Molybdenum is one of the most versatile strategic metals in the transition toward a more technological and sustainable economy.
Did you know that your TV, cellphone, or computer might not exist as you know it without a metal that is mainly extracted in Chile? It’s molybdenum, a byproduct of copper mining that has gained growing global relevance. Traditionally valued for its strength in producing special steels, today molybdenum is also key in engines and turbines, as well as in cutting-edge technologies like LCD screens and other essential components of modern electronics.
Molybdenum is one of the most versatile strategic metals in the transition toward a more technological and sustainable economy. A gray-colored mineral—both processed and in its natural state—it possesses unique properties: it is highly conductive, corrosion-resistant, and can form extremely thin layers, making it ideal for the transparent electrodes used in liquid crystal displays. This essential component enables millions of people to interact with their digital devices every day.
Juan Carlos Guajardo, executive director of Plusmining and supporter of Compromiso Minero, explains that “unlike other critical metals, molybdenum already has a consolidated global market, high recyclability, and functioning supply chains. Its presence is key in sectors such as advanced nuclear energy, water desalination, semiconductor manufacturing, and green hydrogen infrastructure.”
Chile: Global Leader in Export and Production
A study by the Undersecretariat of International Economic Relations (Subrei) highlights that Chile is the world leader in molybdenum exports, with a 33% share of the global market—equivalent to US$1.460 billion. This figure reflects the country’s strong position in the international trade of this strategic mineral.
And that’s not all; Chile is also one of the world’s top molybdenum producers, holding a 15% global share, according to data from the Mining Council.
“Leveraging the potential of molybdenum not only diversifies our mining portfolio but also strengthens the link between mining and technology, enabling us to supply critical inputs to industries that will define the coming decades,” adds Guajardo.
One of the main producers of this byproduct is Codelco, which in 2024 produced 16,000 t of molybdenum—equivalent to 7% of global production—60% of which was destined for the Japanese market.
Braim Chiple, Vice President of Commercialization at Codelco and supporter of Compromiso Minero, notes that the state-owned company “began in the 1980s and was strengthened with the construction of the Molyb plant in 2016. Today, half of the molybdenum traded globally is a higher value-added product, such as ferromolybdenum, which has been processed at our plant since September of this year.”
According to Chiple, the commissioning of this plant was a milestone in Codelco’s international projection: “by having an independent molybdenum concentrate processing facility, we have secured prestige as a reliable supplier of a critical input for the special steel business. We have the complete chain: copper concentrate, processing plant, and the Mejillones Port Complex to export to the world.”
Today, Chilean molybdenum’s main destinations include China, the Netherlands, Japan, and South Korea, where it is used in high-tech industries, steel manufacturing, automotive, energy, and even emerging sectors such as flexible electronics and clean energy.
New Technologies Transforming Molybdenum Processing
At the Laboratory of Applied Research in Extractive Metallurgy (LIAM) of the School of Chemical Engineering at the Pontifical Catholic University of Valparaíso (PUCV), a supporter of Compromiso Minero, researchers have worked for years on developing solutions to improve current metallurgical processes for extracting molybdenum—a high-value metal in the international market, priced at nearly US$28.06 per pound. In comparison, copper trades at US$4.56 per pound. According to LIAM co-founder, PUCV’s Master in Process Engineering professor, and project director Álvaro Aracena, “we have created a technology that could reduce stages, lower energy consumption, and decrease the environmental impact of processing.”
The technologies proposed in Chile could, Aracena adds, “radically change how molybdenum ores are treated, allowing more efficient molybdenum production with significant technological shifts—essentially updating methods that have been in place for over 50 years.”
One technological development involves using hydrogen gas to directly transform molybdenite into metallic molybdenum without going through so many stages or generating pollutants. The process also incorporates lime (CaO), which captures sulfur and prevents its release into the air, producing a solid byproduct with no environmental risk. All of this results in a simpler, cleaner, and much more efficient process. This technology, which could be applied in Chilean smelters in the future, provides a concrete response to the growing challenges these facilities face in meeting increasingly strict environmental standards.
Source: Tierramarillano