That dollar amount reflects a 16.9% gain from the $2.1 billion that the US spent on overall uranium imports 5 years earlier in 2017, and a 36.2% year-over-year acceleration from 2020 to 2021.
Uranium is a silvery-white metal with unique nuclear properties. The main non-military use of uranium is as a fuel for nuclear power plants. According to the U.S. Energy Information Administration, nuclear power plants process a specific type of uranium known as U-235 as fuel because its atoms are split apart relatively easily.
US import data presented below is separated into two distinct forms. Enriched U-235 uranium is recorded under six-digit Harmonized Tariff System (HTS) code 284420 in contrast to 284410 for natural uranium and its compounds.
Of the total $2.4 billion in American uranium imports during 2021, 91% ($2.18 billion) was for international purchases of enriched uranium. That share compares to 9% ($216.3 million) for imported natural uranium and related compounds.
Countries Exporting Enriched Uranium to America
Below are the 8 countries from which the United States purchased $2.18 billion worth of enriched U-235 uranium during 2021. The United States has increased its enriched uranium imports by 55.3% since 2017 and by 25.4% from 2020 to 2021.
- Russia: US$645.7 million (29.6% of US imports of enriched uranium)
- Netherlands: $535 million (24.5%)
- Germany: $403.6 million (18.5%)
- United Kingdom: $393.3 million (18%)
- France: $150.8 million (6.9%)
- Japan: $50.9 million (2.3%)
- Kazakhstan: $2.7 million (0.1%)
- Belgium: $3,000 (0.0001%)
Four countries boosted their revenues from enriched uranium sold to America from 2017 to 2021, namely the Netherlands (up 175.7%), France (up 87.8%), Germany (up 84.8%) and the United Kingdom (up 75%).
The biggest loser over the 5-year period was Kazakhstan thanks to the -34.4% shrinkage in enriched uranium sales to the United States.
Countries Exporting Natural Uranium to America
Below are the 7 countries from which the United States bought $216.3 million worth of natural uranium including its compounds during 2021. America boosted its spending on imported natural uranium purchases by 943.2% from 2020 to 2021 but decreased by -66.5% since 2017.
- Canada: US$200.1 million (92.5% of US imports of natural uranium)
- Kazakhstan: $16.2 million (7.5%)
- United Kingdom: $27,000 (0.01%)
- Belgium: $10,000 (0.005%)
- France: $6,000 (0.003%)
- Czech Republic: $5,000 (0.002%)
- China: $2,000 (0.001%)
The sole gainer among America’s suppliers of natural uranium from 2017 to 2021 was the United Kingdom thanks to its 92.9% increase.
In contrast, the value of natural uranium that the US imported in 2021 shrank for suppliers in Canada (down -65.8% compared to 2017), Kazakhstan (down -65%) and France (down -53.8%).
US Uranium Suppliers Causing Trade Deficits for America
America does produce and sell its own uranium on international markets. In 2021, the United States shipped $130.5 million worth of enriched uranium to its international trade partners plus another $210.8 million worth of natural uranium.
However, American revenues from exported enriched uranium fall far short of the $2.18 billion that the US spent on imported enriched uranium thus resulting in a -$1.9 billion product category deficit in 2021.
Similarly, America shipped $210.8 million worth of natural uranium compared to $216.3 million in US imports of natural uranium thus generating America’s -$5.5 million negative trade balance for natural uranium in 2021.
Below you will find the 7 countries that caused America’s country-specific deficits from buying and selling enriched uranium on international markets, incurring a subtotal deficit of -$2.17 billion for 2021.
- Russia: -US$645.2 million (product deficit up 0.9% since 2017)
- Netherlands: -$533.7 million (up 177.2%)
- Germany: -$403.5 million (up 84.7%)
- United Kingdom: -$392.1 million (up 75.7%)
- France: -$150.7 million (up 87.6%)
- Japan: -$39.7 million (reversing a $41.7 million surplus in 2017)
- Kazakhstan: -$341,000 (reversing a $13 million surplus)
As for natural uranium, the following 5 trade partners created a subtotal US deficit totaling -$375.7 million during 2021.
- Canada: -US$42.8 million (product deficit down -92.6% since 2017)
- Kazakhstan: -$16.2 million (down -65%)
- United Kingdom: -$27,000 (reversing a $74,000 surplus)
- France: -$6,000 (down -53.8%)
- Czech Republic: -$5,000 (2017 data unavailable)
See also US Iron and Steel Imports by Supplier Countries, America’s Top Trading Partners, United States Top 10 Imports and US Aluminum Imports by Supplying Country
Research Sources:
Gabriel Friedman for the National Post, How U.S.-Russia tensions could revive Canada’s struggling uranium mines. Accessed on April 12, 2022
Investopedia, Net Exports Definition. Accessed on April 12, 2022
International Trade Centre, Trade Map. Accessed on April 12, 2022
Central Intelligence Agency, The World Factbook, Field Listing: Exports – Commodities. Accessed on April 12, 2022
U.S. Energy Information Administration, Nuclear Explained: Where Our Uranium Comes From, Central Intelligence Agency. Accessed on April 12, 2022
Wikipedia, Uranium. Accessed on April 12, 2022
Wikipedia, Category:Uranium mining companies by country. Accessed on April 12, 2022
