China has to be mentioned among the countries with the richest molybdenum reserves! According to 2024 data from the United States Geological Survey (USGS), China's molybdenum metal reserves are approximately 5.8 million tons, accounting for 39% of the global total, firmly ranking first in the world!
Following closely behind are the United States (23%), Peru (13%), Chile (9%), and Russia (7%). Together, these five countries account for nearly 90% of global reserves. China's molybdenum ore is primarily primary, with large deposits such as Luanchuan in Henan and Yangjiazhangzi in Liaoning serving as the primary sources. However, the high proportion of low-grade ores makes mining relatively expensive.
As a steel additive, molybdenum significantly improves the material's strength and corrosion resistance, making it a critically needed metal in the military and aerospace industries.
