China is at it again. Japan was, by far, the largest country for Chile to export molybdenum, but China is rapidly playng catch up, and is supposed to have become the most important country in 2009 for exports of molybdenum produced in Chile.

According to the data compiled recently, Chile exported 27,097 tonnes in material of molybdenum in the first half of 2009, having increased by 12.6 per cent compared with that of 24,054 tonnes in the same period of 2008.

The quantities of molybdenum exported from Chile to main destinations in the first half of 2009 were for China: 10,837 tonnes as compared to 50 tonnes in the same period of 2008, for Netherlands: 8,015 tonnes as against 6,787 tonnes in 2008 and for Japan: 4,930 tonnes as compared to 9,608 tonnes in 2008.

Chile produced 16,898 tons on content base of molybdenum in the first half of 2009, by a small increase from that of 16,690 tonnes in the same period of 2008.

China was so far one of main countries to export molybdenum and the most powerful rival for Chile, but in 2009, has suddenly turned to the most important country for exports of Chilean molybdenum.