供应集中+核能超级周期=一个多年的“铀牛市”

Core Viewpoint - The uranium market is entering a structural bull market driven by geopolitical risks and a nuclear energy supercycle, characterized by a highly concentrated supply and surging demand [1] Supply Concentration and Geopolitical Risks - Kazakhstan accounts for nearly 40% of global uranium production, while Russia controls about 40% of uranium processing and enrichment capacity, creating significant geopolitical risks [3] - The top five companies, including Kazakhstan's Kazatomprom and Canada's Cameco, control 70% of global uranium mining, exacerbating supply risks [3] Vulnerabilities in Processing - Approximately 40% of uranium conversion and enrichment capacity is located in Russia, making Western countries heavily reliant on geopolitical adversaries for critical nuclear fuel processing [6] - The U.S. is particularly vulnerable, consuming over 25% of global uranium while producing less than 1% domestically [6][7] Structural Supply-Demand Imbalance - The World Nuclear Association predicts global uranium demand will surge from 175 million pounds in 2024 to 391 million pounds by 2040, a 124% increase [8] - Demand is driven by the expansion of nuclear power in China, the restart of U.S. nuclear plants, and the rise of small modular reactors (SMRs) [8] - Uranium supply is inelastic due to long exploration cycles and high capital requirements, with new mines taking over ten years to develop [8] - A supply deficit in the global uranium market could occur as early as 2032, establishing a solid foundation for a prolonged bull market [8] Policy Support and Supply Chain Restructuring - Governments are actively promoting the localization of the uranium value chain to address supply security challenges, creating unprecedented opportunities for related companies [10] - The U.S. government has taken significant steps, including an executive order to accelerate domestic mineral production and a commitment to quadruple nuclear power capacity by 2050 [10] - Following policy announcements, U.S. uranium companies have seen substantial stock price increases, with Cameco rising 108% and Centrus Energy soaring 487% [10] EU Policy Environment - The European Commission's roadmap aims to eliminate reliance on Russian energy, including uranium imports, requiring an estimated €241 billion investment for nuclear power projects [13] - Sweden has proposed lifting the ban on uranium exploration and mining, indicating a shift in policy among some EU member states [13]