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SITCSection 5
U.S. imports of natural uranium and its compounds, alloys, and ceramics (SITC 52511) totaled $118.7M in April 2026, traded with 3 countries.
Natural Uranium and Its Compounds, Alloys, and Ceramics imports of $118.7M in April 2026 ran 18% below the year-to-date monthly average of $144.3M.
Last updated: April 2026 dataNatural uranium—uranium at its naturally occurring isotopic ratio of approximately 0.7% U-235—and its downstream forms including alloys, dispersions, and ceramic products are tightly controlled under the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) import licensing regime and the Department of Energy's (DOE) nuclear materials framework. Uranium oxide (yellowcake) is the most commercially significant form, serving as the feedstock for enrichment facilities that supply nuclear power plants. Import transactions require NRC authorization, and shipments are subject to nuclear safeguards agreements administered through the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA). Supply security for natural uranium is a strategic concern for US utilities given the concentration of global mining in a small number of countries.
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Importers must hold a specific NRC import license for nuclear source material. The license application requires disclosure of the material's origin, quantity, chemical form, and intended end use. Shipments are also subject to IAEA safeguards reporting obligations under US bilateral nuclear cooperation agreements, and CBP coordinates with NRC at the port of entry.
Uranium ceramic products—most notably uranium dioxide pellets—are fabricated fuel forms used directly in reactor fuel assemblies, whereas uranium oxide concentrate (yellowcake) is an intermediate that still requires conversion and enrichment. Ceramic fuel forms therefore represent a further downstream stage of the nuclear fuel cycle and are subject to additional quality specifications and safeguards tracking distinct from those applied to raw concentrate.
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| Country | Imports | Exports | Balance |
|---|---|---|---|
| CANADA | $97.4M | -- | -$97.4M |
| GERMANY | -- | $57.8M | +$57.8M |
| NETHERLANDS | -- | $42.7M | +$42.7M |
| KAZAKHSTAN | $21.3M | -- | -$21.3M |
| UNITED KINGDOM | -- | $13.8M | +$13.8M |
Monthly import values over time