Uranium prices flat-line

摘要

In 2001, spot market prices had rallied across the board, despite the generally lackadaisical marketplace. Uranium prices finished the year at $9.30-9.50/lb U_3O_8, up more than 32%, and spot demand was up nearly 15% year-on-year. The lower end of Nukem's spot conversion price range, generally indicative of the North American market, shot up by 64% to end 2001 at $5.25/kgU, compared to the anaemic level of $3.20/kgU at the beginning of the year. Finally, 2001 also saw the upper end of Nukem's separative work spot/ secondary price range increase by $14.00/SWU, ending the year at $100.00/SWU. Supply uncertainties attributable to the USEC-led trade actions directly contributed to the price strengthening. Spot market conditions proved to be altogether different during 2002. The robust market of the previous year was replaced by a general state of lethargy, as evidenced by flat-lined prices until virtually the last moment.