technical content and large market demand of the molybdenum alloy industry, a large number of enterprises have been attracted to enter the industry, resulting in overcapacity and intensified market competition. Secondly, the price fluctuations of raw materials have had a certain impact on the development of the industry. Molybdenum ore is the main raw material for molybdenum alloys. Its price is affected by various factors such as the supply and demand relationship in the international market and policy adjustments, and its price fluctuates greatly. In addition, environmental pressure is also an important factor restricting the development of the molybdenum alloy industry. There will be certain pollution in the production process of molybdenum alloys. How to do a good job in environmental protection while ensuring production efficiency is an important problem facing the industry. Finally, the unreasonable product structure is also an important factor affecting the development of the industry. At present, the added value of molybdenum alloy products in my country is low, and the proportion of high value-added products is not high, which also affects the profitability and development potential of the industry.
Forecast of the development prospects of the molybdenum alloy industry
The molybdenum alloy industry has broad development prospects in the future. First of all, from the demand side, molybdenum is a silvery-white metal with high hardness and melting point, and it will not oxidize with air at room temperature. These characteristics make molybdenum and its alloys widely used in many fields, such as steel, petroleum, chemical industry, electrical and electronic technology, medicine and agriculture. Especially in emerging fields and high-tech industries, such as nuclear energy, photovoltaics, aerospace, sensors, and military materials, the application of molybdenum is continuing to expand and deepen.
Secondly, from the supply side, my country is the world’s largest molybdenum producer with rich reserves of molybdenum resources. In recent years, my country’s molybdenum industry has achieved rapid progress, mainly due to the continuous development of downstream industries in the industry. In general, benefiting from my country’s abundant molybdenum resources and the continuous development of downstream industries, and taking into account the wide application of molybdenum and its alloys in various fields and future development potential, the molybdenum alloy industry is expected to maintain a good development momentum in the next few years.
Post time: Jul-01-2025