Loading...
HSChapter 28
U.S. imports of lithium carbonates (HS 283691) totaled $12.8M in April 2026, traded with 8 countries.
Importers of Lithium Carbonates paid $172K in duties in April 2026 — an effective duty rate of 3.7% on $4.6M in dutiable value, based on actual customs collections rather than the published tariff schedule.
Last updated: April 2026 dataLithium carbonate sits at the center of the battery supply chain, serving as a primary precursor for lithium-ion cathode materials and also used in pharmaceutical-grade applications under USP specifications. The US schedule draws a critical distinction between USP-grade material (2836910010) and all other technical or battery-grade lithium carbonate (2836910050), a split that affects both end-use routing and regulatory documentation. Argentina and Chile — the two dominant Andean brine-field producers — lead US import supply, making concentration risk in the Lithium Triangle a recurring concern for battery manufacturers and procurement teams.
AI-written summary of the official U.S. Census Bureau trade figures on this page — verify before relying on it.
The distinction turns on whether the product meets United States Pharmacopeia purity and specification standards. USP-grade lithium carbonate (2836910010) is typically destined for pharmaceutical manufacturing, while technical or battery-grade material that does not conform to USP specifications classifies under 2836910050. Importers should obtain a certificate of analysis confirming USP compliance to support the USP-grade classification.
Because Argentina and Chile together account for the dominant share of US lithium carbonate imports — both drawing from brine-deposit extraction — buyers face geographic concentration risk tied to Andean regulatory environments, water-use policy, and currency dynamics. Diversifying toward hard-rock spodumene-derived carbonate from other origins or securing long-term offtake agreements are common risk-mitigation approaches.
Supplier Network
Get discovered by U.S. importers searching for HS 283691 — Lithium Carbonates. Be the first supplier listed.
Monthly import values over time
| Country | Imports | Exports | Balance |
|---|---|---|---|
| CHILE | $8.2M | $8K | -$8.2M |
| ARGENTINA | $4.5M | -- | -$4.5M |
| KOREA, SOUTH | -- | $4.3M | +$4.3M |
| AUSTRALIA | -- | $120K | +$120K |
| CANADA | -- | $94K | +$94K |
HS10 import codes under this HS6 parent. Source: U.S. Harmonized Tariff Schedule.
| Code | Description | Import Value | Effective Tariff % | Duty Collected |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2836910050 | LITHIUM CARBONATES, EXCEPT U.S.P. GRADE, NESOI | $12.8M | 3.73% | $172K |
| 2836910010 | LITHIUM CARBONATES, U.S.P. GRADE | $0 | -- | -- |
LITHIUM CARBONATES, EXCEPT U.S.P. GRADE, NESOI
LITHIUM CARBONATES, U.S.P. GRADE
HS10 export codes under this HS6 parent. Source: U.S. Schedule B export classification.
| Code | Description | Export Value |
|---|---|---|
| 2836910050 | LITHIUM CARBONATES, EXCEPT U.S.P. GRADE, NESOI | $4.6M |
| 2836910010 | LITHIUM CARBONATES, U.S.P. GRADE | $0 |
LITHIUM CARBONATES, EXCEPT U.S.P. GRADE, NESOI
576.6K kg
LITHIUM CARBONATES, U.S.P. GRADE
URANIUM ENRICHED IN U235 ETC. PLUTONIUM ETC.
HS 284420
NATURAL URANIUM & COMPOUNDS, ALLOYS & CERAMICS ETC
HS 284410
ANHYDROUS AMMONIA
HS 281410
ALLOYS, DISPERSIONS,ISOTOPES & COMPOUNDS NES
HS 284443
SILICON, UNDER 99.99% (BY WEIGHT) SILICON
HS 280469
PHOSPHORIC ACID AND POLYPHOSPHORIC ACIDS
HS 280920
| State | Imports | Exports | Balance |
|---|---|---|---|
| South Carolina | $4.9M | -- | -$4.9M |
| North Carolina | $4.5M | -- | -$4.5M |
| California | -- | $4.3M | +$4.3M |
| Port | Imports | Exports | Balance |
|---|---|---|---|
| CHARLESTON, SC | $9.4M | $120K | -$9.3M |
| LOS ANGELES, CA | -- | $4.3M | +$4.3M |
| BALTIMORE, MD | $3.3M | -- | -$3.3M |