HSChapter 27

Petroleum Jelly

Name: Petroleum Jelly (HS 271210) -- U.S. Import Data
Creator: U.S. Census Bureau
License: https://www.census.gov/about/policies/open-gov/open-data.html

$1.2MU.S. imports · April 2026HS 271210

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HSChapter 27

Petroleum Jelly

$1.2MU.S. imports · April 2026HS 271210

U.S. imports of petroleum jelly (HS 271210) totaled $1.2M in April 2026, traded with 12 countries.

Last updated: April 2026 data

Petroleum 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.

AI-written summary of the official U.S. Census Bureau trade figures on this page — verify before relying on it.

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Frequently Asked Questions

How does the intended end-use of petroleum jelly affect its import classification or regulatory treatment?

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.

What distinguishes petroleum jelly from other mineral waxes for classification purposes?

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.

U.S. imports of petroleum jelly (HS 271210) totaled $1.2M in April 2026, traded with 12 countries.

Last updated: April 2026 data

Petroleum 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.

AI-written summary of the official U.S. Census Bureau trade figures on this page — verify before relying on it.

Imports: $1.2M; from 12 countries
Exports: $9.1M
Trade balance: Surplus of $7.9M; net exporter

YTD $4.8M (April 2026) · 40 shipments/mo

Top trading partners

View all 12

Country	Imports	Exports	Balance
MEXICO	$14K	$3.5M	+$3.5M
CANADA	$822K	$1.4M	+$542K
JAPAN	--	$1.8M	+$1.8M
AUSTRALIA	--	$482K	+$482K
NETHERLANDS	--	$478K	+$478K

MEXICO

Imports$14K

Exports$3.5M

Balance+$3.5M

CANADA

Imports$822K

Exports$1.4M

Balance+$542K

JAPAN

Imports--

Exports$1.8M

Balance+$1.8M

AUSTRALIA

Imports--

Exports$482K

Balance+$482K

NETHERLANDS

Imports--

Exports$478K

Balance+$478K

Import Trend (12 months)

Monthly import values over time

HTS Import Breakdown (HS10)

HS10 import codes under this HS6 parent. Source: U.S. Harmonized Tariff Schedule.

Code	Description	Import Value	Effective Tariff %	Duty Collected	Quantity	Unit
2712100000	PETROLEUM JELLY	$1.2M	10.00%	$1K	556.0K	KG

2712100000$1.2M

PETROLEUM JELLY

Tariff 10.00%556.0K kg

Schedule B Export Breakdown (HS10)

HS10 export codes under this HS6 parent. Source: U.S. Schedule B export classification.

Code	Description	Export Value	Quantity	Unit
2712100000	PETROLEUM JELLY	$9.1M	4.7M	KG

2712100000$9.1M

PETROLEUM JELLY

4.7M kg

CRUDE OIL FROM PETROLEUM AND BITUMINOUS MINERALS

HS 270900

$13.9B

PETROL OIL BITUM MINERAL (NT CRUD) ETC NT BIODIESL

HS 271019

$3.0B

LT OILS, PREPS GT=70% PETROLEUM/BITUM NT BIODIESEL

HS 271012

$2.0B

NATURAL GAS, GASEOUS

HS 271121

$650.0M

PETROLEUM BITUMEN

HS 271320

$253.6M

ELECTRICAL ENERGY

HS 271600

$157.4M

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Frequently Asked Questions

How does the intended end-use of petroleum jelly affect its import classification or regulatory treatment?

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.

What distinguishes petroleum jelly from other mineral waxes for classification purposes?

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.