New Medical Device Demand to Disrupt Rhenium Market

Spinal Implants

MoRe Alloys Spark Medical Breakthroughs

New demand for rhenium in medical applications is poised to reshape the global rhenium market. Historically driven by superalloys used in aerospace engines, rhenium is now being adopted for advanced medical devices. Molybdenum-rhenium (MoRe) alloys, particularly Mo50 Re, have recently gained US FDA approval for use in spinal implants and cardiovascular stents.

Several devices using MoRe alloys have entered the US market in the past 18 months, signaling a structural demand shift. According to the MMTA conference in Lisbon, these devices could soon rival aerospace in total rhenium consumption. MiRus, a leader in MoRe medical technology, has already received multiple FDA clearances for spine and structural heart treatments.

Global Supply Faces New Pressures

China, now the top importer of rhenium from Chile’s Molymet, has ramped up consumption for its growing aerospace sector. In 2023, China imported 26 tonnes of Chilean rhenium, a dramatic increase from just 2 tonnes in 2018. Traditionally, the US aerospace industry dominated rhenium imports, accounting for 75% of global demand.

However, experts warned that aerospace users must now compete with the fast-growing medical sector. Medical-grade MoRe alloys offer superior strength, fatigue resistance, and biocompatibility. Unlike nickel, cobalt, or chromium implants, MoRe devices do not trigger allergic reactions and have shown zero breakage in trials.

Long-Term Outlook Points to Tight Supply

Rhenium's unique properties are driving innovation in smaller, fatigue-resistant implants. Titan International noted MoRe-based implants offer greater durability and precision in surgeries. As global populations age, demand for reliable orthopedic and cardiovascular devices is expected to surge.

Yet supply growth remains constrained. With no major new rhenium mines and declining grades in copper-molybdenum ores, primary output is projected to stay flat. Speakers forecast that elevated prices could eventually stimulate recycling, but short-term supply pressure remains a key concern.

The Metalnomist Commentary

Rhenium’s shift from jet turbines to spinal implants underscores how material science breakthroughs can reshape strategic metals markets. With Chinese aerospace demand rising and MoRe alloys entering the medical mainstream, the global rhenium balance may tighten further. This evolution highlights the urgent need for recycling solutions and diversified sourcing strategies in the decade ahead.