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SITCSection 5
U.S. imports of spent (irradiated) nuclear fuel elements (SITC 52517) totaled $19K in April 2026, traded with 1 country.
Spent (Irradiated) Nuclear Fuel Elements imports of $19K in April 2026 ran 300% above the year-to-date monthly average of $5K.
Last updated: April 2026 dataSpent fuel cartridges removed from nuclear reactors contain a complex mixture of residual fissile material, fission products, and transuranic actinides, making them among the most hazardous and tightly controlled items in international commerce. US imports of spent nuclear fuel are governed by NRC regulations under 10 CFR Part 110, require specific import licenses, and are subject to IAEA safeguards accounting. Physical transport demands specialized Type B or C certified casks meeting both NRC and DOT/IAEA transport standards. Commercial imports are rare and typically occur only in the context of research reactor fuel return programs or government-to-government agreements; utilities do not routinely import spent fuel.
AI-written summary of the official U.S. Census Bureau trade figures on this page — verify before relying on it.
The most common scenario is the US Foreign Research Reactor Spent Nuclear Fuel Acceptance Program, under which the US government accepts spent fuel from foreign research reactors that used US-origin enriched uranium. Commercial power reactor spent fuel imports are extremely rare and would require specific NRC import license approval, DOE consent, and compliance with applicable bilateral nuclear cooperation agreements.
Spent fuel must be shipped in NRC-certified Type B or Type C transport casks that meet both domestic 10 CFR Part 71 requirements and IAEA SSR-6 transport regulations. The casks must demonstrate containment, shielding, criticality control, and structural integrity under normal and accident conditions. Port-of-entry facilities must be pre-approved for receipt of such shipments, and advance notification to NRC and CBP is mandatory.
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Monthly import values over time
| Country | Imports | Exports | Balance |
|---|---|---|---|
| KOREA, SOUTH | -- | $19K | +$19K |
| JAPAN | $19K | -- | -$19K |
| INDONESIA | -- | $11K | +$11K |
| ECUADOR | -- | -- | -- |
| CHILE | -- | -- | -- |