【Flash | South Korea’s Molybdenum Flows Diverge as Concentrate Imports Fall 26%】

Published: Oct 22, 2026 16:02 (GMT+8)

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South Korea imported 2,707.3 tonnes of roasted and other molybdenum concentrates in September 2026, down 25.9% YoY, SMM calculations based on customs data show. Roasted concentrate imports fell 28.8% to 1,740.0 tonnes, including 500.0 tonnes from Chile versus 1,410.7 tonnes a year earlier. Roasted concentrate exports rose 6.5% to 516.6 tonnes, mainly to Japan, India and Vietnam. Ferromolybdenum exports fell 29.2% to 1,121.1 tonnes, with shipments to China dropping from 580.0 to 70.5 tonnes. Imports of molybdenum oxides and hydroxides rose 311.0% MoM to 97.2 tonnes, although January–September volumes were down 39.2% YoY. National customs flows cannot measure Busan port throughput or warehouse spot stocks.

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