U.S. imports of Coral, Mollusc Shells, and Similar Unworked Marine Materials (HS 050800) totaled $606K in August 2026, imported from 26 countries.
Importers of Coral, Mollusc Shells, and Similar Unworked Marine Materials paid $30K in duties in August 2026, an average duty rate of 5.01% — duty actually collected as a share of the imports that cleared customs, not the published tariff schedule. Coral, Mollusc Shells, and Similar Unworked Marine Materials imports of $606K in August 2026 ran 18% below the year-to-date monthly average of $741K.
Last updated: August 2026 dataUnworked coral, shells of molluscs and crustaceans, cuttlebone, and their powder and waste serve as raw materials for jewelry, decorative arts, aquarium trade, and calcium supplement manufacturing. Indonesia leads US imports under this heading, with China and Australia also significant sources—a supplier profile reflecting the Indo-Pacific's rich marine biodiversity and established shell-collection industries. CITES Appendix II listings cover many coral species, requiring export permits from the country of origin, and the US Lacey Act may apply if the material was harvested in violation of source-country law.
AI-written summary of the official U.S. Census Bureau trade figures on this page — verify before relying on it.
83 import shipments a month
Most stony corals (Order Scleractinia) and several other coral groups are listed under CITES Appendix II, meaning commercial export requires a permit from the source country's CITES Management Authority. Importers must present valid CITES export permits at the US port of entry; shipments without proper documentation are subject to seizure by US Fish and Wildlife Service. Soft corals and certain other marine invertebrates may have different listing statuses, so species-level verification is essential.
The Lacey Act prohibits the import of wildlife, including marine invertebrates, taken in violation of the laws of the source country. For shells and coral, this means importers must exercise due diligence to ensure that harvest and export complied with local regulations—particularly in countries with protected-area restrictions or harvest quotas. Importers should obtain supplier declarations and, where possible, chain-of-custody documentation to demonstrate legal sourcing.
Trade Directory
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Subheading 1 of 1 in heading 0508
Subheading 050800 · $606K of $606K
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0508000000 | Coral, Shell of Molluscs Etc Unworked Powder/Waste | $606K | 5.01% | 23.99% | $30K |
HS10 export codes under this HS6 parent, each with its own page. Source: U.S. Schedule B export classification.
| Code | Description | Export Value |
|---|---|---|
| 0508000000 | Coral, Shell of Molluscs Etc Unworked Powder/Waste | $257K |
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.
ImportsExports
Imports
$606KYoY · free account
Exports
$257KYoY · free account
12-mo low · imports
Low · free accountOver the twelve months to August 2026, the U.S. imported $9.4M of Coral, Mollusc Shells, and Similar Unworked Marine Materials and exported $2.6M.
Through August 2026. Source: U.S. Census Bureau.
Imports · August 2026
origin
Indonesia and Australia together supply 55% of it. China pays 26.8% duty; Mexico 0.0%.
customs district
destination
entry
rate provision · imports
76.0% enters free of duty; duty collected equals 5.01% of imports for consumption.