U.S. imports of Artists' & Painters' Colors in Retail Packaging (SITC 53352) totaled $12.3M in August 2026, imported from 36 countries.
Importers of Artists' & Painters' Colors in Retail Packaging paid $2.3M in duties in August 2026, an average duty rate of 18.19% — duty actually collected as a share of the imports that cleared customs, not the published tariff schedule. Artists' & Painters' Colors in Retail Packaging imports of $12.3M in August 2026 ran 12% above the year-to-date monthly average of $11.0M.
Last updated: August 2026 dataWatercolors, oil colors, acrylics, gouache, and modifying mediums packaged in tubes, pans, jars, or bottles for artists and painters are classified under SITC 53352, a segment driven by both professional fine-art demand and the broader consumer hobby market. Product quality tiers—student grade versus professional or 'artist grade'—are commercially significant, as pigment load, lightfastness ratings, and binder purity differ substantially between them. Import pricing and country of origin vary by quality tier, with European manufacturers historically dominant in professional-grade lines.
AI-written summary of the official U.S. Census Bureau trade figures on this page — verify before relying on it.
1.2K import shipments a month
Lightfastness ratings and pigment concentration do not change the SITC or HTS classification—all retail-packaged artists' colors fall within the same heading regardless of grade. However, these specifications are commercially material for customs valuation: professional-grade products with higher pigment loads command significantly higher transaction values, and CBP may scrutinize declared values if they appear inconsistent with the product's stated quality tier.
Artists' colors sold to consumers—particularly those marketed to or likely to be used by children—may be subject to CPSC requirements under the Federal Hazardous Substances Act, including labeling requirements for products containing toxic pigments (e.g., cadmium or lead-based colors). Importers should confirm that labeling meets ASTM D4236 chronic hazard labeling standards, which are referenced in US law for art materials.
Basic heading 233 of 465 in section 5
Basic heading 53352 · $12.3M of $27.5B
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Imports · August 2026
origin
China pays 38.3% duty; Mauritius 3.0%.
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
$12.3MYoY · free account
Exports
$5.3MYoY · free account
12-mo low · imports
Low · free accountOver the twelve months to August 2026, the U.S. imported $134.9M of Artists' & Painters' Colors in Retail Packaging and exported $57.1M.
Through August 2026. Source: U.S. Census Bureau.