According to the calculation to figure out volumes of molybdenum import and export in pure Mo equivalent based on foreign trade statistics of United States Department of Commerce, the export volume in the full year 2014 (January - December) was 70.20 million lbs, up by 22.0% from 57.53 million lbs of the prior year, and the import volume was 43.22 million lbs, up by 19.7% from 36.11 million lbs of the prior year.

The United States has 8 main molybdenum mines (3 full-time mines and 5 copper by-product mines) in the country, and the import and export balance is basically in a state of the export being more than the import, but the import of roasted ore increased sharply in December, which led to a state of the import being more than the export.

[Export] Such contract manufacturing in the overseas country has continues since olden days as unroasted ores (molybdenum sulfide) are exported to Mexico where these ores are processed to molybdenum oxide which is imported. In addition to this, the export of both roasted and unroasted ores to Europe increased in 2014, which resulted in the export volume in pure Mo equivalent being drastically up from the prior year.

[Import] The total import of roasted ores processed in the overseas country was up by 20.6% from the prior year, of which the import of unroasted ores was up by 16.9% ditto and the same of ferro-molybdenum was grossly up by 25.1% ditto, which was driven by the increased import of unroasted ores from Peru and by the increased import of ferro-molybdenum from Chile.

• [Editor:Mango]