Molymet and Maritime House Partner on Rhenium Recycling Joint Venture

Molymet and Maritime House Sign Rhenium Recycling MoU

Molymet and Maritime House announced a memorandum of understanding (MoU) on 12 November 2025 to establish a 50:50 joint venture (JV) focused on recycling rhenium-bearing materials. This partnership targets the growing demand for rhenium in aerospace applications. Initially, the JV will leverage existing processing facilities in Chile or Canada. Subsequently, the companies may evaluate a new North American rhenium processing plant if feedstock volumes exceed current capacities.

The recycling initiative will process materials such as nickel-based superalloy scrap and binary alloy scrap into ammonium perrhenate (APR) and rhenium metal. Moreover, the JV will sell finished rhenium products including APR, pellets, and powder. The venture also aims to provide comprehensive recycling and primary supply solutions in collaboration with original equipment manufacturers (OEMs).

Strategic Market Implications of the Rhenium Recycling Partnership

Rhenium prices are currently at decade-high levels, driven by strong aerospace demand and Chinese APR imports. Markets recently assessed 99.9% rhenium pellets at $1,835–$1,995 per pound dp Rotterdam. As a result, the Molymet–Maritime House JV positions itself to stabilize rhenium supply and meet industrial requirements.

Molymet, the world’s largest primary rhenium producer with a 40-metric-ton annual capacity in Chile, and Maritime House, the largest global recycler of rhenium-containing materials, bring complementary expertise. Consequently, their collaboration could optimize feedstock usage and improve supply chain resilience for aerospace and industrial sectors.

The partnership also highlights the rising importance of recycling critical metals to address supply shortages and sustainability concerns. By advancing rhenium recovery, the JV supports secure metal sourcing and mitigates price volatility for industrial users.

SuperMetalPrice Commentary:

The Molymet–Maritime House rhenium JV represents a strategic response to soaring demand and tight supply in aerospace alloys. By combining primary production and recycling expertise, the venture can optimize metal recovery and enhance global supply security. As rhenium remains irreplaceable in high-performance turbine and engine alloys, this initiative could influence pricing, strengthen industrial resilience, and encourage broader adoption of metal recycling solutions.