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UraniUM
Uranium doesn't trade on an open market
like other commodities. Spot prices are
typically sharply lower than long term
prices which are negotiated on a contract
basis. As an example, the October 2016
contract uranium price for Cameco was
US $35.50/lb versus a spot price of $18.75.
While market fundamentals remain strong
over the long term, the near-to-medium-
term outlook for the growth of nuclear
power has been complicated by the slow
return to operation of Japan's nuclear fleet,
reactor shutdowns in other countries, and
a sluggish global economy among other
factors.
GraphiTe
Graphite is a form of carbon that is avail-
able in natural and synthetic forms. Global
consumption of graphite was pegged at 2.7
million tonnes in 2015, according to FMI,
a provider of syndicated research reports.
Sales revenue of the mineral is antici-
pated to increase at a compounded annual
growth rate of 11.1% from 2016 to 2026,
the firm estimates. Growth of the auto-
motive sector and steel industry in Latin
America is expected to drive growth in
consumption of graphite.
irOn Ore
Iron ore prices have risen more than 50%
this year helped by a huge credit surge
in China, the world's biggest consumer of
raw materials. Brazilian iron ore producer,
Vale, is projecting prices between US $50
and $60/tonne in 2017 which has already
been eclipsed. Domestic miners in China
are continuing to close, crimping supply.
Recent strength in iron ore prices is a by-
product of another rally in steel prices,
boosted by government enforced output
curbs in the Chinese city of Tangshan, a
major steel producing hub.
COal
Coal has become one of the hottest com-
modities in 2016. Much of this relates to
Chinese regulators imposing restrictions
on domestic production of mostly ther-
mal coal to combat air pollution. By early
