Molybdenum

olybdenum plays an important role in the alloys it produces with steel due to its strong carbide forming feature. Having a high melting point (2610 ° C), molybdenum also has high thermal conductivity and the lowest heat expansion among pure metals.

Molybdenum is an alloy material used in special steels, pig iron, nickel, cobalt and titanium-based alloys. Alloys containing molybdenum are widely used in the production of stainless steel, tubular and tubular tools, super heaters, steel resistances, petroleum products and chemical processes. It is chemically used in molybdenum fabric dyeing, which has a wide range of uses, to obtain alcohol and formaldehyde. In addition, magnet alloys, cast carbides are used in the manufacture of water and gas impermeable materials, and have been added to oils and greases in recent years due to their friction reducing properties.

According to data from 2025 published in the USGS 2026 report, world molybdenum reserves are 17 million tons, with China ranking first in world molybdenum reserves with 41%. According to production data from 2025 included in the USGS report, China is the world's largest molybdenum producer with 97,000 tons of production, accounting for approximately 37% of world production. In 2025, total world production reached 260,000 tons.

Molybdenum commonly exhibits five types of deposits: porphyry and disseminated deposits, contact metamorphic deposits, quartz veins, pegmatite and aplite dikes, and layered deposits in sedimentary rocks. Over 95% of global molybdenum production comes from porphyry molybdenum and porphyry copper molybdenum deposits.

The most suitable mining method for molybdenum, which can be mined both underground and surface, is determined by evaluating the size, shape, grade, and depth of the mineralization. Globally, 55% of molybdenum mining is done underground, while 45% is done surface.

There are few substitutes for molybdenum in its primary application in steels and cast irons. In fact, due to molybdenum's availability and versatility, industry has sought to develop new materials that take advantage of its alloying properties. Potential substitutes include boron, chromium, niobium (columbium), and vanadium in alloy steels; Tungsten is used in tool steels; graphite, tantalum, and tungsten are used as refractory materials in high-temperature electric furnaces. 

Molybdenum is not produced in our country.

Date of Update: 18 May 2026