Nuclear power plant

Uranium is a silvery-white metal that is radioactive with unique nuclear properties. Uranium’s major uses are as high-density penetrators in the military sector and as a fuel for nuclear power plants in the civilian sphere.

Worldwide exports of uranium were worth US$17.9 billion during 2025, expanding by 214.5% over the 5-year period starting from $5.7 billion in 2021.

Year over year, the value of exported uranium fell by -7.9% compared to $17.9 billion starting from 2024.

There are three major subcategories for exported uranium. The 6-digit Harmonized Tariff System code prefix is 284410 for natural uranium and its compounds. Code prefix 284420 represents enriched uranium, while 284430 is for depleted uranium.

Natural uranium exports by country totaled US$8.1 billion in 2025, up by an average 150.7% for all exporting countries since 2021. From 2024 to 2025, exported natural uranium slowed by -10.7%.

The value of exported enriched uranium was $9.75 billion, spiking by 306.7% from the comparable amount for 2021 but retreating by -5.3% year over year.

Exports for the third and smallest type, depleted uranium export sales amounted to $69.9 million. That dollar amount results from a -0.1% flatlining drop from 2021 and a -23.4% decrease from 2024 to 2025.

By value, the listed 15 countries shipped 99.9994% of globally exported natural uranium in 2025.

Among the above countries, the fastest-growing natural uranium exporters since 2024 were: Netherlands (up 483%), United Kingdom (up 37%) and Russia (up 23.3%).

Those countries that posted year-over-year declines in their exported natural uranium sales were led by: Egypt (down -67.9%), South Africa (down -58.3%), France (down -44.5%), Germany (down -36.3%) and Ukraine (down -30.8%).

By value, the listed 15 countries shipped 99.9997% of globally exported enriched uranium in 2025.

Among the above countries, the fastest-growing enriched uranium exporters since 2024 were: United States of America (up 242.7%), United Kingdom (up 208%), Sweden (up 79.9%) and Russia (up 15.3%).

Those countries that posted year-over-year declines in their exported enriched uranium sales were: Spain (down -99.5%), mainland China (down -53%), Kazakhstan (down -50.1%), Netherlands (down -29.1%) and France (down -2.7%).

The listed 15 countries shipped 98.9% of globally exported depleted uranium in 2025 by value.

Among the above countries, the fastest-growing depleted uranium exporters since 2023 were: Italy (up 4,420%), Norway (up 964%), Australia (up 544.4%) and Estonia (up 232.9%).

Those countries that posted year-over-year declines in their exported depleted uranium sales were led by: Portugal (down -84.6%), Czech Republic (down -81.4%), United States of America (down -46.1%), South Africa (down -42%) and India (down -22%).

Suppliers in Asia collected the most revenue from natural uranium exported during 2025 with shipments valued at $4.49 billion or 55.5% of the global total. In second place were exporters located in North America at 42.1%.

Another 2.1% of natural uranium shipments came from Europe.

Tiny sources for natural uranium exports were Africa (0.3% of the world’s total) and Latin America excluding Mexico but including the Caribbean (0.0008%).

At 95.8%, European exporters were responsible for the bulk of the world’s exports of enriched uranium in 2025.

Suppliers in Asia (2.8%), and to a lesser extent, North America (1.4%) accounted for the remainder of enriched uranium sold on international markets ahead of Oceania (0.001%).

Africa is the world’s number one exporter of depleted uranium via its 55.6% worldwide share.

Europe is the second-leading continental source for depleted uranium exports, given its 19.8% portion of the global total.

Oceania’s Australia and New Zealand furnish another 13.9% for exports of depleted uranium.

Smaller exporter sources of depleted uranium are North America’s Australia (9.6%), Asia (1%), and Latin America (0.007%).

See also Gold Exports by Country, Silver Exports by Country, Platinum Exports by Country and US Uranium Imports by Supplying Country

Research Sources:
Central Intelligence Agency, The World Factbook Field Listing: Exports – Commodities. Accessed on July 1, 2026

Forbes Global 2000 rankings, The World’s Biggest Public Companies. Accessed on July 1, 2026

International Trade Centre, Trade Map. Accessed on July 1, 2026

Investopedia, Net Exports Definition. Accessed on July 1, 2026

Mining Feeds, Uranium Mining Companies Listed in All Countries. Accessed on July 1, 2026

Wikipedia, Uranium. Accessed on July 1, 2026