U.S. exports of Artificial Filament Tow of Cellulose Acetate (HS 550210) totaled $51.5M in August 2026.
Importers of Artificial Filament Tow of Cellulose Acetate paid $47K in duties in August 2026, an average duty rate of 12.25% — duty actually collected as a share of the imports that cleared customs, not the published tariff schedule. Artificial Filament Tow of Cellulose Acetate imports of $381K in August 2026 ran 11% above the year-to-date monthly average of $344K.
Last updated: August 2026 dataCellulose acetate filament tow is the dominant raw material for cigarette filter production worldwide, making it a strategically significant commodity despite its narrow end-use profile. Classified under 5502100000, US imports are led by Germany, with Chile and China also among the top suppliers. Because cellulose acetate tow is derived from wood pulp through chemical processing, it is classified as an artificial (regenerated) fiber rather than a synthetic one — a distinction that determines its HTS chapter placement and can affect duty treatment.
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8 import shipments a month
The HTS distinguishes artificial fibers (derived from natural cellulosic polymers that are chemically modified, such as cellulose acetate or viscose rayon) from synthetic fibers (built entirely from petrochemical monomers). This distinction places cellulose acetate tow in Chapter 55 heading 5502 rather than 5501, and it affects both duty rates and applicable textile trade rules.
The tow itself is an industrial textile intermediate and does not trigger FDA or USDA admissibility review at import. However, downstream manufacturers incorporating it into tobacco products are subject to FDA Center for Tobacco Products oversight. Importers should ensure commercial invoices clearly describe the product as filament tow to avoid any confusion with finished tobacco articles.
Subheading 1 of 2 in heading 5502
Subheading 550210 · $51.5M of $51.5M
ImportsExports
Imports
$381KYoY · free account
Exports
$51.5MYoY · free account
12-mo low · imports
Low · free accountOver the twelve months to August 2026, the U.S. imported $4.1M of Artificial Filament Tow of Cellulose Acetate and exported $600.9M.
Through August 2026. Source: U.S. Census Bureau.
Exports · August 2026
destination
customs district
origin
entry
rate provision · imports
duty collected equals 12.25% of imports for consumption.
HS10 import codes under this HS6 parent, each with its own page. Source: U.S. Harmonized Tariff Schedule.
| Code | Description | Imports for consumption | Average duty rate | Dutiable Share | Duty Collected |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 5502100000 | Artificial Filament Tow of Cellulose Acetate | $381K | 12.25% | 100.00% | $47K |
HS10 export codes under this HS6 parent, each with its own page. Source: U.S. Schedule B export classification.
| Code | Description | Export Value |
|---|---|---|
| 5502100000 | Artificial Filament Tow of Cellulose Acetate | $51.5M |
Import lines come from the U.S. Harmonized Tariff Schedule and export lines from Schedule B. The two are numbered by different agencies, so the same 10-digit code can appear in both tables describing a different product.
Trade Directory
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