Salient Cobalt Statistics

TABLE 1
SALIENT COBALT STATISTICS ¹

(Metric tons, cobalt content, unless otherwise specified)

			2006		2007		2008		2009		2010
United States:
Consumption:
Reported			9,280		9,320		8,820	^r	7,470	^r	8,030
Apparent			11,000		9,630		10,100		7,580	^r	10,300
Imports for consumption			11,600		10,300		10,700		7,680		11,100
Exports			2,850		3,100		2,850		2,440		2,640
Stocks, December 31:
Industry²			737		620		582		525	^r	630
L			XX		XX		XX		XX		23
U.S. Government³			1,290		676		473		293		301
Price, metal⁴		dollars per pound	17.22		30.55		39.01		17.86		20.85
World:
Production:
Mine			70,000	^r	71,700	^r	76,400	^r	72,100	^r	89,500	^e
Refinery			53,800		53,300		57,300	^r	59,700	^r	76,400
Refinery	Stocks, December 31, LME⁵		XX		XX		XX		XX		278
^-eEstimated. ^rRevised. XX Not applicable.
¹Data are rounded to no more than three significant digits, except prices.
²Stocks held by cobalt processors and consumers.
³Defense Logistics Agency, DLA Strategic Materials (formerly Defense National Stockpile Center). Data for
2006 include material committed for sale pending shipment; data for 2007-10 are uncommitted material only.
⁴Annual average U.S. spot price for minimum 99.8% cobalt cathode reported by Platts Metals Week.
⁵Stocks held in Asia, Europe, and the United States.