U.S. imports of Beeswax, Other Insect Waxes, and Spermaceti (SITC 43142) totaled $2.5M in August 2026, imported from 18 countries.
Importers of Beeswax, Other Insect Waxes, and Spermaceti paid $165K in duties in August 2026, an average duty rate of 6.57% — duty actually collected as a share of the imports that cleared customs, not the published tariff schedule. Beeswax, Other Insect Waxes, and Spermaceti imports of $2.5M in August 2026 ran 34% above the year-to-date monthly average of $1.9M.
Last updated: August 2026 dataBeeswax and other insect-derived waxes — along with spermaceti, historically sourced from sperm whales but now largely replaced by synthetic or jojoba-based substitutes — occupy a specialized niche in cosmetics, pharmaceuticals, candle manufacturing, and food-grade coatings. Spermaceti from actual cetaceans is effectively prohibited under CITES and the US Marine Mammal Protection Act, so any product labeled as spermaceti in modern trade is typically a synthetic or plant-derived analog. Beeswax imports are subject to USDA APHIS phytosanitary and animal health scrutiny because of the risk of introducing honeybee pathogens such as American foulbrood.
AI-written summary of the official U.S. Census Bureau trade figures on this page — verify before relying on it.
27 import shipments a month
Raw or unprocessed beeswax can harbor spores of Paenibacillus larvae, the bacterium causing American foulbrood disease, which is highly destructive to honeybee colonies. APHIS may require that imported beeswax be accompanied by a phytosanitary or veterinary health certificate from the exporting country and, in some cases, proof of heat treatment or processing. Importers should verify current APHIS requirements before shipment, as conditions of entry can change. Consult a licensed customs broker or APHIS for the applicable admissibility requirements.
No. Spermaceti derived from sperm whales (Physeter macrocephalus) is prohibited under the US Marine Mammal Protection Act and CITES Appendix I restrictions. Any product commercially described as spermaceti today is a synthetic wax ester or a jojoba-derived substitute. Importers should ensure product labeling and documentation accurately reflect the actual source material to avoid enforcement action.
Basic heading 27 of 41 in section 4
Basic heading 43142 · $2.5M of $1.7B
Trade Directory
List your company and tag the 6-digit products you trade, so the companies trading them can find you. Be the first supplier listed.
Imports · August 2026
origin
Togo and Argentina together supply 41% of it. China pays 20.3% duty; Togo 0.0%.
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
$2.5MYoY · free account
Exports
$751KYoY · free account
12-mo low · imports
Low · free accountOver the twelve months to August 2026, the U.S. imported $21.3M of Beeswax, Other Insect Waxes, and Spermaceti and exported $7.4M.
Through August 2026. Source: U.S. Census Bureau.