U.S. imports of Esters of Formic Acid (HS 291513) totaled $650K in August 2026, imported from 14 countries.
Importers of Esters of Formic Acid paid $83K in duties in August 2026, an average duty rate of 11.84% — duty actually collected as a share of the imports that cleared customs, not the published tariff schedule.
Last updated: August 2026 dataFormate esters — split in the US schedule between aromatic (2915131000) and non-aromatic (2915135000) lines — are used as solvents, flavoring agents, and chemical intermediates in fragrance and pharmaceutical synthesis. Canada is the leading US import source, with Finland and China also significant suppliers. The aromatic/non-aromatic split mirrors the broader pattern in Chapter 29 and requires importers to confirm the compound's ring structure for correct classification.
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37 import shipments a month
The classification turns on whether the alcohol portion of the ester contains an aromatic ring system. Methyl formate and ethyl formate, for example, are non-aromatic and fall under 2915135000, while phenyl formate would be aromatic under 2915131000. When the compound identity is ambiguous, a CBP binding ruling provides certainty.
Formate esters that are GRAS (Generally Recognized as Safe) or approved food additives may be imported without a specific FDA import alert, but FDA retains authority to sample and detain shipments. Importers should maintain documentation of the compound's regulatory status and intended use to facilitate smooth entry.
Subheading 13 of 16 in heading 2915
Subheading 291513 · $650K of $83.8M
ImportsExports
Imports
$650KYoY · free account
Exports
$178KYoY · free account
12-mo low · imports
Low · free accountOver the twelve months to August 2026, the U.S. imported $7.2M of Esters of Formic Acid and exported $2.4M.
Through August 2026. Source: U.S. Census Bureau.
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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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2915135000 | Non-Aromatic Esters of Formic Acid | $671K | 10.76% | 72.76% | $72K |
| 2915131000 | Aromatic Esters of Formic Acid | $26K | 39.71% | 100.00% | $10K |
HS10 export codes under this HS6 parent, each with its own page. Source: U.S. Schedule B export classification.
| Code | Description | Export Value |
|---|---|---|
| 2915130000 | Esters of Formic Acid | $178K |
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.
Imports · August 2026
origin
Canada and Finland together supply 47% of it. China pays 40.9% duty; Canada 0.0%.
customs district
destination
entry
rate provision · imports
28.1% enters free of duty; duty collected equals 11.84% of imports for consumption.