| Country | Uranium required 2006-08[129] | % of world demand | Indigenous mining production 2006[130] | Deficit (-surplus) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 USA | 18,918 tonnes (42×106 lb) | 29.3% | 2,000 tonnes (4.4×106 lb) | 16,918 tonnes (37×106 lb) |
 France | 10,527 tonnes (23×106 lb) | 16.3% | 0 | 10,527 tonnes (23×106 lb) |
 Japan | 7,659 tonnes (17×106 lb) | 11.8% | 0 | 7,659 tonnes (17×106 lb) |
 Russia | 3,365 tonnes (7.4×106 lb) | 5.2% | 4,009 tonnes (8.8×106 lb) | −644 tonnes (−1.4×106 lb) |
 Germany | 3,332 tonnes (7.3×106 lb) | 5.2% | 68.03 tonnes (0.1500×106 lb) | 3,264 tonnes (7.2×106 lb) |
 South Korea | 3,109 tonnes (6.9×106 lb) | 4.8% | 0 | 3,109 tonnes (6.9×106 lb) |
 UK | 2,199 tonnes (4.8×106 lb) | 3.4% | 0 | 2,199 tonnes (4.8×106 lb) |
| Rest of world | 15,506 tonnes (34×106 lb) | 24.0% | 40,327 tonnes (89×106 lb) | −24,821 tonnes (−55×106 lb) |
| Total | 64,615 tonnes (140×106 lb) | 100.0% | 46,403 tonnes (100×106 lb) | 18,211 tonnes (40×106 lb) |
Peak uranium for individual nations[edit]
Eleven countries, Germany, the Czech Republic, France, DR Congo, Gabon, Bulgaria, Tajikistan, Hungary, Romania, Spain,Portugal and Argentina, have seen uranium production peak, and rely on imports for their nuclear programs.[15][16] Other countries have reached their peak production of Uranium and are currently on a decline.
- Germany—Between 1946 and 1990, Wismut, the former East German uranium mining company, produced a total of around 220 kilotonnes (490×106 lb) of uranium. During its peak, production exceeded 7 kilotonnes (15×106 lb) per year. In 1990, uranium mining was discontinued as a consequence of the German unification.[15] The company could not compete on the world market. The production cost of its uranium was three times the world price.[131]
- India—India, having already hit its production peak, is finding itself in making a tough choice between using its modest and dwindling uranium resources as a source to keep its weapons programs rolling or it can use them to produce electricity.[132] Since India has abundant thorium reserves, it is switching to nuclear reactors powered by the thorium fuel cycle.
- Sweden —Sweden started uranium production in 1965 but was never profitable. They stopped mining uranium in 1969.[133] Sweden then embarked on a massive project based on American light water reactors. Nowadays, Sweden imports its uranium mostly from Canada, Australia and the former Soviet Union.
- UK - 1981The U.K.'s uranium production peaked in 1981 and the supply is running out. Yet the UK still plans to build more nuclear power plants.[50]
- France - 1988—In France uranium production attained a peak of 3,394 tonnes (7.5×106 lb) in 1988. At the time, this was enough for France to meet the half of its reactor demand from domestic sources.[134] By 1997, production was 1/5 of the 1991 levels. France markedly reduced its market share since 1997.[135] In 2002, France ran out of uranium.[130]
- U.S. - 1980—The United States was the world's leading producer of uranium from 1953 until 1980, when annual US production peaked at 16,810 tonnes (37×106 lb) (U3O8) according to the OECD redbook.[136] According to the CRB yearbook, US production the peak was at 19,822 tonnes (44×106 lb).[137] The U.S. production hit another maximum in 1996 at 6.3 million pounds (2.9 kt) of uranium oxide (U3O8), then dipped in production for a few years.[138] Between 2003 and 2007, there has been a 125% increase in production as demand for uranium has increased. However, as of 2008, production levels have not come back to 1980 levels
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