U.S. exports of Other Inorganic Compounds; Phosphides, Gallium Arsenide Wafers, and Amalgams (HS 285390) totaled $12.4M in August 2026.
Importers of Other Inorganic Compounds; Phosphides, Gallium Arsenide Wafers, and Amalgams paid $151K in duties in August 2026, an average duty rate of 2.38% — duty actually collected as a share of the imports that cleared customs, not the published tariff schedule.
Last updated: August 2026 dataGallium arsenide (GaAs) wafers — classified at 2853909010 — are the commercially high-profile item in this residual heading, serving as substrates for compound semiconductors used in RF devices, solar cells, and LEDs. Copper phosphides (2853901000) and other metal phosphides (2853905000) serve as deoxidizing agents and specialty chemical intermediates. Canada and Germany are the leading US suppliers across this heading, with South Korea and Japan also significant. The presence of GaAs wafers makes this heading strategically sensitive: supply-chain concentration and semiconductor-sector demand cycles are key considerations for procurement teams.
AI-written summary of the official U.S. Census Bureau trade figures on this page — verify before relying on it.
229 import shipments a month
Undoped GaAs wafers are specifically called out at 2853909010. Once a wafer is intentionally doped (e.g., with silicon or zinc to create n-type or p-type material), it may shift classification to Chapter 38 (semiconductor-grade materials) or remain in Chapter 28 depending on the degree of processing and applicable chapter notes. CBP has issued rulings on this distinction, and importers of doped wafers should seek a binding ruling if classification is uncertain.
Copper phosphides containing more than 15% phosphorus by weight (2853901000) are primarily used as deoxidizing master alloys in copper and bronze casting. They are a niche but essential input for foundries and electrical conductor manufacturers. Import volumes tend to track copper alloy production cycles rather than semiconductor demand.
Subheading 1 of 2 in heading 2853
Subheading 285390 · $12.4M of $12.4M
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ImportsExports
Imports
$6.3MYoY · free account
Exports
$12.4MYoY · free account
12-mo low · imports
Low · free accountOver the twelve months to August 2026, the U.S. imported $79.8M of Other Inorganic Compounds; Phosphides, Gallium Arsenide Wafers, and Amalgams and exported $142.8M.
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2853909090 | Other Phosphides, Excluding Ferrosphorus, NESOI | $6.2M | 2.36% | 52.00% | $145K |
| 2853901000 | Phosphides of Cu Cont >15% by Weight Phosphorus | $94K | 5.89% | 100.00% | $6K |
| 2853905000 | Phosphide, Exc Ferrophosphorus, of Metal/Nonmetals | $93K | 0.00% | 0.00% | -- |
| 2853909010 | Gallium Arsenide Wafers, Undoped | — | -- | -- | -- |
HS10 export codes under this HS6 parent, each with its own page. Source: U.S. Schedule B export classification.
| Code | Description | Export Value |
|---|---|---|
| 2853909000 | Inorganic Compounds, Etc, NESOI | $9.7M |
| 2853905000 | Phosphide, Exc Ferrophosphorus, of Metal/Nonmetals | $2.6M |
| 2853901000 | Phosphides of Cu Cont >15% by Weight Phosphorus | $45K |
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.
Exports · August 2026
destination
customs district
origin
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rate provision · imports
48.0% enters free of duty; duty collected equals 2.38% of imports for consumption.