U.S. imports of Refractory Ceramic Bricks, Blocks & Tiles — Other (Not Alumina/Silica Dominant) (HS 690290) totaled $2.7M in August 2026, imported from 25 countries.
Importers of Refractory Ceramic Bricks, Blocks & Tiles — Other (Not Alumina/Silica Dominant) paid $357K in duties in August 2026, an average duty rate of 13.05% — duty actually collected as a share of the imports that cleared customs, not the published tariff schedule. Refractory Ceramic Bricks, Blocks & Tiles — Other (Not Alumina/Silica Dominant) imports of $2.7M in August 2026 ran 17% below the year-to-date monthly average of $3.3M.
Last updated: August 2026 dataRefractory constructional ceramics that do not derive their heat-resistance primarily from alumina or silica — including magnesia, chrome, zirconia, and specialty clay compositions — fall here, serving niche but demanding applications in non-ferrous smelting, glass tank linings, and waste incineration. Four 10-digit lines separate clay bricks (6902901010) from nonclay bricks (6902901020) and clay blocks/tiles (6902905010) from nonclay blocks/tiles (6902905020), making the clay-versus-nonclay distinction the primary classification axis. Germany and Japan are the leading suppliers to the US market under this heading, reflecting their established positions in advanced ceramic engineering. Chinese-origin goods may carry Section 301 exposure, a factor worth modeling when evaluating total landed cost.
AI-written summary of the official U.S. Census Bureau trade figures on this page — verify before relying on it.
78 import shipments a month
The US tariff schedule uses the clay/nonclay distinction as the primary split: clay refractory bricks are classified under 6902901010 and nonclay refractory bricks under 6902901020, with a parallel division for non-brick shapes (6902905010 for clay, 6902905020 for nonclay). Articles based on magnesia, chromite, zirconia, or silicon carbide would generally fall in the nonclay lines, while traditional fireclay products fall in the clay lines.
Both countries have long-established advanced ceramics industries with proprietary compositions and quality certifications demanded by steel, glass, and chemical processing customers. Their products often command premium pricing justified by documented performance data — longer service life, tighter dimensional tolerances, and traceable chemistry — that lower-cost alternatives may not consistently match.
Subheading 3 of 3 in heading 6902
Subheading 690290 · $2.7M of $21.1M
ImportsExports
Imports
$2.7MYoY · free account
Exports
$2.2MYoY · free account
12-mo low · imports
Low · free accountOver the twelve months to August 2026, the U.S. imported $42.4M of Refractory Ceramic Bricks, Blocks & Tiles — Other (Not Alumina/Silica Dominant) and exported $27.5M.
Through August 2026. Source: U.S. Census Bureau.
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 6902901020 | Nonclay Refractory Bricks NESOI | $2.1M | 13.89% | 100.00% | $297K |
| 6902905020 | Blocks, Tiles Etc, Nonclay, Refract Ceram NESOI | $553K | 9.54% | 80.00% | $53K |
| 6902901010 | Clay Bricks, Refractory, NESOI | $32K | 21.15% | 100.00% | $7K |
| 6902905010 | Blocks, Tiles Etc of Clay NESOI Exc Bricks | $8K | 0.00% | 0.00% | -- |
HS10 export codes under this HS6 parent, each with its own page. Source: U.S. Schedule B export classification.
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.
Trade Directory
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Imports · August 2026
origin
Germany and Japan together supply 61% of it. China pays 36.6% duty; Italy 8.3%.
customs district
destination
entry
rate provision · imports
4.3% enters free of duty; duty collected equals 13.05% of imports for consumption.