U.S. imports of Stearic Acid (HS 382311) totaled $7.1M in August 2026, imported from 15 countries.
Importers of Stearic Acid paid $153K in duties in August 2026, an average duty rate of 2.14% — duty actually collected as a share of the imports that cleared customs, not the published tariff schedule.
Last updated: August 2026 dataDerived primarily from palm or tallow feedstocks through hydrolysis and fractionation, industrial-grade stearic acid is a high-volume fatty acid used as a lubricant, emulsifier, and processing aid across rubber, plastics, cosmetics, and candle manufacturing. Indonesia and Malaysia dominate US import supply, a reflection of their large palm-based oleochemical industries, with Germany supplying higher-purity grades for specialty applications. The single 10-digit line 3823110000 covers the entire subheading, so classification disputes typically involve distinguishing commercial-grade stearic acid (a mixture of C16 and C18 fatty acids) from chemically pure octadecanoic acid, which would be classified in chapter 29.
AI-written summary of the official U.S. Census Bureau trade figures on this page — verify before relying on it.
54 import shipments a month
Heading 3823 covers industrial monocarboxylic fatty acids, which in practice are mixtures — commercial stearic acid typically contains significant proportions of palmitic acid (C16) alongside the C18 stearic fraction. Chemically pure octadecanoic acid (99%+ purity) is classified in chapter 29. Importers should obtain a certificate of analysis showing the fatty acid composition profile; a product with substantial C16 content is almost certainly an industrial-grade mixture properly classified under 3823.
Importers should monitor CBP and USTR announcements for any antidumping, countervailing duty, or Section 301 orders that may apply to oleochemical products from specific origins. As of classification, no standing antidumping order on stearic acid from Indonesia or Malaysia is universally in effect, but trade-remedy landscapes change; consulting a licensed customs broker or trade attorney before large-volume purchases is advisable.
Subheading 3 of 5 in heading 3823
Subheading 382311 · $7.1M of $99.0M
ImportsExports
Imports
$7.1MYoY · free account
Exports
$2.5MYoY · free account
12-mo low · imports
Low · free accountOver the twelve months to August 2026, the U.S. imported $80.8M of Stearic Acid and exported $32.4M.
Through August 2026. Source: U.S. Census Bureau.
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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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3823110000 | Stearic Acid | $7.1M | 2.14% | 14.29% | $153K |
HS10 export codes under this HS6 parent, each with its own page. Source: U.S. Schedule B export classification.
| Code | Description | Export Value |
|---|---|---|
| 3823110000 | Stearic Acid | $2.5M |
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 · August 2026
origin
Indonesia and Malaysia together supply 99% of it. Belgium pays 10.0% duty; Sweden 0.0%.
customs district
destination
entry
rate provision · imports
85.7% enters free of duty; duty collected equals 2.14% of imports for consumption.