U.S. imports of Gluconic Acid, Its Salts and Esters (HS 291816) totaled $1.3M in August 2026, imported from 11 countries.
Importers of Gluconic Acid, Its Salts and Esters paid $277K in duties in August 2026, an average duty rate of 20.74% — duty actually collected as a share of the imports that cleared customs, not the published tariff schedule. Gluconic Acid, Its Salts and Esters imports of $1.3M in August 2026 ran 20% above the year-to-date monthly average of $1.1M.
Last updated: August 2026 dataProduced by microbial fermentation of glucose, gluconic acid and its derivatives — particularly sodium gluconate (2918165010) and calcium gluconate (2918165020) — are widely used in construction chemicals (concrete retarders), food processing, pharmaceutical mineral supplements, and industrial cleaning. France and China are the leading US import sources, with India and Germany also significant. The heading's six 10-digit lines provide granular breakouts for gluconic acid itself, sodium gluconate, calcium gluconate, and residual salts and esters, so accurate product identification on the commercial invoice is essential to correct line-level classification.
AI-written summary of the official U.S. Census Bureau trade figures on this page — verify before relying on it.
64 import shipments a month
Calcium gluconate is classified under 2918165020. When imported as a pharmaceutical-grade product (e.g., for intravenous formulations), it may be subject to FDA drug admissibility review in addition to standard customs entry. Industrial-grade calcium gluconate used in construction or food applications follows a different admissibility pathway. Importers should clearly declare the grade and intended use on entry documentation.
Sodium gluconate is primarily consumed as a concrete set retarder and cleaning agent in the construction and industrial sectors, and as a sequestrant in food processing. Its chelating properties also make it useful in metal surface treatment. Because construction activity is cyclical, demand — and therefore import volumes — can fluctuate with domestic building trends.
Subheading 12 of 17 in heading 2918
Subheading 291816 · $1.3M of $109.7M
ImportsExports
Imports
$1.3MYoY · free account
Exports
$742KYoY · free account
12-mo low · imports
Low · free accountOver the twelve months to August 2026, the U.S. imported $13.9M of Gluconic Acid, Its Salts and Esters and exported $9.6M.
Through August 2026. Source: U.S. Census Bureau.
Trade Directory
List your company under HS 291816 — Gluconic Acid, Its Salts and Esters, so the companies trading it can find you. Be the first supplier listed.
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2918165010 | Sodium Gluconate | $643K | 8.46% | 100.00% | $54K |
| 2918165090 | Other Salts and Esters of Gluconic Acid, NESOI | $552K | 33.24% | 100.00% | $184K |
| 2918165020 | Other Salts/Estrs of Glcnic Acid, Calcium Gluconate | $130K | 28.70% | 100.00% | $37K |
| 2918161000 | Gluconic Acid | $11K | 17.43% | 100.00% | $2K |
| 2918165050 | Other Salts and Esters of Gluconic Acid | — | -- | -- | -- |
HS10 export codes under this HS6 parent, each with its own page. Source: U.S. Schedule B export classification.
| Code | Description | Export Value |
|---|---|---|
| 2918160000 | Gluconic Acid, Its Salts and Esters | $742K |
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
France and China together supply 81% of it. China pays 37.7% duty; France 8.1%.
customs district
destination
entry
rate provision · imports
duty collected equals 20.74% of imports for consumption.