U.S. imports of Germanium Oxides and Zirconium Dioxide (HS 282560) totaled $19.9M in August 2026, imported from 15 countries.
Importers of Germanium Oxides and Zirconium Dioxide paid $1.3M in duties in August 2026, an average duty rate of 6.51% — duty actually collected as a share of the imports that cleared customs, not the published tariff schedule. Germanium Oxides and Zirconium Dioxide imports of $19.9M in August 2026 ran 10% above the year-to-date monthly average of $18.1M.
Last updated: August 2026 dataGermanium dioxide (2825600010) is a high-value specialty chemical used in fiber optic preforms, infrared optics, and polymerization catalysts for PET resin, while zirconium dioxide (2825600020) — commonly called zirconia — is a structural ceramic material used in dental prosthetics, thermal barrier coatings, and solid oxide fuel cells. Canada leads US import supply for this heading, with China a significant secondary source; given China's dominant position in global germanium refining, Section 301 tariff exposure is a material consideration for germanium dioxide sourced from China. The heading also includes other germanium oxides not elsewhere specified (2825600050), covering lower-oxide forms used in semiconductor applications.
AI-written summary of the official U.S. Census Bureau trade figures on this page — verify before relying on it.
58 import shipments a month
The US schedule provides dedicated 10-digit lines for each: germanium dioxide is classified under 2825600010, zirconium dioxide (zirconia) under 2825600020, and other germanium oxides not elsewhere specified under 2825600050. Importers must identify the specific compound on entry documentation — a shipment described only as 'germanium oxide' without specifying the dioxide form could be misclassified between the two germanium lines.
China controls a large share of global germanium refining capacity, making it a significant source even when Canada leads US import statistics for this heading. Germanium has been identified as a critical mineral by the US government, and China has implemented export controls on germanium that can affect availability and pricing. Importers relying on Chinese-origin germanium dioxide also face Section 301 tariff exposure, reinforcing the commercial case for supply diversification.
Subheading 2 of 9 in heading 2825
Subheading 282560 · $19.9M of $71.5M
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ImportsExports
Imports
$19.9MYoY · free account
Exports
$4.0MYoY · free account
12-mo low · imports
Low · free accountOver the twelve months to August 2026, the U.S. imported $175.5M of Germanium Oxides and Zirconium Dioxide and exported $34.5M.
Through August 2026. Source: U.S. Census Bureau.
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2825600010 | Germanium Dioxide | $13.8M | 3.70% | 99.94% | $512K |
| 2825600020 | Zirconium Dioxide | $5.0M | 12.07% | 54.17% | $603K |
| 2825600050 | Other Germanium Oxides, NESOI | $666K | 23.27% | 100.00% | $155K |
HS10 export codes under this HS6 parent, each with its own page. Source: U.S. Schedule B export classification.
| Code | Description | Export Value |
|---|---|---|
| 2825600000 | Germanium Oxides and Zirconium Dioxide | $4.0M |
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 Belgium together supply 69% of it. China pays 30.2% duty; South Africa 0.2%.
customs district
destination
entry
rate provision · imports
11.5% enters free of duty; duty collected equals 6.51% of imports for consumption.