Kazakhstan has significantly increased the export of natural processed uranium to Russia, according to analysts from the country's First Credit Bureau (PKB).
In January 2023, almost 1.8 thousand tons of uranium were sold for a total of $228.6 million, the PKB notes, citing data from the Bureau of National Statistics of Kazakhstan.
For comparison: in the first 5 months of 2022, exports to Russia amounted to about 1.9 thousand tons for $216.5 million. Thus, the sales level for the first month of 2023 is commensurate with sales in January-May of the previous year.
The second point that attracts attention is that Russia is the main buyer of the group "Products of inorganic chemistry, inorganic or organic compounds of precious metals, rare earth metals, radioactive elements or isotopes." Uranium belongs to this group.
In general, the volume of Kazakhstani exports of all nuclear products in January amounted to $299.8 million, of which 83% was provided by Russia (and 76% - specifically by uranium). At the same time, in December, for example, exports of this enlarged group to all countries of the world amounted to $591.5 million. Of these, only 32% (or $186.8 million) accounted for Russia.
CentralasianLIGHT.org
March 15, 2023