U.S. exports of poly(lactic acid) in primary forms (HS 390770) totaled $14.8M in August 2026.
Importers of Poly(Lactic Acid) in Primary Forms paid $190K in duties in August 2026, an effective tariff rate of 12.72% of the $1.5M imported — duty actually collected as a share of that value, not the published tariff schedule.
Last updated: August 2026 dataPoly(lactic acid) — commonly known as PLA — is a bio-based, compostable thermoplastic derived from fermented plant sugars, positioned as a renewable alternative to petroleum-based resins in packaging, disposable serviceware, and fiber applications. The heading has a single US 10-digit line (3907700000), simplifying classification, but the commercial landscape is nuanced: PLA grades vary significantly by molecular weight, D/L-lactide ratio, and melt-flow index, all of which determine suitability for specific processing methods such as injection molding, film extrusion, or fiber spinning. Thailand and the Netherlands are the leading suppliers to the US market, with Germany, Ireland, and Taiwan also contributing. Buyers should confirm resin grade specifications against end-use processing requirements, as off-spec PLA can cause significant production losses.
AI-written summary of the official U.S. Census Bureau trade figures on this page — verify before relying on it.
37 shipments/mo
All PLA in primary forms falls under a single 10-digit line (3907700000), so grade differences do not affect HTS classification. However, grade selection is critical commercially: injection-molding grades require different melt-flow and crystallinity profiles than film or fiber grades. Importers should obtain a technical data sheet and certificate of analysis for each shipment to verify that the resin meets the processing specifications of their downstream manufacturing operation.
As of current schedules, PLA (3907700000) is not subject to antidumping or countervailing duty orders in the US. However, importers sourcing from China should verify Section 301 applicability, as the scope of Section 301 lists has evolved. For suppliers in Thailand or the Netherlands — the leading sources — no active trade-remedy orders apply, but importers should conduct periodic checks given the dynamic trade-remedy environment for plastics intermediates.
HSChapter 39
Subheading 8 of 11 in heading 3907
Subheading 390770 · $14.8M of $440.8M
Trade Directory
List your company under HS 390770 — Poly(Lactic Acid) in Primary Forms, 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 | Import Value | Effective Tariff % | Dutiable Share | Duty Collected |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3907700000 | Poly(Lactic Acid) | $1.5M | 12.72% | 99.79% | $190K |
HS10 export codes under this HS6 parent, each with its own page. Source: U.S. Schedule B export classification.
| Code | Description | Export Value |
|---|---|---|
| 3907700000 | Poly(Lactic Acid) | $14.8M |
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.
ImportsExports
Imports
$1.5MYoY · free account
Exports
$14.8MYoY · free account
12-mo low · imports
YoY · free accountOver the twelve months to August 2026, the U.S. imported $19.6M of Poly(Lactic Acid) in Primary Forms.
Through August 2026. Source: U.S. Census Bureau.
Exports · August 2026
destination
China and Netherlands together take 59% of it.
customs district
origin
entry
rate provision · imports
0.2% enters free of duty; duty collected equals 12.72% of total import value.