Loading...
U.S. imports of lactic acid, its salts and esters (HS 291811) totaled $7.3M in July 2026, traded with 19 countries.
Subheading 7 of 17 in heading 2918
Subheading 291811 · $7.3M of $108.6M
Importers of Lactic Acid, Its Salts and Esters paid $546K in duties in July 2026 — an effective duty rate of 8.1% on $6.8M in dutiable value, based on actual customs collections rather than the published tariff schedule.
Fermentation-derived lactic acid and its downstream salts and esters serve as multifunctional inputs across food preservation, biodegradable polymer (PLA) production, personal care formulations, and pharmaceutical manufacturing. The Netherlands and Spain are the primary US import sources, reflecting the concentration of large-scale fermentation capacity in Western Europe. The US schedule distinguishes lactic acid itself (2918111000) from its salts and esters (2918115100), a split that matters when the same supplier ships mixed product streams. Because lactic acid and certain of its salts are used as food additives and in pharmaceutical preparations, shipments intended for those end uses may be subject to FDA review at entry.
AI-written summary of the official U.S. Census Bureau trade figures on this page — verify before relying on it.
139 shipments/mo
FDA's oversight is triggered by the intended use. Industrial-grade lactic acid destined for polymer or chemical manufacturing typically does not require FDA admissibility review, but food-additive or pharmaceutical-grade material is subject to FDA entry review. Importers should declare end use accurately and ensure the supplier holds appropriate certifications; consulting a licensed customs broker or regulatory counsel is advisable for food or pharma applications.
Large integrated fermentation and purification facilities in the Netherlands and Belgium — home to major global lactic acid producers — give Western European suppliers significant scale and quality-consistency advantages. This concentration means US buyers face meaningful supply-chain risk if European production is disrupted, making supplier diversification an active consideration.
HSChapter 29
Supplier Network
Get discovered by U.S. importers searching for HS 291811 — Lactic Acid, Its Salts and Esters. Be the first supplier listed.
ImportsExports
Imports
$7.3MYoY · Pro
Exports
$3.1MYoY · Pro
12-mo low · imports
YoY · ProThrough July 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 | Import Value | Effective Tariff % | Dutiable Share | Duty Collected |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2918115100 | Salts and Esters of Lactic Acid | $6.3M | 5.55% | 91.43% | $352K |
| 2918111000 | Lactic Acid | $973K | 20.02% | 100.00% | $195K |
HS10 export codes under this HS6 parent, each with its own page. Source: U.S. Schedule B export classification.
| Code | Description | Export Value |
|---|---|---|
| 2918110002 | Lactic Acid, Its Salts and Esters | $3.1M |
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 · July 2026
origin
Netherlands and France together supply 58% of it.
customs district
destination
entry
rate provision · imports
7.4% enters free of duty; the effective duty rate is 7.48%.