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SITCSection 5
U.S. imports of calcium carbide (SITC 52493) totaled $407K in April 2026, traded with 3 countries.
Importers of Calcium Carbide paid $48K in duties in April 2026 — an effective duty rate of 12% on $407K in dutiable value, based on actual customs collections rather than the published tariff schedule.
Last updated: April 2026 dataCalcium carbide's primary commercial role is as the feedstock for acetylene gas generation — reacting with water to produce acetylene used in metal cutting, welding, and chemical synthesis of vinyl chloride monomer and other acetylene-derived chemicals. It also serves as a reducing agent in metallurgical processes and, in some markets, as an ethylene-releasing agent for fruit ripening, though that application is regulated or restricted in many jurisdictions. Calcium carbide is classified as a dangerous good (water-reactive solid) under DOT and IMDG regulations, requiring specialized packaging and documentation for import shipments.
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Calcium carbide is classified as a Class 4.3 dangerous good (water-reactive) under DOT and IMDG regulations. Imports must be packaged in hermetically sealed, moisture-proof containers, and the bill of lading and other shipping documents must include the proper UN number, hazard class, and emergency contact information. Port handling agents must be notified in advance of the water-reactive hazard.
Because acetylene is a critical gas for metal fabrication and welding industries, disruptions in calcium carbide supply can cascade into downstream manufacturing. Import buyers typically monitor production capacity in major supplying countries and maintain buffer inventory, particularly given that calcium carbide plants are energy-intensive and subject to power-cost-driven curtailments.
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Monthly import values over time