U.S. exports of Semichemical Fluting Paper (Corrugating Medium), Uncoated, in Rolls or Sheets (HS 480511) totaled $19.6M in August 2026.
Importers of Semichemical Fluting Paper (Corrugating Medium), Uncoated, in Rolls or Sheets paid $145K in duties in August 2026, an average duty rate of 1.56% — duty actually collected as a share of the imports that cleared customs, not the published tariff schedule. Semichemical Fluting Paper (Corrugating Medium), Uncoated, in Rolls or Sheets imports of $9.3M in August 2026 ran 17% above the year-to-date monthly average of $7.9M.
Last updated: August 2026 dataSemichemical fluting paper — the corrugating medium that forms the wavy inner layer of corrugated board — is produced by a combined mechanical and chemical pulping process that yields a stiff, lightweight sheet optimized for flute formation. Canada is the dominant US supplier under this heading, with Finland and Poland also contributing, reflecting North American integration and Scandinavian pulp-industry capacity. Classified under a single US tariff line (4805110000), this product is a foundational input for the corrugated packaging industry, and supply disruptions directly affect box-plant production schedules. Buyers typically specify flute grade (A, B, C, E) and basis weight in purchase contracts, though those distinctions are not further subdivided at the 10-digit level.
AI-written summary of the official U.S. Census Bureau trade figures on this page — verify before relying on it.
608 import shipments a month
Semichemical pulping combines a partial chemical treatment (typically neutral sulfite) with mechanical refining to partially dissolve lignin before the fibers are mechanically separated. This hybrid process produces a stiffer, higher-yield sheet than fully chemical kraft pulp, which is the key technical characteristic that distinguishes semichemical fluting from other corrugating media under Chapter 48.
Yes. Canadian mills can supply US box plants via truck or rail with shorter lead times and lower freight costs than overseas suppliers, which is particularly important for a bulky, low-value-per-ton commodity like corrugating medium. This proximity also reduces the working capital tied up in transit inventory, making Canada the structurally dominant source for this heading.
ImportsExports
Imports
$9.3MYoY · free account
Exports
$19.6MYoY · free account
12-mo low · imports
Low · free accountOver the twelve months to August 2026, the U.S. imported $92.1M of Semichemical Fluting Paper (Corrugating Medium), Uncoated, in Rolls or Sheets and exported $253.7M.
Through August 2026. Source: U.S. Census Bureau.
Exports · August 2026
destination
Mexico and Costa Rica together take 74% of it.
customs district
origin
entry
rate provision · imports
72.8% enters free of duty; duty collected equals 1.56% 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4805110000 | Semichemical Flutng Ppr (Corrugatng Med) Unctd Rll | $9.3M | 1.56% | 27.15% | $145K |
HS10 export codes under this HS6 parent, each with its own page. Source: U.S. Schedule B export classification.
| Code | Description | Export Value |
|---|---|---|
| 4805110000 | Semichemical Flutng Ppr (Corrugatng Med) Unctd Rll | $19.6M |
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.
Subheading 3 of 11 in heading 4805
Subheading 480511 · $19.6M of $108.7M
Trade Directory
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