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Uranium Exports by Country

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Nuclear power plant
Nuclear power plant
Uranium is a silvery-white metal that is radioactive with unique nuclear properties. Uranium’s major uses are as high-density penetrators in the military sector and as a fuel for nuclear power plants in the civilian sphere.

Worldwide exports of uranium were worth US$10.2 billion during 2022, up by 100.5% over the 5-year period starting from $5.1 billion in 2018.

Year over year, the value of exported uranium accelerated by 79.8% from $5.7 billion during 2021.

Different Types of Exported Uranium

There are three major subcategories for exported uranium. The 6-digit Harmonized Tariff System code prefix is 284410 for natural uranium and its compounds. Code prefix 284420 represents enriched uranium, while 284430 is for depleted uranium.

Natural uranium exports by country totaled US$4.4 billion in 2022, up by an average 60.5% for all exporting countries since 2018. From 2021 to 2022, exported natural uranium appreciated by 38.6%.

The value of exported enriched uranium was $5.7 billion, increasing by 150.7% from the comparable amount for 2018 and accelerating by 136.3% year over year.

Exports for the third and smallest type, depleted uranium export sales amounted to $79 million. That dollar amount results from a 48.1% upturn from 2018 and a 12.8% rise from 2021 to 2022.

Natural Uranium Exports by Country

Below are the 15 countries that exported the highest dollar value worth of natural uranium during 2022.

  1. Kazakhstan: US$2.6 billion (59.1% of natural uranium exports)
  2. Canada: $1.3 billion (29.5%)
  3. France: $349.5 million (7.9%)
  4. United States of America: $104.8 million (2.4%)
  5. Uzbekistan: $29.4 million (0.7%)
  6. South Africa: $18.6 million (0.4%)
  7. Germany: $1.8 million (0.04%)
  8. Netherlands: $1.1 million (0.02%)
  9. Estonia: $508,000 (0.01%)
  10. Norway: $213,000 (0.005%)
  11. United Kingdom: $202,000 (0.005%)
  12. Russian Federation: $49,000 (0.001%)
  13. Colombia: $18,000 (0.0004%)
  14. Malaysia: $14,000 (0.0003%)
  15. Egypt: $14,000 (0.0003%)

By value, the listed 15 countries shipped 99.9993% of global natural uranium exports in 2022.

Among the above countries, the fastest-growing exporters of natural uranium were: Netherlands (up 544% from 2021), France (up 485%), South Africa (up 52.6%) and Kazakhstan (up 49.6%).

Four major suppliers posted declines in their exported natural uranium sales, namely: United Kingdom (down -99.4% from 2021), United States of America (down -50.2%), Egypt (down -50%) and Germany (down -17.6%).

Enriched Uranium Exports by Country

Below are the 15 countries that exported the highest dollar value worth of enriched uranium during 2022.

  1. Russia: US$2 billion (35.7% of enriched uranium exports)
  2. Netherlands: $1.3 billion (22%)
  3. France: $1.2 billion (22%)
  4. Germany: $973.3 million (17.1%)
  5. United States: $87.1 million (1.5%)
  6. China: $65.3 million (1.1%)
  7. Kazakhstan: $18.1 million (0.3%)
  8. Sweden: $1.9 million (0.03%)
  9. United Arab Emirates: $788,000 (0.01%)
  10. Belgium: $493,000 (0.009%)
  11. Canada: $467,000 (0.008%)
  12. South Korea: $261,000 (0.005%)
  13. Norway: $178,000 (0.003%)
  14. Japan: $118,000 (0.002%)
  15. United Kingdom: $82,000 (0.001%)

By value, the listed 15 countries shipped 99.999% of globally exported enriched uranium in 2022.

Among the above countries, the fastest-growing exporters of enriched uranium were: United Arab Emirates (up 26,167% from 2021), United Kingdom (up 1,950%), Sweden (up 1,184%) and Belgium (up 107.1%).

A trio of major suppliers recorded declines in their exported enriched uranium sales, namely: South Korea (down -69.6% from 2021), Japan (down -66.3%) and the United States of America (down -33.3%).

Depleted Uranium Exports by Country

Below are the 15 countries that exported the highest dollar value worth of depleted uranium during 2022.

  1. South Africa: US$43.2 million (54.7% of depleted uranium exports)
  2. Germany: $12.1 million (15.4%)
  3. United States: $7 million (8.8%)
  4. Sweden: $5 million (6.3%)
  5. Italy: $3.1 million (3.9%)
  6. France: $2.2 million (2.8%)
  7. Russia: $1.6 million (2%)
  8. Spain: $1 million (1.3%)
  9. Australia: $875,000 (1.11%)
  10. Kazakhstan: $712,000 (0.90%)
  11. Czech Republic: $668,000 (0.85%)
  12. Netherlands: $308,000 (0.39%)
  13. Greece: $232,000 (0.29%)
  14. Poland: $180,000 (0.23%)
  15. Suriname: $155,000 (0.20%)

The listed 15 countries shipped 99% of global depleted uranium exports in 2022 by value.

Among the above countries, the fastest-growing exporters of depleted uranium were: South Africa (up 616,714% from 2021), Spain (up 664.9%), Netherlands (up 100%) and Australia (up 98.4%).

Four major suppliers posted declines in their exported depleted uranium sales, namely: France (down -94% from 2021), Italy (down -33%), Sweden (down -15.7%) and Germany (down -15.1%).

Major Uranium Companies

According to MiningFeeds.com, the following companies represent established players engaged in the international uranium trade. Their home country is shown within parenthesis.

  • Altius Minerals (Canada)
  • BHP Billiton Ltd (Australia)
  • Cameco (Canada)
  • Energy Resources of Australia (Australia)
  • Rio Tinto Ltd (Australia)
  • Uranium Energy Corp (United States)
  • Uranium Participation Corp (Canada)
  • Ur-Energy Inc (United States)

 

Continental Sources by Type of Exported Uranium

Suppliers in Asia collected the most revenue from natural uranium exported during 2022 with shipments valued at $2.65 billion or 59.8% of the global total. In second place were exporters in Asia at 31.9%.

Another 8% of natural uranium shipments came from Europe.

Smaller sources for natural uranium exports were Africa (0.4% of the world’s total) and Latin America (0.0005%).

At 97%, European exporters were responsible for the bulk of the world’s exports of enriched uranium in 2022.

Suppliers in North America and Asia accounted for the remainder of enriched uranium sold on international markets.

Africa is the world’s number one exporter of depleted uranium via its 54.7% worldwide share.

Europe is the second-leading source for depleted uranium exports, given its 33.6% portion of the global total.

North America furnishes another 8.9% for exports of depleted uranium.

Much smaller exporters of depleted uranium are Asia (1.3%), Oceania’s Australia (1.1%) and Latin America (0.3%).

See also Gold Exports by Country, Silver Exports by Country, Platinum Exports by Country and US Uranium Imports by Supplying Country

Research Sources:
Central Intelligence Agency, The World Factbook Field Listing: Exports – Commodities. Accessed on August 4, 2023

Forbes Global 2000 rankings, The World’s Biggest Public Companies. Accessed on August 4, 2023

International Trade Centre, Trade Map. Accessed on August 4, 2023

Investopedia, Net Exports Definition. Accessed on August 4, 2023

Mining Feeds, Uranium Mining Companies Listed in All Countries. Accessed on August 4, 2023

Wikipedia, Uranium. Accessed on August 4, 2023