U.S. exports of Siliceous Fossil Meals & Earths with Specific Gravity of 1 or Less (HS 251200) totaled $4.9M in August 2026.
Importers of Siliceous Fossil Meals & Earths with Specific Gravity of 1 or Less paid $25K in duties in August 2026, an average duty rate of 2.26% — duty actually collected as a share of the imports that cleared customs, not the published tariff schedule. Siliceous Fossil Meals & Earths with Specific Gravity of 1 or Less imports of $1.1M in August 2026 ran 12% above the year-to-date monthly average of $992K.
Last updated: August 2026 dataSiliceous fossil meals and earths — most notably diatomite (diatomaceous earth) and kieselguhr — are ultralow-density amorphous silica materials classified under 2512000000, defined by a specific gravity at or below 1. Their unique porous microstructure makes them indispensable as filtration aids in food and beverage processing, as functional fillers in paints and coatings, and as carriers for pesticides and catalysts. The specific gravity threshold is the key classification criterion, distinguishing these materials from denser silica minerals such as quartz or cristobalite.
AI-written summary of the official U.S. Census Bureau trade figures on this page — verify before relying on it.
114 import shipments a month
The specific gravity limit of 1 or less is the defining physical criterion that places diatomite and similar fossil silica materials in HTS 2512000000, separating them from heavier crystalline silica minerals. Importers should have density test data available, as CBP may request it to confirm classification, particularly for processed or calcined grades whose density can approach the boundary.
Diatomaceous earth is commercially traded in natural (uncalcined), calcined, and flux-calcined grades, each offering different filtration efficiency and purity. While all grades that meet the specific gravity criterion fall under 2512000000, flux-calcined material has higher crystalline silica content, which carries occupational health implications and may require additional documentation for end-use customers in food processing applications.
Subheading 1 of 1 in heading 2512
Subheading 251200 · $4.9M of $4.9M
Trade Directory
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Exports · August 2026
destination
customs district
origin
entry
rate provision · imports
82.1% enters free of duty; duty collected equals 2.26% 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2512000000 | Siliceous Fossil Mls& Earths, Specific Gravity Lt=1 | $1.1M | 2.26% | 17.93% | $25K |
HS10 export codes under this HS6 parent, each with its own page. Source: U.S. Schedule B export classification.
| Code | Description | Export Value |
|---|---|---|
| 2512000000 | Siliceous Fossil Mls& Earths, Specific Gravity Lt=1 | $4.9M |
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
$1.1MYoY · free account
Exports
$4.9MYoY · free account
12-mo low · imports
Low · free accountOver the twelve months to August 2026, the U.S. imported $11.0M of Siliceous Fossil Meals & Earths with Specific Gravity of 1 or Less and exported $55.4M.
Through August 2026. Source: U.S. Census Bureau.