HS Code for Uranium Concentrate / Yellowcake (HS 2612.10)
Yellowcake is U3O8 (triuranium octoxide, ~85% uranium) - the milled product that enters the nuclear fuel cycle for conversion and enrichment. Kazakhstan (~40%), Canada (~20%), Namibia (~10%), Australia (~10%) dominate mining. Trade is heavily contract-based; UxC and TradeTech publish spot indices.
Sample 6-digit codes
| Code | Description |
|---|---|
| 2612.10 | Uranium ores and concentrates |
| 2612.20 | Thorium ores and concentrates |
| 2844.10 | Natural uranium and its compounds |
Typical import duty by market
| Market | Duty |
|---|---|
| European Union | 0% Euratom Supply Agency oversight. |
| United States | 0% May 2024 ban on Russian enriched uranium imports (unless waiver). |
| Japan | 0% |
Numerical Example: 100 MT U3O8 concentrate, FOB Almaty USD 85/lb U3O8, CIF Cameco Blind River conversion facility Canada
100 MT U3O8 concentrate, FOB Almaty USD 85/lb U3O8, CIF Cameco Blind River conversion facility Canada. Run your own numbers in the Import Duty & Tax calculator.
- · IAEA safeguards - Additional Protocol.
- · Euratom Supply Agency approval for EU utilities.
- · US Nuclear Regulatory Commission licence.
- · NRC / DOE end-use certificates.
- · IMDG Class 7 UN 2912 radioactive material low specific activity.
- · US Prohibiting Russian Uranium Imports Act (2024) - blocks Russian enriched product with waiver mechanism.
- · Kazakhstan (Kazatomprom)
- · Canada (Cameco)
- · Namibia
- · Australia (BHP)
- · Russia (Rosatom, restricted to some markets)
Frequently asked questions
The spot market is ~10 million lb/yr - marginal supply. Utilities buy 90%+ of demand on term contracts (base + escalators + floors/caps). During 2022-24 spot surged from USD 50 to USD 100+/lb on Cameco/Kazatomprom production cuts and Rosatom sanction fears. Term prices lagged spot by 6-12 months.
Import duty and tax by destination market
Typical MFN duty, consumption tax and the tax base applied to critical minerals (HS 2612.10) in each market we cover. Rates are indicative at the 6-digit line | confirm the national 8/10-digit code with your broker.
| Market | Duty | Consumption tax | Tax base | Tax as % of CIF |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| India | 2.5% | IGST 18% | Assessable value + duty | 21.2% |
| United Arab Emirates | 0% | VAT 5% | CIF + duty | 5.0% |
| Saudi Arabia | 0% | VAT 15% | CIF + duty | 15.0% |
| Singapore | 0% | GST 9% | CIF + duty | 9.0% |
| China | 0% | VAT 13% | CIF + duty | 13.0% |
| United States | 0% | Federal VAT 0% | CIF | 0.3% |
| United Kingdom | 0% | VAT 20% | CIF + duty | 20.0% |
| Germany | 0% | USt 19% | CIF + duty | 19.0% |
| Netherlands | 0% | BTW 21% | CIF + duty | 21.0% |
| Vietnam | 0% | VAT 10% | CIF + duty | 10.0% |
| Türkiye | 0% | KDV 20% | CIF + duty | 20.0% |
| Japan | 0% | JCT 10% | CIF + duty | 10.0% |
| South Korea | 0% | VAT 10% | CIF + duty | 10.0% |
| Brazil | 0% | IPI+PIS/COFINS+ICMS 32% | CIF + duty | 32.0% |
| Indonesia | 0% | PPN 11% | CIF + duty | 13.5% |
| Mexico | 0% | IVA 16% | CIF + duty | 16.9% |
| Egypt | 0% | VAT 14% | CIF + duty | 14.0% |
| Nigeria | 0% | VAT 7.5% | CIF + duty | 9.1% |
| South Africa | 0% | VAT 15% | Assessable value + duty | 16.5% |
| Australia | 0% | GST 10% | CIF + duty | 10.0% |
Run your own numbers with the landed cost calculator or check documentation requirements in the LC document checklist.