Contrary to previous US calls for a ban on Russian uranium imports, the nation records its highest volume of uranium imports since 2005.
- Representatives of participating companies sign containers with uranium to be used as fuel for nuclear reactors, prior to loading them aboard Atlantic Navigator ship, on a port in St. Petersburg, Russia, Thursday, Nov. 14, 2013 (AP)
During the first half of 2023, the United States bought 416 tonnes of uranium from Russia, which is 2.2 times larger than in the same period last year and the largest amount since 2005, according to Sputnik‘s calculations from US federal statistical system data.
The US bought 188 tonnes of uranium from Russia during the first six months of 2022 and 418 tonnes in January-July 2005.
The US is only supplied with uranium-235 enriched fuel, which is the country’s main “radioactive” import. The analysis, however, also considered import data of natural and depleted uranium, which the US purchases from other countries.
The cost of Russian-imported uranium surged in 2023 to $696.5 million, marking the highest recorded value since 2002, the year when the US began to break down data every month. This notable increase saw supply costs skyrocket by 2.5 times compared to the previous year. Additionally, Russia’s slice of US uranium imports grew by an impressive 13 percentage points, now accounting for 32% of the total share.