U.S. imports of Synthetic Organic Fluorescent Brightening Agents (HS 320420) totaled $6.0M in August 2026, imported from 21 countries.
Importers of Synthetic Organic Fluorescent Brightening Agents paid $798K in duties in August 2026, an average duty rate of 13.26% — duty actually collected as a share of the imports that cleared customs, not the published tariff schedule. Synthetic Organic Fluorescent Brightening Agents imports of $6.0M in August 2026 ran 79% above the year-to-date monthly average of $3.4M.
Last updated: August 2026 dataFluorescent brightening agents (FBAs) — also called optical brighteners or optical whitening agents — absorb UV light and re-emit it as visible blue-white fluorescence, and are widely used in detergents, paper, textiles, and plastics to enhance apparent whiteness. The US schedule subdivides this heading into Fluorescent Brightening Agent 32 (3204201000), benzoxazole-based compounds (3204204000), and a NESOI residual (3204208000), reflecting the chemical diversity of commercial FBA classes. India and Taiwan are the leading suppliers, with Switzerland and Germany representing major European specialty chemical producers in this space.
AI-written summary of the official U.S. Census Bureau trade figures on this page — verify before relying on it.
88 import shipments a month
FBAs used in detergents or industrial applications are generally regulated under TSCA and must appear on the EPA TSCA Chemical Substance Inventory; importers of new chemical substances not on the inventory may need to file a Pre-Manufacture Notice. FBAs intended for food-contact paper or packaging may also require FDA review. The applicable regulatory pathway depends on the specific compound and its end use.
Line 3204204000 covers benzoxazole-based FBAs — a specific chemical class widely used in textile and paper brightening — as a named provision. Products that are FBAs but do not fall within the benzoxazole class or the specific FBA 32 designation are captured by the NESOI residual at 3204208000. Importers should obtain a chemical structure confirmation from the supplier to determine which line applies.
Subheading 2 of 11 in heading 3204
Subheading 320420 · $6.0M of $66.0M
Trade Directory
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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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3204208000 | Synthetic Organ Prod, Fluorescent Brighteners, NESOI | $5.6M | 13.10% | 99.55% | $735K |
| 3204201000 | Fluorescent Brightening Agent 32 | $334K | 16.09% | 100.00% | $54K |
| 3204204000 | Benzoxazol | $69K | 12.40% | 100.00% | $9K |
HS10 export codes under this HS6 parent, each with its own page. Source: U.S. Schedule B export classification.
| Code | Description | Export Value |
|---|---|---|
| 3204200000 | Synthetic Organic Prod, Fluorescent Brightng Agent | $2.0M |
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
$6.0MYoY · free account
Exports
$2.0MYoY · free account
12-mo low · imports
Low · free accountOver the twelve months to August 2026, the U.S. imported $35.3M of Synthetic Organic Fluorescent Brightening Agents and exported $26.1M.
Through August 2026. Source: U.S. Census Bureau.
Imports · August 2026
origin
Germany and India together supply 70% of it. China pays 36.5% duty; Germany 10.0%.
customs district
destination
entry
rate provision · imports
0.4% enters free of duty; duty collected equals 13.26% of imports for consumption.