U.S. imports of Finishing Agents & Dye Carriers for the Paper Industry (HS 380992) totaled $3.3M in September 2026, imported from 21 countries.
Importers of Finishing Agents & Dye Carriers for the Paper Industry paid $25K in duties in September 2026, an average duty rate of 0.77% — duty actually collected as a share of the imports that cleared customs, not the published tariff schedule. Finishing Agents & Dye Carriers for the Paper Industry imports of $3.3M in September 2026 ran 15% below the year-to-date monthly average of $3.8M.
Last updated: September 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.
150 import shipments a month
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.
ImportsExports
Imports
$3.3MYoY · free account
Exports
—YoY · free account
12-mo low · imports
Low · free accountOver the twelve months to September 2026, the U.S. imported $46.0M of Finishing Agents & Dye Carriers for the Paper Industry.
Through September 2026 · exports 11 of 12 months reported. Source: U.S. Census Bureau.
Subheading 2 of 4 in heading 3809
Subheading 380992 · $3.3M of $16.6M
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3809925000 | Finish Agents, Use in Paper, Cont Lt=5% V% Wgt, Gt 1 | $4.3M | 1.35% | 16.68% | $58K |
| 3809921000 | Finish Agents, Use in Paper, Cont Gt=5% Wgt, Gt= 1 Ar | $127K | 0.40% | 4.03% | $512 |
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 | $10.5M |
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 · September 2026
origin
Canada and United Kingdom together supply 99% of it. United Kingdom pays 16.0% duty; Canada 0.0%.
customs district
destination
entry
rate provision · imports
94.7% enters free of duty; duty collected equals 0.77% of imports for consumption.
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