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HSChapter 27
U.S. imports of other mineral waxes (nesoi) (HS 271290) totaled $8.3M in April 2026, traded with 21 countries.
Last updated: April 2026 dataMontan wax — a lignite-derived wax prized for its hardness and high melting point — is explicitly broken out at the 10-digit level (2712901000) within this residual heading, alongside two broader NESOI lines (2712900000 and 2712902000) covering ozokerite, ceresin, and other petroleum-derived waxes not elsewhere specified. These specialty waxes serve niche industrial roles in polishes, electrical insulation, and carbon paper manufacturing where paraffin's softer profile is inadequate. Canada and Spain are the leading US import sources, with Germany and South Africa also contributing. The heading's catch-all nature means classification disputes are common when products sit at the boundary between mineral waxes and refined petroleum products.
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Montan wax is extracted from lignite (brown coal) by solvent extraction and is chemically distinct from petroleum-derived paraffin or microcrystalline waxes. Its unique ester-wax composition and high melting point make it commercially significant for industrial polishes, PVC lubricants, and leather finishes. CBP separates it at the 10-digit level (2712901000) to enable more precise trade monitoring of this specialty product.
The key distinction is the nature of the base material: heading 271290 covers mineral waxes in their own right (including blends of waxes), while heading 271500 covers bituminous mixtures where natural asphalt, petroleum bitumen, or mineral tar is the functional base. If the product's primary character derives from a wax rather than a bituminous binder, 271290 is generally correct, but a binding ruling from CBP is advisable for ambiguous blends.
Monthly import values over time
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