Plansee Group Increases Stake in Molymet

Breitenwang/Reutte, March 23, 2026 – The Plansee Group is increasing its stake in the Chilean company Molibdenos y Metales (Molymet) by an additional ten percent. As a result, the company will hold a 31 percent stake in the world’s largest processor of molybdenum and rhenium. With this move, the Plansee Group underscores the importance of a stable, independent, and sustainable supply of raw materials throughout its own value chain.

With this increase, the Plansee Group reaffirms its long-term commitment as the largest single shareholder in Molymet – a company with strong technological expertise and a clear strategic focus in the global molybdenum and rhenium market.

“The gradual expansion of our stake in Molymet since 2011 is a central part of our strategy to consistently focus on the two high-tech materials molybdenum and tungsten and to secure our raw material supply for the long term – across all processing steps, from molybdenum concentrate to custom-manufactured components,” said Karlheinz Wex, Chairman of the Executive Board of Plansee Holding AG.

A large portion of the molybdenum produced by Molymet is used as an alloying element in the steel industry. The chemical industry requires molybdenum for catalysts. Plansee manufactures semi-finished products, components, and assemblies for a wide range of high-tech applications from high-purity molybdenum metal powder. A byproduct of processing molybdenum concentrates is the rare metal rhenium, which is indispensable in the aerospace industry, the chemical industry, and medical technology.

Growing Demand for Molybdenum

Molymet was founded in 1975 and is the world’s largest processor of molybdenum concentrates, with a market share of 35 percent. In 2025, revenue amounted to $2.5 billion. The company has production sites in four countries (Chile, Mexico, Belgium, Germany) and employs 1,100 people. Molymet has been listed on the stock exchange in Santiago, Chile’s capital, since 1983.

Global molybdenum reserves are estimated at approximately 17 million tons. To ensure a steady supply of molybdenum, Molymet has entered into medium- and long-term supply agreements with mines. The global molybdenum market is growing steadily; approximately 400,000 tons of molybdenum are consumed worldwide each year.

Images: Left: Molymet headquarters; right: Karlheinz Wex, Chairman of the Executive Board of the Plansee Holding AG