U.S. imports of Vanillin (4-Hydroxy-3-Methoxybenzaldehyde) (HS 291241) totaled $11.0M in August 2026, imported from 13 countries.
Importers of Vanillin (4-Hydroxy-3-Methoxybenzaldehyde) paid $1.5M in duties in August 2026, an average duty rate of 13.90% — duty actually collected as a share of the imports that cleared customs, not the published tariff schedule. Vanillin (4-Hydroxy-3-Methoxybenzaldehyde) imports of $11.0M in August 2026 ran 36% above the year-to-date monthly average of $8.1M.
Last updated: August 2026 dataSynthetic vanillin — the dominant commercial form of the world's most widely used flavor compound — enters the US under a single 10-digit line (2912410000) and is a critical input for food manufacturers, confectioners, and fragrance blenders. Thailand and Norway are the leading US suppliers under this heading; Norway's prominence reflects the large-scale wood-pulp-derived (lignin) vanillin production capacity there, while Thailand and Indonesia supply guaiacol-based synthetic grades. FDA oversight applies to food-grade vanillin, and importers should ensure supplier documentation distinguishes synthetic vanillin from natural vanilla extract, which classifies elsewhere.
AI-written summary of the official U.S. Census Bureau trade figures on this page — verify before relying on it.
35 import shipments a month
Synthetic vanillin (2912410000) is a pure chemical compound classified in Chapter 29, while natural vanilla extract and vanilla preparations classify in Chapter 21 or Chapter 33 depending on their form and use. Mislabeling synthetic vanillin as 'natural vanilla' can trigger FDA labeling violations in addition to customs misclassification issues.
Food-grade vanillin is subject to FDA oversight as a food additive or GRAS (Generally Recognized as Safe) substance. Importers should obtain a certificate of analysis confirming purity, ensure the foreign supplier is registered with FDA under the Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA), and be prepared for FDA examination at the port of entry. Consulting a licensed customs broker familiar with FDA-regulated chemicals is advisable.
Subheading 1 of 10 in heading 2912
Subheading 291241 · $11.0M of $29.0M
Trade Directory
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ImportsExports
Imports
$11.0MYoY · free account
Exports
$989KYoY · free account
12-mo low · imports
Low · free accountOver the twelve months to August 2026, the U.S. imported $90.1M of Vanillin (4-Hydroxy-3-Methoxybenzaldehyde) and exported $21.7M.
Through August 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 | Imports for consumption | Average duty rate | Dutiable Share | Duty Collected |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2912410000 | Vanillin (4-Hydroxy-3-Methoxybenzaldehyde) | $11.0M | 13.90% | 100.00% | $1.5M |
HS10 export codes under this HS6 parent, each with its own page. Source: U.S. Schedule B export classification.
| Code | Description | Export Value |
|---|---|---|
| 2912410000 | Vanillin (4-Hydroxy-3-Methoxybenzaldehyde) | $989K |
Vanillin (4-Hydroxy-3-Methoxybenzaldehyde)
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
Thailand and Norway together supply 73% of it. Norway pays 18.0% duty; Italy 0.0%.
customs district
destination
entry
rate provision · imports
duty collected equals 13.90% of imports for consumption.