U.S. exports of Kaolin, Clay, Ceramic & Refractory Minerals Mining (NAICS 212323) totaled $80.3M in August 2026.
Importers of Kaolin, Clay, Ceramic & Refractory Minerals Mining paid $511K in duties in August 2026, an average duty rate of 3.71% — duty actually collected as a share of the imports that cleared customs, not the published tariff schedule.
Last updated: August 2026 dataKaolin and ball clay extraction underpins supply chains for ceramics, paper coating, rubber compounding, and high-temperature refractory products used in steel and glass furnaces. Domestic production is concentrated in Georgia (kaolin) and the Southeast, but trade professionals tracking imports must distinguish raw crude clay from beneficiated or calcined grades, as processing level affects HTS classification and applicable duty treatment. Refractory minerals such as kyanite and andalusite serve distinct industrial end-uses from ceramic-grade kaolins, making precise grade identification critical at entry.
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1.5K import shipments a month
Crude or simply dried kaolin typically falls under a different HTS heading than calcined or surface-treated kaolin. Importers should confirm the degree of beneficiation with their supplier before entry, as calcined grades may carry different duty rates and may be subject to separate antidumping orders depending on origin.
Refractory minerals (e.g., kyanite, sillimanite, andalusite) are valued for extreme heat resistance and are classified separately from ceramic-grade kaolins or ball clays. The end-use application — steel furnace linings versus porcelain or paper coating — drives both the HTS subheading and any applicable end-use certificate requirements.
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National industry 1 of 3 in naics industry 21232
National industry 212323 · $80.3M of $115.7M
Exports · August 2026
destination
customs district
Census does not publish district detail for this classification system.
origin
Census publishes state breakdowns for NAICS to the 4-digit level only. See NAICS 2123 for those.
entry
Census does not publish port detail for this classification system.
ImportsExports
Imports
$13.7MYoY · free account
Exports
$80.3MYoY · free account
12-mo low · imports
Low · free accountOver the twelve months to August 2026, the U.S. imported $153.9M of Kaolin, Clay, Ceramic & Refractory Minerals Mining and exported $944.9M.
Through August 2026. Source: U.S. Census Bureau.