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HSChapter 29
U.S. imports of benzoic acid, its salts and esters (HS 291631) totaled $5.3M in April 2026, traded with 18 countries.
Importers of Benzoic Acid, Its Salts and Esters paid $1.1M in duties in April 2026 — an effective duty rate of 22% on $5.1M in dutiable value, based on actual customs collections rather than the published tariff schedule.
Last updated: April 2026 dataSodium benzoate — the most commercially significant salt in this heading — is a widely used food and beverage preservative, and its imports are subject to FDA admissibility review when intended for food applications. The US schedule is unusually granular here, with separate lines for benzoic acid (2916311105), sodium benzoate (2916311170), odoriferous or flavoring ester compounds (2916312000), esters covered by US Note 3 to Section VI (2916313000), and other esters (2916315000). Estonia leads US supply under this heading — a reflection of specialized European chemical production — followed by China and the Netherlands. Imports from China are subject to Section 301 tariffs, which has reinforced European sourcing for sodium benzoate and benzoic acid.
AI-written summary of the official U.S. Census Bureau trade figures on this page — verify before relying on it.
The granularity reflects distinct end-use categories: free acid, the dominant salt (sodium benzoate), odoriferous/flavoring esters used in fragrance and flavor applications, esters subject to special US note provisions, and general-purpose esters. Each line may carry different duty rates and regulatory treatment, so correct identification of the specific compound form is essential at entry.
Sodium benzoate imported as a food additive is subject to FDA prior notice requirements and port-of-entry admissibility review. The product must conform to food-grade specifications (typically USP or FCC grade), and the foreign facility should be registered with FDA. Classification and admissibility are complex; consult a licensed customs broker or FDA before importing.
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| Country | Imports | Exports | Balance |
|---|---|---|---|
| ESTONIA | $2.0M | -- | -$2.0M |
| CHINA | $1.3M | $149K | -$1.1M |
| NETHERLANDS | $1.3M | $32K | -$1.3M |
| CANADA | $90K | $1.1M | +$1.0M |
| BRAZIL | $2K | $946K | +$943K |
Monthly import values over time
HS10 import codes under this HS6 parent. Source: U.S. Harmonized Tariff Schedule.
| Code | Description | Import Value | Effective Tariff % | Duty Collected |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2916311105 | BENZOIC ACID | $2.7M | 17.58% | $467K |
| 2916311170 | SODIUM BENZOATE | $1.7M | 28.97% | $469K |
| 2916315000 | OTHER BENZOIC ACID ESTERS | $423K | 11.75% | $50K |
| 2916311190 | BENZOIC ACID, ITS SALTS AND ESTERS NESOI | $208K | 37.34% | $78K |
| 2916312000 | ODIFEROUS OR FLAVORNG CMPDS OF BENZOIC ACID ESTERS | $127K | 21.19% | $32K |
| 2916313000 | BENZOIC ACID ESTRS OF PROD IN U.S. NOTE 3 SECT 6 | $76K | 26.61% | $20K |
BENZOIC ACID
SODIUM BENZOATE
OTHER BENZOIC ACID ESTERS
BENZOIC ACID, ITS SALTS AND ESTERS NESOI
ODIFEROUS OR FLAVORNG CMPDS OF BENZOIC ACID ESTERS
BENZOIC ACID ESTRS OF PROD IN U.S. NOTE 3 SECT 6
HS10 export codes under this HS6 parent. Source: U.S. Schedule B export classification.
| Code | Description | Export Value |
|---|---|---|
| 2916310002 | BENZOIC ACID, ITS SALTS AND ESTERS | $4.9M |
BENZOIC ACID, ITS SALTS AND ESTERS
1.1M kg
NUCLEIC ACIDS & SALTS; OTHER HETEROCYCLIC CMP, NES
HS 293499
HETEROCYCLIC COMP W NITROGEN HETERO-ATM ONLY NESOI
HS 293399
POLYPEPTIDE PROTEIN& GLYCOPROTEIN HORMONES &DERIV
HS 293719
CMPDS CONT AN UNFUSED PYRIDINE RING ETC NESOI
HS 293339
COMP WITH PYRIMIDINE OR PIPERAZINE RING, NESOI
HS 293359
ANTIBIOTICS, NESOI
HS 294190
| State | Imports | Exports | Balance |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tennessee | $1.8M | $41K | -$1.8M |
| North Carolina | $319K | $1.1M | +$733K |
| New Jersey | $858K | $277K | -$581K |
| Port | Imports | Exports | Balance |
|---|---|---|---|
| NEWARK, NJ | $1.2M | -- | -$1.2M |
| BALTIMORE, MD | $1.1M | -- | -$1.1M |
| CHARLESTON, SC | $326K | $642K | +$316K |