U.S. exports of Non-Irradiated Nuclear Fuel Elements (Cartridges) for Reactors (SITC 71877) totaled $128.0M in August 2026.
Importers of Non-Irradiated Nuclear Fuel Elements (Cartridges) for Reactors paid $1.4M in duties in August 2026, an average duty rate of 9.81% — duty actually collected as a share of the imports that cleared customs, not the published tariff schedule. Non-Irradiated Nuclear Fuel Elements (Cartridges) for Reactors imports of $9.6M in August 2026 ran 19% above the year-to-date monthly average of $8.1M.
Last updated: August 2026 dataFresh (non-irradiated) fuel assemblies — the bundled fuel rods or cartridges loaded into a reactor core before use — are classified here, distinct from irradiated (spent) fuel, which carries entirely different regulatory and hazardous-materials treatment. Enriched uranium fuel elements are subject to NRC import licensing, Department of Energy authorizations, and strict nuclear safeguards under IAEA agreements. The commercial market is served by a small number of qualified fuel fabricators, and fuel supply contracts are typically long-term arrangements tied to specific reactor designs and enrichment specifications.
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104 import shipments a month
Non-irradiated (fresh) fuel elements have not been used in a reactor and contain no fission products, so they are classified and regulated as nuclear materials rather than radioactive waste. Irradiated (spent) fuel is subject to entirely different NRC, DOT, and international safeguard frameworks governing radioactive waste transport and storage. Misidentifying the irradiation status would result in incorrect classification and potentially serious regulatory violations.
Imports of enriched uranium fuel elements must comply with IAEA safeguards under the US-IAEA Safeguards Agreement, NRC import licensing requirements under the Atomic Energy Act, and the terms of any applicable 123 Agreement with the exporting country. The specific enrichment level (low-enriched vs. high-enriched uranium) also affects which regulatory controls apply.
Basic heading 88 of 642 in section 7
Basic heading 71877 · $128.0M of $76.2B
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ImportsExports
Imports
$9.6MYoY · free account
Exports
$128.0MYoY · free account
12-mo low · imports
Low · free accountOver the twelve months to August 2026, the U.S. imported $100.9M of Non-Irradiated Nuclear Fuel Elements (Cartridges) for Reactors.
Through August 2026 · exports 10 of 12 months reported. Source: U.S. Census Bureau.
Exports · August 2026
destination
Mexico and China together take 93% of it.
customs district
Census does not publish district detail for this classification system.
origin
Census does not publish state detail for this classification system.
entry
Census does not publish port detail for this classification system.