Salient Cobalt Statistics

TABLE 1
SALIENT COBALT STATISTICS¹

(Metric tons, cobalt content, unless otherwise specified)

		2002		2003		2004		2005		2006
United States:
Consumption:
Reported		8,270	^r	8,030	^r	8,990	^r	9,150	^r	9,270
Apparent		9,830		10,000		9,950	^r	11,800	^r	11,100
Imports for consumption		8,450		8,080		8,720		11,100		11,600
Exports		2,080		2,710		2,500		2,440		2,850
Stocks, December 31:
Industry²		858		649		690	^r	705	^r	711
U.S. Government³		6,680		4,290		2,660		1,550		1,290
Price, metal⁴	dollars per pound	6.91		10.60		23.93		15.96		17.22
World, production:^e
Mine		52,200	^r	52,700	^r	58,400	^r	63,500	^r	67,500
Refinery		40,800		43,800		49,100		54,900		55,000
^�eEstimated.� ^rRevised.�
¹Data are rounded to no more than three significant digits, except prices.
²Stocks held by cobalt processors and consumers.
³Defense National Stockpile Center. Includes material committed for sale pending shipment.
⁴Annual average U.S. spot price for minimum 99.8% cobalt cathode reported by Platts Metals Week.