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HSChapter 29
U.S. exports of ethylene (ethene) (HS 290121) totaled $46.8M in December 2025, traded with 5 countries.
Ethylene is the world's highest-volume petrochemical building block, serving as the primary feedstock for polyethylene, ethylene oxide, ethylene glycol, vinyl chloride, and a broad range of downstream plastics and chemicals. Classified under a single 10-digit line (2901210000), it is typically transported as a cryogenic liquid or pressurized gas, requiring specialized tanker or pipeline infrastructure. Mexico is the leading supplier to the US market under this heading. Given ethylene's role as a foundational feedstock, import volumes are closely tied to domestic cracker utilization rates and seasonal polyethylene demand cycles.
AI-written summary of the official U.S. Census Bureau trade figures on this page — verify before relying on it.
Ethylene must be transported at cryogenic temperatures (around -104°C) or under high pressure, limiting import to ports with specialized refrigerated terminal capacity or direct pipeline connections. This infrastructure requirement concentrates import activity at a small number of Gulf Coast and Great Lakes terminals, making logistics planning and terminal access critical factors in sourcing decisions.
Ethylene (ethene, C₂H₄) is an unsaturated hydrocarbon classified under 290121, while ethane (C₂H₆) is a saturated compound classified under 290110. The distinction is chemically definitive — ethylene contains a carbon-carbon double bond — but in practice, pipeline-quality streams may contain both. Importers should ensure that certificates of analysis confirm the product meets the unsaturated specification, as misclassification between these headings carries different duty and regulatory implications.
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HS10 import codes under this HS6 parent, each with its own page. Source: U.S. Harmonized Tariff Schedule.
| Code | Description | Import Value | Effective Tariff % | Dutiable Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2901210000 | ETHYLENE (ETHENE) | $0 | -- | -- |
HS10 export codes under this HS6 parent, each with its own page. Source: U.S. Schedule B export classification.
| Code | Description | Export Value |
|---|---|---|
| 2901210000 | ETHYLENE (ETHENE), UNSATURATED | $69.7M |
NUCLEIC ACIDS & SALTS; OTHER HETEROCYCLIC CMP, NES
HS 293499
POLYPEPTIDE PROTEIN& GLYCOPROTEIN HORMONES &DERIV
HS 293719
CMPDS CONT AN UNFUSED PYRIDINE RING ETC NESOI
HS 293339
BENZENE
HS 290220
HETEROCYCLIC COMP W NITROGEN HETERO-ATM ONLY NESOI
HS 293399
HETEROCYCLIC COMP WITH UNFUSED PYRAZOLE RING NESOI
HS 293319
Monthly import values over time
| Country | Imports | Exports | Balance |
|---|---|---|---|
| BELGIUM | -- | $18.1M | +$18.1M |
| FRANCE | -- | $14.7M | +$14.7M |
| ITALY | -- | $12.4M | +$12.4M |
| INDONESIA | -- | $10.8M | +$10.8M |
| NETHERLANDS | -- | $5.6M | +$5.6M |
| State | Imports | Exports | Balance |
|---|---|---|---|
| Texas | -- | $69.7M | +$69.7M |
| California | -- | $30K | +$30K |
| Tennessee | -- | $20K | +$20K |
| Port | Imports | Exports | Balance |
|---|---|---|---|
| HOUSTON, TX | -- | $56.4M | +$56.4M |
| PORT ARTHUR, TX | -- | $13.2M | +$13.2M |
| BLAINE, WA | -- | $45K | +$45K |