U.S. exports of Ethylene (Ethene) (HS 290121) totaled $75.9M in August 2026, exported to 1 country.
Last updated: August 2026 dataEthylene 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.
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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.
Subheading 3 of 6 in heading 2901
Subheading 290121 · $75.9M of $992.4M
Trade Directory
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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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2901210000 | Ethylene (Ethene) | — | -- | -- |
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 | $75.9M |
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
—YoY · free account
Exports
$75.9MYoY · free account
Low of 1 reported month · imports
Low · free accountOver the twelve months to August 2026, the U.S. exported $837.3M of Ethylene (Ethene).
Through August 2026 · imports 1 of 12 months reported. Source: U.S. Census Bureau.
Exports · August 2026
destination
China and Belgium together take 72% of it.
customs district
entry
rate provision · imports
None recorded for this period.