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End-UseCategory 1
U.S. imports of natural rubber (End-Use 12050) totaled $98.0M in April 2026, traded with 38 countries.
Importers of Natural Rubber paid $220K in duties in April 2026 — an effective duty rate of 11% on $2.0M in dutiable value, based on actual customs collections rather than the published tariff schedule. Natural Rubber imports of $98.0M in April 2026 ran 14% below the year-to-date monthly average of $113.9M.
Last updated: April 2026 dataHevea brasiliensis-derived natural rubber, imported primarily in technically specified rubber (TSR) or ribbed smoked sheet (RSS) grades, is an essential input for tire manufacturing, industrial rubber goods, and medical products. Southeast Asia dominates global natural rubber production, and supply is highly sensitive to weather patterns, tapping labor availability, and disease pressure on rubber plantations — factors that create periodic price volatility independent of demand cycles. Importers should confirm that shipments comply with USDA APHIS regulations governing plant-based materials, particularly for forms that may carry soil or plant debris.
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The two dominant internationally traded grades are Technically Specified Rubber (TSR, such as TSR 20) and Ribbed Smoked Sheet (RSS). TSR grades are defined by measurable physical and chemical properties and are preferred for industrial and tire applications requiring consistent performance; RSS grades are visually graded and used in specialty applications. The grade specified in the purchase contract determines the applicable HTS subheading and affects the duty rate, so accurate grade documentation is essential at entry.
South American Leaf Blight (SALB) and other fungal diseases can significantly reduce yields from rubber plantations, and any outbreak in major producing regions can tighten global supply with little warning. US importers relying on just-in-time inventory strategies for natural rubber are particularly exposed to these supply shocks, making forward contracting and safety stock management important risk mitigation tools.
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End-Use codes describe different products on the import and export sides. Cross-direction exports are not shown for this slug.
Monthly import values over time