Affected by the epidemic in Chile, China's molybdenum concentrate imports fell by 24.49% from January to May 2021 compared with the same period last year.

SMM7 March 15: China's molybdenum concentrate imports totaled 7014 tons from January to May 2021, down 24.49 percent from the same period in 2020, according to Chinese customs data.

SMM noted that among the main sources of China's molybdenum concentrate imports this year, Chile's imports decreased particularly significantly. According to customs data, China imported 4080 tons of molybdenum concentrate from Chile from January to May 2021, compared with 6405 tons in the same period in 2020, a decrease of 2325 tons. Compared with the total import of molybdenum concentrate in China, the total import of molybdenum concentrate in China from January to May in 2021 decreased by 2275 tons compared with the same period.

SMM learned that affected by the epidemic, the Chilean government began to close the border on April 5 this year, allowing international transport only for urgent, humanitarian or medical purposes. This led to the delay and cancellation of some molybdenum concentrate shipments. Customs data show that China imported 1725 tons of molybdenum concentrate from Chile from April to May 2021, a decrease of 2582 tons compared with the same period last year.

At the same time, SMM learned that on July 12, the Chilean Ministry of Health confirmed that it would continue to extend the border closure policy until July 25, and there was also news in the market that Chile would resume normal trade in August, but it is understood that the Chilean shipping time to Asia is about one month, so it is analyzed that the import of molybdenum concentrate in China will be supplemented or will be at the end of August at the earliest. At present, the demand for ferromolybdenum in the domestic market is good, and the demand for molybdenum concentrate is huge. The market for molybdenum raw materials is in short supply, and it is expected that the price of molybdenum concentrate will remain high in the short term.