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U.S. imports of salicylic acid and its salts (HS 291821) totaled $2.5M in July 2026, traded with 12 countries.
Importers of Salicylic Acid and Its Salts paid $350K in duties in July 2026 — an effective duty rate of 21% on $1.7M in dutiable value, based on actual customs collections rather than the published tariff schedule. Salicylic Acid and Its Salts imports of $2.5M in July 2026 ran 15% above the year-to-date monthly average of $2.2M.
Last updated: July 2026 dataSalicylic acid — a beta-hydroxy acid widely used as a pharmaceutical active, preservative, and chemical intermediate — is split at the 10-digit level between grades suitable for medicinal use (2918211000) and those intended for industrial or other non-medicinal applications (2918215000 and 2918215100), a distinction that can affect both duty treatment and FDA regulatory review. Germany and China are the leading US suppliers, with Mexico also a notable source. Importers of pharmaceutical-grade material should be prepared for FDA review of the intended end-use, as the medicinal-grade line may trigger additional admissibility scrutiny.
AI-written summary of the official U.S. Census Bureau trade figures on this page — verify before relying on it.
38 shipments/mo
Customs and FDA typically look to the manufacturer's certificate of analysis, intended end-use declarations, and whether the material meets pharmacopeial standards (e.g., USP or EP monographs). Goods destined for drug manufacturing or direct medicinal use should be declared under 2918211000, while material sold for rubber, dye, or preservative applications generally falls under the non-medicinal lines. Consult a licensed customs broker or regulatory counsel to confirm the correct classification based on your specific end-use documentation.
German suppliers have historically maintained strong positions in pharmaceutical-grade fine chemicals, where quality certifications, GMP compliance, and supply-chain reliability command a premium over price. For industrial-grade material, China is a major competing source, but pharmaceutical buyers often accept a cost premium for European-origin product to meet drug master file and regulatory requirements.
HSChapter 29
Subheading 11 of 17 in heading 2918
Subheading 291821 · $2.5M of $108.6M
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ImportsExports
Imports
$2.5MYoY · Pro
Exports
$154KYoY · Pro
12-mo low · imports
YoY · ProThrough July 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 | Import Value | Effective Tariff % | Dutiable Share | Duty Collected |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2918211000 | Salicylic Acid and Its Salts Suit for Medicin Use | $2.0M | 10.81% | 58.80% | $216K |
| 2918215000 | Salicylic Acid and Its Salts (Exc Medicinal Use) | $483K | 27.59% | 100.00% | $133K |
HS10 export codes under this HS6 parent, each with its own page. Source: U.S. Schedule B export classification.
| Code | Description | Export Value |
|---|---|---|
| 2918211000 | Salicylic Acid and Its Salts Suit for Medicin Use | $103K |
| 2918215100 | Salicylic Acid and Its Salts (Exc Medicinal Use) | $51K |
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.
Imports · July 2026
origin
Germany and Mexico together supply 66% of it.
customs district
destination
entry
rate provision · imports
33.2% enters free of duty; the effective duty rate is 14.07%.