U.S. Uranium Production Rose Threefold in 2025
U.S. uranium production more than tripled last year, to its highest level in eight years (U.S. Energy Information Administration).
What’s going on: “In 2025, uranium concentrate production in the United States totaled 2.1 million pounds of triuranium octoxide (U3O8), the base component of nuclear reactor fuel. U.S. U3O8 production in 2025 was the most since 2017 and more than triple the volume produced in 2024.”
- Triuranium octoxide—called “yellowcake” for its powdery, yellow appearance—is one of the key ingredients for nuclear-reactor fuel.
New exploration: Last year, “exploration drilling to locate, map and evaluate underground uranium deposits included 1,824 holes with total footage surpassing 1.0 million feet, up from the 1,324 holes with a total footage of 0.6 million feet drilled in 2024.”
- Development drilling—done to measure the size, grade and shape of known uranium deposits—resulted in 3,708 holes, with total footage of 1.30 million feet, an increase from 2,462 holes and 1.26 million feet the previous year.
Yellowcake purchases: U.S. nuclear plant owners and operators purchased less yellowcake in 2025—46.9 million pounds of triuranium octoxide equivalent, down from 55.9 million pounds in 2024.
- “Most of the U3O8 delivered to U.S. nuclear plants in 2025 was of foreign origin, with Canada as the top source.”
Our view: “Building a reliable domestic uranium supply chain is essential to ensuring nuclear can continue to be a dependable energy source for the United States and our allies—and to securing America’s energy future and unleashing American energy dominance,” said NAM President and CEO Jay Timmons.
