U.S. imports of Potassium Nitrate (HS 283421) totaled $20.0M in August 2026, imported from 16 countries.
Importers of Potassium Nitrate paid $9K in duties in August 2026, an average duty rate of 0.04% — duty actually collected as a share of the imports that cleared customs, not the published tariff schedule. Potassium Nitrate imports of $20.0M in August 2026 ran 143% above the year-to-date monthly average of $8.2M.
Last updated: August 2026 dataPotassium nitrate—historically known as saltpeter—functions as a fertilizer component, a heat-transfer medium in solar energy systems, and an oxidizer in pyrotechnic and specialty glass applications. Chile dominates US import supply under this heading, reflecting its established nitrate-mining and chemical industry, with Israel and Germany also notable sources. The single tariff line 2834210000 covers all potassium nitrate regardless of grade, but importers of fertilizer-grade material should be aware of applicable EPA and state-level reporting requirements for oxidizing substances.
AI-written summary of the official U.S. Census Bureau trade figures on this page — verify before relying on it.
44 import shipments a month
Chile possesses extensive natural caliche nitrate deposits and has developed significant downstream processing capacity, giving it a structural cost advantage in potassium nitrate production. The US-Chile Free Trade Agreement may also affect duty treatment for qualifying shipments.
Yes. Potassium nitrate is classified as an oxidizer under DOT hazardous materials regulations, requiring proper labeling, packaging, and shipping documentation (including a hazardous materials declaration). These requirements apply regardless of the customs classification and must be addressed before the cargo is tendered to a carrier.
Subheading 1 of 3 in heading 2834
Subheading 283421 · $20.0M of $23.4M
ImportsExports
Imports
$20.0MYoY · free account
Exports
$763KYoY · free account
12-mo low · imports
Low · free accountOver the twelve months to August 2026, the U.S. imported $94.0M of Potassium Nitrate and exported $14.1M.
Through August 2026. Source: U.S. Census Bureau.
Imports · August 2026
origin
Chile and Israel together supply 96% of it.
customs district
destination
entry
rate provision · imports
99.3% enters free of duty; duty collected equals 0.04% of imports for consumption.
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2834210000 | Potassium Nitrates | $20.0M | 0.04% | 0.73% | $9K |
HS10 export codes under this HS6 parent, each with its own page. Source: U.S. Schedule B export classification.
| Code | Description | Export Value |
|---|---|---|
| 2834210000 | Potassium Nitrates | $763K |
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.
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