Vietnam Finalizes Draft on Export of 17 Strategic Minerals with Processing Requirements

Rio Tinto reported that its wholly owned Kennecott operation's Bingham Canyon mine produced 2,600 tonnes of molybdenum concentrate containing 900 tonnes of molybdenum in the third quarter of 2026. Product mass fell 29.7% from the second quarter and contained molybdenum dropped 40.0%; year-on-year declines were 21.2% and 30.8%. Ore treated rose 46.5% quarter on quarter to 9.726 million tonnes, while copper in concentrate increased 66.8%, but the molybdenum ore grade fell from 0.049% to 0.028%. This indicates that lower molybdenum grade, rather than reduced throughput, drove the decline. Nine-month contained molybdenum output still rose 40.0% year on year to 4,900 tonnes.

Amerigo Resources reported on October 13 that its wholly owned Minera Valle Central tailings operation in Chile produced and sold 0.36 million pounds, or about 163.3 tonnes, of contained molybdenum in the third quarter of 2026, up 2.9% year on year but down 5.3% from the second quarter. Nine-month output reached 1.15 million pounds, or about 521.6 tonnes, up 18.6% year on year and equal to 76.7% of its 1.5-million-pound annual guidance. Heavy rain reduced days available to process historic tailings, but plant availability remained 98.1%. The average molybdenum price rose to 32.38 United States dollars per pound from 29.15 in the second quarter. Figures are contained molybdenum, not physical concentrate mass.