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HSChapter 28
U.S. imports of boron & tellurium (HS 280450) totaled $460K in April 2026, traded with 8 countries.
Boron & Tellurium imports of $460K in April 2026 ran 61% above the year-to-date monthly average of $286K.
Last updated: April 2026 dataBoron and tellurium are classified together under heading 280450 but serve sharply different industrial purposes: boron is a key input for specialty glass, ceramics, and nuclear shielding, while tellurium is a critical material in thin-film photovoltaic cells and thermoelectric devices. The US schedule separates them at the 10-digit level — boron under 2804500010 and tellurium under 2804500020 — making correct classification essential for accurate duty and trade-remedy exposure assessment. Germany and Canada are the leading suppliers, though China also appears in the supply mix, raising supply-chain concentration considerations for tellurium given its critical-mineral status. Importers sourcing tellurium in particular should monitor any Section 301 exposure on Chinese-origin goods.
AI-written summary of the official U.S. Census Bureau trade figures on this page — verify before relying on it.
Classification depends on the chemical identity of the element: boron (atomic number 5) enters under 2804500010, while tellurium (atomic number 52) enters under 2804500020. Mixed or compound forms may fall outside heading 280450 entirely and require separate classification analysis.
Yes. The US government has designated tellurium as a critical mineral due to its concentrated global supply and its essential role in cadmium telluride (CdTe) thin-film solar panels and thermoelectric applications. Importers should track any trade-remedy or export-control developments affecting primary supplier countries.
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Monthly import values over time
HS10 import codes under this HS6 parent. Source: U.S. Harmonized Tariff Schedule.
| Code | Description | Import Value | Effective Tariff % |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2804500020 | TELLURIUM | $278K | -- |
| 2804500010 | BORON | $182K | -- |
TELLURIUM
BORON
HS10 export codes under this HS6 parent. Source: U.S. Schedule B export classification.
| Code | Description | Export Value |
|---|---|---|
| 2804500010 | BORON | $3.3M |
| 2804500020 | TELLURIUM | $0 |
BORON
2.9K kg
TELLURIUM
URANIUM ENRICHED IN U235 ETC. PLUTONIUM ETC.
HS 284420
NATURAL URANIUM & COMPOUNDS, ALLOYS & CERAMICS ETC
HS 284410
ANHYDROUS AMMONIA
HS 281410
ALLOYS, DISPERSIONS,ISOTOPES & COMPOUNDS NES
HS 284443
SILICON, UNDER 99.99% (BY WEIGHT) SILICON
HS 280469
PHOSPHORIC ACID AND POLYPHOSPHORIC ACIDS
HS 280920
| State | Imports | Exports | Balance |
|---|---|---|---|
| Massachusetts | -- | $3.0M | +$3.0M |
| Pennsylvania | $254K | -- | -$254K |
| Texas | $174K | -- | -$174K |
| Port | Imports | Exports | Balance |
|---|---|---|---|
| NEWARK, NJ | $150K | $2.4M | +$2.2M |
| LOGAN AIRPORT, MA | -- | $647K | +$647K |
| NEW ORLEANS, LA | $32K | $96K | +$64K |