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HSChapter 38
U.S. exports of finishing agents & dye carriers for the paper industry (HS 380992) totaled $8.0M in July 2026.
Importers of Finishing Agents & Dye Carriers for the Paper Industry paid $82K in duties in July 2026 — an effective duty rate of 16% on $517K in dutiable value, based on actual customs collections rather than the published tariff schedule.
Last updated: July 2026 dataSpecialty chemical formulations used to control surface properties, improve printability, and facilitate dye uptake in paper and paperboard manufacturing fall under this heading — a niche but technically demanding segment of the process-chemicals market. The US schedule distinguishes preparations by active-ingredient concentration, with lines for products containing greater than or less than 5% by weight of certain aromatic substances (3809921000 and 3809925000 respectively), a split that reflects chemical composition disclosure requirements. Canada and Sweden are the leading import sources, consistent with their established pulp and paper industries and the integrated North American and Nordic supply chains that serve US paper mills. Buyers typically require detailed safety data sheets and composition disclosures to satisfy both customs classification and EPA TSCA compliance.
AI-written summary of the official U.S. Census Bureau trade figures on this page — verify before relying on it.
162 shipments/mo
The split is based on the concentration of aromatic or modified aromatic substances in the preparation: products containing greater than or equal to 5% by weight of one or more such substances are classified under 3809921000, while those containing less than 5% fall under 3809925000. Importers should obtain detailed composition data from the manufacturer and confirm the aromatic content threshold with a customs broker, as the distinction affects both classification and potential chemical reporting obligations.
Yes — chemical preparations imported under this heading may be subject to the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) if they contain chemical substances not listed on the TSCA Chemical Substance Inventory. Importers are required to certify TSCA compliance (either a positive or negative certification) at entry. Novel formulations or those containing new chemical entities may require pre-manufacture notification or exemption review before importation.
Subheading 2 of 4 in heading 3809
Subheading 380992 · $3.6M of $20.0M
ImportsExports
Imports
$3.6MYoY · Pro
Exports
$8.0MYoY · Pro
12-mo low · imports
YoY · ProThrough July 2026. Source: U.S. Census Bureau.
Exports · July 2026
destination
Canada and Mexico together take 58% of it.
customs district
origin
entry
rate provision · imports
85.7% enters free of duty; the effective duty rate is 2.25%.
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 | Duty Collected |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3809925000 | Finish Agents,Use in Paper,Cont Lt=5% V% Wgt,Gt 1 | $4.0M | 1.76% | 10.07% | $71K |
| 3809921000 | Finish Agents,Use in Paper,Cont Gt=5% Wgt,Gt= 1 Ar | $83K | 3.79% | 37.88% | $3K |
HS10 export codes under this HS6 parent, each with its own page. Source: U.S. Schedule B export classification.
| Code | Description | Export Value |
|---|---|---|
| 3809920000 | Finishing Agents, Dye Carriers, Used in Paper Ind | $11.4M |
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.
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