SMM weekly operating rate of secondary copper anode plate enterprises in China: 43.12%

Japan imported 2,121.0 tonnes of roasted molybdenum concentrate in August 2026, down 7.7% YoY, according to customs data compiled by SMM. Supplies from Chile fell to 1,077.0 tonnes from 1,534.0 tonnes a year earlier, while shipments recorded from South Korea rose to 180.0 tonnes from 80.0 tonnes. Imports of molybdenum oxides and hydroxides increased 74.5% YoY to 269.4 tonnes, led by Chile at 128.2 tonnes. Ferromolybdenum imports fell 48.3% to 31.0 tonnes. These categories cannot alone establish a change in overall end-use demand. August import figures are provisional.

Peru exported 5,555.7 tonnes of unroasted molybdenum concentrate in August 2026, down 21.6% MoM and 16.7% YoY, according to official trade data compiled by SMM. Chile remained the largest destination at 2,440.7 tonnes, followed by the US at 1,356.5 tonnes and China at 1,271.0 tonnes. Shipments to China fell 41.5% YoY, while those to the US rose 88.9%. January–August exports totaled 50,156.7 tonnes, down 2.8% YoY. Lower monthly shipments alone do not establish lower mine output.

Chile exported 4,482.1 tonnes of roasted molybdenum concentrate in August 2026, down 29.5% YoY, while unroasted concentrate exports rose 43.1% to 2,646.4 tonnes, customs data compiled by SMM show. Exports of molybdenum oxides and hydroxides surged 150.6% to 1,194.2 tonnes, and ferromolybdenum jumped 143.7% to 462.1 tonnes. The four categories totaled 8,784.7 tonnes of product net weight, down 1.0% YoY despite the gains in two categories. Unroasted concentrate imports rose 35.4% to 4,468.5 tonnes. These physical weights are not contained molybdenum, and the data do not trace imports into specific exports.