U.S. imports of Aluminum Hydroxide (SITC 52266) totaled $37.1M in August 2026, imported from 21 countries.
Importers of Aluminum Hydroxide paid $882K in duties in August 2026, an average duty rate of 2.38% — duty actually collected as a share of the imports that cleared customs, not the published tariff schedule. Aluminum Hydroxide imports of $37.1M in August 2026 ran 46% above the year-to-date monthly average of $25.5M.
Last updated: August 2026 dataAluminum hydroxide — the primary precursor to alumina and ultimately to aluminum metal — is also a key flame retardant filler in plastics and rubber, and a raw material for aluminum chemicals used in water treatment and paper manufacturing. Its trade significance extends well beyond metallurgy: the flame-retardant and water-treatment segments each have distinct particle-size and surface-area specifications that affect pricing and classification. Importers should be aware that aluminum hydroxide destined for refractory or abrasive downstream processing may be subject to different tariff treatment than the chemical-grade material.
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316 import shipments a month
No. Aluminum hydroxide (Al(OH)₃, also called alumina trihydrate or gibbsite) classifies separately from calcined alumina (aluminum oxide, Al₂O₃). The calcination step that converts hydroxide to oxide changes both the chemical identity and the applicable tariff heading, so importers must confirm the processing state of the material before filing entry.
Flame-retardant grades typically require median particle sizes in the 1–100 micron range, with surface area and oil absorption values specified by the polymer compounder. Coarser grades used in refractory cements or water treatment have looser tolerances. Specifying the grade in the purchase contract and on the commercial invoice helps prevent customs disputes over product identity.
Basic heading 114 of 465 in section 5
Basic heading 52266 · $37.1M of $27.5B
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Imports · August 2026
origin
Brazil and Germany together supply 60% of it.
customs district
Census does not publish district detail for this classification system.
destination
Census does not publish state detail for this classification system.
entry
Census does not publish port detail for this classification system.
ImportsExports
Imports
$37.1MYoY · free account
Exports
$14.6MYoY · free account
12-mo low · imports
Low · free accountOver the twelve months to August 2026, the U.S. imported $302.4M of Aluminum Hydroxide and exported $206.7M.
Through August 2026. Source: U.S. Census Bureau.