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HSChapter 28
U.S. imports of lithium carbonates (HS 283691) totaled $18.3M in July 2026, traded with 8 countries.
Importers of Lithium Carbonates paid $362K in duties in July 2026 — an effective duty rate of 3.7% on $9.8M in dutiable value, based on actual customs collections rather than the published tariff schedule. Lithium Carbonates imports of $18.3M in July 2026 ran 28% above the year-to-date monthly average of $14.2M.
Last updated: July 2026 dataLithium carbonate is a critical battery-supply-chain material, serving as a primary precursor for lithium-ion cathode chemistries used in electric vehicles and grid-scale energy storage, as well as a pharmaceutical-grade compound (USP grade) used in bipolar disorder treatment. The US schedule splits the heading into USP-grade (2836910010) and all other grades (2836910050), a distinction that carries significant implications for end-use documentation and regulatory handling. Argentina and Chile — the two dominant producers from the Lithium Triangle — lead US import supply, reflecting the geographic concentration of lithium brine resources in South America. Supply security and price volatility for battery-grade material are active concerns across the EV supply chain.
AI-written summary of the official U.S. Census Bureau trade figures on this page — verify before relying on it.
35 shipments/mo
Lithium carbonate classified under 2836910010 must meet United States Pharmacopeia purity and quality standards, making it suitable for pharmaceutical manufacturing. The non-USP subheading (2836910050) covers technical and battery-grade material. Importers should ensure their commercial documentation and certificates of analysis clearly specify the grade to support the correct classification and avoid potential FDA scrutiny of pharmaceutical-grade material.
Argentina and Chile together account for the large majority of US lithium carbonate imports, meaning supply disruptions from policy changes, export restrictions, or production outages in either country can have outsized effects on availability and pricing. Buyers in the battery and EV sectors increasingly seek long-term offtake agreements and are evaluating alternative sources — including Australian spodumene-derived carbonate — to manage concentration risk.
Subheading 1 of 8 in heading 2836
Subheading 283691 · $18.3M of $36.3M
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ImportsExports
Imports
$18.3MYoY · Pro
Exports
$2.5MYoY · 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2836910050 | Lithium Carbonates, Except U.s.p. Grade, NESOI | $18.3M | 1.98% | 53.60% | $362K |
| 2836910010 | Lithium Carbonates, U.s.p. Grade | $0 | -- | -- | -- |
HS10 export codes under this HS6 parent, each with its own page. Source: U.S. Schedule B export classification.
| Code | Description | Export Value |
|---|---|---|
| 2836910050 | Lithium Carbonates, Except U.s.p. Grade, NESOI | $2.4M |
| 2836910010 | Lithium Carbonates, U.s.p. Grade | $115K |
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
Argentina and Chile together supply 100% of it.
customs district
destination
entry
rate provision · imports
46.4% enters free of duty; the effective duty rate is 1.98%.