Ferromolybdenum Price Reference in China: 60% FeMo Quotations and Market Movement
Leave a message
China Ferromolybdenum Price Reference for May 16
Ferromolybdenum is the principal molybdenum-bearing additive used by steelmakers, and the Chinese domestic market sets the tone for prices quoted across Asia. The snapshot below records the 60% FeMo quotations reported for May 16, 2025, covering both cash and acceptance business.
Prices are expressed in units of 10,000 yuan per tonne of alloy. That convention is standard in Chinese ferroalloy reporting, so a quotation of 22.6 means 226,000 yuan per tonne.
| Trade Basis | Low (CNY/t) | High (CNY/t) | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cash quotation | 226,000 | 229,000 | Up 1,500 |
| Cash transaction | 225,000 | 228,000 | Up 1,500 |
| Acceptance quotation | 228,000 | 231,000 | Up 1,500 |
| Acceptance transaction | 226,500 | 229,500 | Up 1,500 |
The spread between the cash and acceptance columns reflects settlement practice rather than different material. Acceptance pricing carries an implicit financing cost for the seller, so it normally sits slightly above cash levels for the same grade and delivery window. All four rows moved in the same direction on the day, which indicates a firm underlying market rather than a shift in payment preference.
What the 60 Grade Means in Specification Terms
"FeMo 60" is shorthand for ferromolybdenum containing 60% molybdenum as the minimum, the most widely traded grade for steelmaking additions. A complete order specification also fixes the size fraction, the maximum silicon, sulfur, phosphorus and carbon levels, and the packing format.
| Parameter | Typical Requirement |
|---|---|
| Mo content | 60% min (FeMo60) |
| Si | 1.5% max |
| S | 0.10% max |
| P | 0.05% max |
| C | 0.10% max |
| Size | 10-50mm lump, or screened to order |
Chinese national standard GB/T 3649 specifies ferromolybdenum grades and their chemical requirements, and the grade table of the edition cited in the contract governs the acceptance limits. Export parcels are normally supplied with a mill test certificate for each lot, and independent inspection can be arranged on request.
Why Steelmakers Buy Ferromolybdenum
Molybdenum is added to steel to obtain a fine, uniform grain structure and to raise hardenability, which allows heavier sections to through-harden during quenching. It also reduces susceptibility to temper embrittlement, letting parts hold toughness after high-temperature tempering, and it improves creep resistance at elevated service temperatures.
Structural and pressure-vessel steels: molybdenum raises elevated-temperature strength and creep resistance.
Tool, die and high-speed steels: molybdenum contributes hot hardness and wear resistance.
Stainless and heat-resistant grades: molybdenum improves pitting and corrosion resistance in chloride environments.
Cast iron: molybdenum additions increase strength, hardness and wear resistance of the casting.
Because the required addition is small, typically a fraction of a percent in the finished steel, molybdenum is bought by the tonne but consumed by the kilogram, and its cost contribution per heat is sensitive to the prevailing alloy price.
Molybdenum Versus Ferromolybdenum Additions
Mill operators can source molybdenum units either as ferromolybdenum or as molybdenum oxide briquettes. Ferromolybdenum has a higher molybdenum content per tonne, dissolves readily in the steel bath and produces a high, reliable recovery, which makes it the default choice in electric furnace and ladle additions. Oxide products are used where the melting practice and slag control allow them, and they are priced per pound of contained molybdenum rather than per tonne of alloy.
| Form | Typical Mo Content | Pricing Convention | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ferromolybdenum | 55-65% Mo | Per tonne of alloy | Standard ladle addition, high recovery |
| Molybdenum oxide | About 57% Mo | Per pound of Mo | Used where slag practice permits |
Factors That Move Ferromolybdenum Prices
Molybdenum concentrate availability: mine output and concentrate spot availability set the raw material base.
Roasting and conversion capacity: intermediate product availability affects the pace at which concentrate becomes usable alloy.
Steel and special alloy demand: order intake from alloy and stainless producers drives short-term direction.
Payment terms and settlement basis: the cash and acceptance markets can diverge when credit conditions tighten.
Currency and freight: export offers in USD are affected by exchange rate movement and container costs.
Ordering Notes for Ferromolybdenum Buyers
State the grade and molybdenum minimum, for example FeMo60 with 60% Mo minimum.
Fix the size fraction and lump-to-fines ratio, since fines behave differently in the ladle.
Set maxima for silicon, sulfur, phosphorus and carbon, and confirm they match the grade table of the cited standard edition.
Agree packing, such as steel drums or big bags, and the moisture control requirement.
Agree the delivery term and the currency basis so that the landed cost can be compared directly across suppliers.
Require a mill test certificate for each lot and, where the contract provides for it, third-party inspection at loading.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: What does the 22.6-22.9 quotation mean in plain terms?
Chinese ferroalloy prices are quoted in units of 10,000 yuan per tonne, so 22.6-22.9 corresponds to about 226,000-229,000 yuan per tonne of 60% ferromolybdenum on a cash quotation basis.
Q: Why is the acceptance price higher than the cash price?
Acceptance settlement defers payment, so the seller carries financing cost and prices accordingly. The gap is a payment-term effect, not a difference in the alloy delivered.
Q: What molybdenum content does FeMo 60 guarantee?
The grade designates a minimum of 60% molybdenum, with typical production analysis running somewhat higher. Silicon, sulfur, phosphorus and carbon limits are set by the grade table of the governing standard edition.
Q: How is ferromolybdenum used in steelmaking?
It is added to the ladle or furnace as a molybdenum alloying agent, improving hardenability, eliminating temper brittleness and raising high-temperature strength and corrosion resistance in the finished steel.
Q: What size is ferromolybdenum normally supplied in?
Lump material in the 10-50mm range is the common steelmaking fraction, and other size fractions can be screened to suit the customer melting practice.
Q: How can the delivered grade be verified?
Each lot is accompanied by a mill test certificate showing the analysed chemistry, and independent inspection can be arranged before shipment where the contract requires it.
