U.S. exports of Petroleum Jelly (HS 271210) totaled $7.6M in August 2026.
Importers of Petroleum Jelly paid $5K in duties in August 2026, an average duty rate of 0.33% — duty actually collected as a share of the imports that cleared customs, not the published tariff schedule.
Last updated: August 2026 dataPetroleum jelly — widely recognized under the brand name Vaseline — is a semi-solid mixture of hydrocarbons refined from crude oil, classified under a single 10-digit line (2712100000). It serves as a base ingredient across pharmaceuticals, cosmetics, and industrial lubricants, making origin and purity grade critical considerations for buyers. Canada leads US import supply, with India and Germany also significant sources, reflecting both proximity advantages and established refining capacity. Importers should verify product grade and intended end-use, as pharmaceutical-grade petroleum jelly may face additional FDA scrutiny compared to industrial grades.
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49 import shipments a month
While all petroleum jelly enters under HTS 2712100000 regardless of grade, pharmaceutical-grade petrolatum intended for use in drug products may be subject to FDA oversight at entry. Industrial or cosmetic grades generally clear customs without additional agency review, but labeling and purity documentation should match the declared end-use to avoid examination delays.
Petroleum jelly is specifically a semi-solid, amorphous hydrocarbon mixture with a characteristic unctuous texture, distinguishing it from harder, crystalline paraffin waxes (heading 271220) and other mineral waxes (271290). The key classification test is physical state and oil content — petroleum jelly is not a wax and does not meet the low-oil-content threshold that defines paraffin wax under heading 2712.
Subheading 3 of 3 in heading 2712
Subheading 271210 · $7.6M of $34.6M
ImportsExports
Imports
$1.5MYoY · free account
Exports
$7.6MYoY · free account
12-mo low · imports
Low · free accountOver the twelve months to August 2026, the U.S. imported $15.5M of Petroleum Jelly and exported $83.0M.
Through August 2026. Source: U.S. Census Bureau.
Trade Directory
List your company under HS 271210 — Petroleum Jelly, so the companies trading it can find you. Be the first supplier listed.
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2712100000 | Petroleum Jelly | $1.5M | 0.33% | 3.27% | $5K |
HS10 export codes under this HS6 parent, each with its own page. Source: U.S. Schedule B export classification.
| Code | Description | Export Value |
|---|---|---|
| 2712100000 | Petroleum Jelly | $7.6M |
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
Japan and Canada together take 60% of it.
customs district
origin
entry
rate provision · imports
96.7% enters free of duty; duty collected equals 0.33% of imports for consumption.