LONDON – Bargain hunters have helped molybdenum recover after prices crashed to two-year lows, but ample supplies of the metal used to make stainless steel mean further significant gains for now are unlikely, analysts say.

Prices of the metal, valued for its anti-corrosive and strengthening properties in the oil and gas and automotive industries, fell towards $8/lb two weeks ago.

The slide started in September, triggered by one producer selling at a discount to prices in the spot market, trading sources say. A move towards $10/lb last week prompted traders to sell into the rally. It now stands above $9/lb.

Until September, prices were steady around $11/lb to $12/lb, despite the prolonged trade dispute between the United States and China which has undermined economic activity, growth and demand globally.

"The upside is limited, it was due to trader activity. Stainless demand has underperformed this year, so demand for moly has been weak," CRU analyst James Jeary said.

"Weak demand was offset by concern about concentrate supply from Chile and that's why prices held up. Deteriorating moly grades are a problem in Chile, but it looks as though third-quarter production was decent."

CRU estimates molybdenum production in Chile fell to a four-year low of 27-million pounds in the second quarter and rose to 30-million pounds in the third quarter.

Overall, expectations are for the molybdenum market estimated at around 580-million pounds to be balanced or see a small deficit this year.

Without a significant recovery in demand from steel mills, which consume about 70% of global molybdenum supply, 2020 is also likely to see a balanced market.

"People don't want to hold inventory," said Roskill analyst Olivier Masson. "Guidance from stainless producers is not good."

Finland's Outokumpu said recently: "The stainless steel market is expected to remain subdued. The European market is suffering from continued import pressure from Asia and low underlying demand."

Demand for stainless is highly correlated with the auto, oil & gas and petrochemical industries, which combined account for about 45% of demand, where activity has slowed.

"Demand growth (in 2019) has been dragged lower, especially by weaker end-use demand in machinery, oil and gas capex, and automobiles," Citi analysts said in a note.

"Demand from these sectors is expected to improve from 2020 but we are still forecasting sub-trend molybdenum demand growth of about 1.2% for the 2020 to 2022 period."

However, mine output is plateauing due to deteriorating ore grades and falling contributions from copper mines, which account for 50% of global molybdenum supplies.

Citi expects to see deficits of nine and seven million lbs respectively in 2021 and 2022.

"Since molybdenum prices do little to incentivise more by-product mine supply, the deficit should be met by drawing inventories until prices are high enough to encourage more primary mine supply," Citi said.