Fabrication Market Outlook

Fabrication: The Unique Factor in the Fuel Cycle
2008 Update

A Global Review and Analysis of the Fuel Fabrication Market
When the 2007 FMO report was published, it appeared that the fabrication industry had settled into relative stability. However, over the past several months, numerous new joint ventures and affiliations among the key fabrication suppliers and even new entrants into the fuel fabrication market have been reported that will uniquely change the landscape of the fabrication market.

Chief among these recent events is the new joint venture between AREVA and Kazatomprom, named KATCO, which promises to place Kazakhstan squarely in the pack of future major fabrication suppliers. The possible takeover of NFI in Japan by Toshiba could also make for an interesting BWR market situation in this area. These events and others and their impact on the fabrication market are discussed in the new 2008 FMO update.

This update has also been expanded to include a specific year-by-year fabrication price forecast, including how fabrication prices are initially formulated. Another addition is an entire new chapter on fabrication supply and demand, providing a comprehensive understanding of the differences that exist in regional fabrication markets.

Fuel fabrication differs in most respects from the other steps in the fuel cycle. Its high technical content, need for regulatory approval and the restriction of fuel assemblies to specific reactors require a unique approach to analysis of this dynamic industry. For 2008, Ux Consulting and its consultant, Joel Gingold, with over forty years experience in the fuel fabrication industry, have prepared a comprehensive report addressing the commercial, economic, institutional and technical aspects of fabrication.

To those with little knowledge of fuel fabrication and its markets, this report can serve as a primer providing a solid background and understanding of how its markets function. To those knowledgeable in the fundamentals, it offers analyses of a variety of its aspects based on several decades of participation. To those who are actively involved in the industry, it supplies additional insights to assist in the improvement of existing nuclear fuel programs and in the development of new fabrication-related programs. Highlights from the new report include the following:

A History of the International Fuel Fabrication Industry – tracing its evolution from 1960s to today, including each of the recently announced initiatives, and future developments.

The World’s Nuclear Fuel Fabricators – in-depth profiles of the three Mega-vendors who dominate markets in the U.S. and Western Europe as well as the national and regional suppliers who serve their local markets; impact of new initiatives; corporate organization; markets served; and products offered.

Nuclear Fuel Fabrication Markets – assessing the numerous market segments, geographic and technical; participants in each market; impact of new ventures; vendor market shares; levels of competition.

Procurement of Nuclear Fuel Fabrication Services – utility practices and procedures; content of typical bid specifications; bid evaluation procedures; and conventional terms and conditions used in contracts.

Supply and Demand in the Nuclear Fuel Fabrication Industry – examination of the balance between fabrication supply and demand in each geographic market segment, including specific year-by-year forecasts.

Nuclear Fuel Fabrication Prices – price formation for fabrication services; price history; current price levels, forecasts of future prices.

Design and Manufacture of Nuclear Fuel Assemblies – the technical aspects of fabricated fuel including fuel assembly designs and their components; the fuel fabrication process; and nuclear fuel performance.

Please see our product flier and table of contents in Adobe Acrobat PDF format.
For additional information please contact:
Eric Webb Phone: +1 (770) 642-7745 Internet: