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HSChapter 25
U.S. imports of clays (other), including ball clays and fuller's earth (including calcined) (HS 250840) totaled $554K in April 2026, traded with 20 countries.
Importers of Clays (Other), Including Ball Clays and Fuller's Earth (Including Calcined) paid $46K in duties in April 2026 — an effective duty rate of 11% on $405K in dutiable value, based on actual customs collections rather than the published tariff schedule. Clays (Other), Including Ball Clays and Fuller's Earth (Including Calcined) imports of $554K in April 2026 ran 15% above the year-to-date monthly average of $480K.
Last updated: April 2026 dataThree commercially distinct materials share this heading: ball clays (2508400110), prized for their plasticity and fired whiteness in sanitaryware and floor tile; decolorizing earths and fuller's earth (2508400120), used in edible oil refining and industrial bleaching; and residual clays not elsewhere classified (2508400150). Spain leads US import supply, with Canada and Germany also significant. Fuller's earth in particular serves as a critical processing aid in vegetable oil and petroleum refining, and its activation state (acid-activated vs. natural) is a key commercial specification.
AI-written summary of the official U.S. Census Bureau trade figures on this page — verify before relying on it.
Ball clay is distinguished by its high plasticity, fine particle size, and organic matter content, which give it a dark unfired color that fires to near-white. Supplier certificates stating mineralogical composition (predominantly kaolinite with illite and smectite), particle size distribution, and plasticity index (Atterberg limits) are the most useful supporting documents for CBP classification review.
Both natural and acid-activated fuller's earth are classified under 2508400120 within this heading, as the activation process does not move the product to a different tariff provision. However, heavily processed or chemically modified absorbent clays may in some cases be reclassified under Chapter 38 as prepared adsorbents; importers should consult a licensed customs broker when the degree of chemical treatment is significant.
| Country | Imports | Exports | Balance |
|---|---|---|---|
| CANADA | $99K | $4.3M | +$4.2M |
| MEXICO | $50K | $1.7M | +$1.6M |
| CHINA | $32K | $1.3M | +$1.2M |
| UNITED KINGDOM | $10K | $945K | +$936K |
| NETHERLANDS | $20K | $822K | +$802K |
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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 % | Duty Collected |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2508400150 | CLAYS, NESOI | $547K | 11.26% | $45K |
| 2508400120 | DECOLORIZING EARTHS AND FULLER'S EARTH INCL CALCND | $7K | 10.00% | $674 |
CLAYS, NESOI
DECOLORIZING EARTHS AND FULLER'S EARTH INCL CALCND
HS10 export codes under this HS6 parent. Source: U.S. Schedule B export classification.
| Code | Description | Export Value |
|---|---|---|
| 2508400150 | CLAYS, NESOI | $8.9M |
| 2508400120 | DECOLORIZING EARTHS AND FULLER'S EARTH INCL CALCND | $3.2M |
| 2508400110 | COMMON BLUE CLAY AND OTHER BALL CLAYS | $881K |
CLAYS, NESOI
50.9K t
DECOLORIZING EARTHS AND FULLER'S EARTH INCL CALCND
5.5K t
COMMON BLUE CLAY AND OTHER BALL CLAYS
5.1K t
PORTLAND CEMENT EXCEPT WHITE PORTLAND CEMENT
HS 252329
SULFUR OF ALL KINDS, NOT SUBLIMED,PRECIP,COLLOIDAL
HS 250300
SALT INCL TBL/DENTRD, PURE SODM CHLOR ETC; SEA WTR
HS 250100
UNGRND NAT CAL PHSPH, ALUM CAL PHOS A PHOS CHALK
HS 251010
FLUORSPAR OV 97% OF CALCIUM FLUORD BY WGHT
HS 252922
PEBBLES, GRAVEL ETC. FOR CONCRETE AGGREGATES ETC.
HS 251710
| Port | Imports | Exports | Balance |
|---|---|---|---|
| SAVANNAH, GA | $23K | $4.5M | +$4.5M |
| PORT HURON, MI | $31K | $2.6M | +$2.6M |
| LOS ANGELES, CA | $39K | $1.6M | +$1.6M |