Standard International Trade Classification
U.S. exports of Colloidal Precious Metals; Precious Metal Compounds and Amalgams (SITC 52432) totaled $84.8M in August 2026.
Importers of Colloidal Precious Metals; Precious Metal Compounds and Amalgams paid $395K in duties in August 2026, an average duty rate of 4.04% — duty actually collected as a share of the imports that cleared customs, not the published tariff schedule. Colloidal Precious Metals; Precious Metal Compounds and Amalgams imports of $9.8M in August 2026 ran 39% below the year-to-date monthly average of $16.1M.
Last updated: August 2026 dataColloidal gold and silver dispersions, organometallic precious metal compounds, and amalgams occupy a specialized niche at the intersection of electronics, catalysis, and medical device manufacturing — colloidal gold is used in diagnostic test kits and nanotechnology, while platinum-group-metal compounds serve as homogeneous catalyst precursors in pharmaceutical synthesis. Classification precision is critical because the heading spans both chemically defined compounds (with fixed stoichiometry) and preparations that are not chemically defined, and the precious metal content drives significant value for customs valuation purposes. Amalgams, though declining in dental use, remain classifiable here when composed of precious metals.
AI-written summary of the official U.S. Census Bureau trade figures on this page — verify before relying on it.
72 import shipments a month
Customs value is based on the transaction value (price actually paid or payable) at the time of importation, which for precious metal compounds typically reflects the spot price of the contained metal plus processing and conversion costs. Importers should retain documentation — such as price confirmation tied to a recognized metals exchange — to substantiate the declared value if CBP questions it.
A chemically defined compound has a fixed, reproducible molecular formula and composition (e.g., chloroplatinic acid, H₂PtCl₆). Preparations described by a range of compositions, or mixtures of precious metal species, are 'not chemically defined.' Both fall within this heading, but the distinction may matter for specific HTS subheading placement and should be confirmed against the supplier's technical specification.
Basic heading 68 of 465 in section 5
Basic heading 52432 · $84.8M of $26.2B
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Exports · August 2026
destination
Mexico and Costa Rica together take 63% of it.
customs district
Census does not publish district detail for this classification system.
origin
Census does not publish state detail for this classification system.
entry
Census does not publish port detail for this classification system.
ImportsExports
Imports
$9.8MYoY · free account
Exports
$84.8MYoY · free account
12-mo low · imports
Low · free accountOver the twelve months to August 2026, the U.S. imported $193.1M of Colloidal Precious Metals; Precious Metal Compounds and Amalgams and exported $1.3B.
Through August 2026. Source: U.S. Census Bureau.