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SITCSection 2
U.S. imports of cotton linters (SITC 26320) totaled $345K in April 2026, traded with 1 country.
Importers of Cotton Linters paid $35K in duties in April 2026 — an effective duty rate of 10% on $345K in dutiable value, based on actual customs collections rather than the published tariff schedule. Cotton Linters imports of $345K in April 2026 ran 159% above the year-to-date monthly average of $133K.
Last updated: April 2026 dataCotton linters—the short, fine fibers remaining on the cottonseed after ginning removes the longer staple fiber—are a chemically distinct co-product of cotton processing with end-uses far removed from textile spinning. Refined linters are a primary cellulose source for dissolving-grade pulp used in nitrocellulose, cellulose acetate, and pharmaceutical excipient production, as well as a raw material for specialty papers and filtration media. Their classification is explicitly separated from staple cotton because the fiber length and processing pathway differ fundamentally from textile-grade cotton.
AI-written summary of the official U.S. Census Bureau trade figures on this page — verify before relying on it.
Cotton linters serve three main industrial sectors: chemical cellulose (for nitrocellulose explosives, lacquers, and cellulose acetate film/fiber), pharmaceutical and food-grade microcrystalline cellulose (a tablet excipient and food additive), and specialty paper (currency paper, filter paper). Each application requires a different purity and alpha-cellulose specification, so buyers must specify the grade—first-cut, second-cut, or refined—and the required alpha-cellulose content in purchase contracts.
Yes, classification disputes can arise at the boundary between raw cotton linters and refined linter pulp. Unrefined linters in bale form are classified as cotton linters, while linters that have been chemically processed to a dissolving-grade cellulose are classified as dissolving-grade pulp under a different heading. The degree of chemical processing and the resulting alpha-cellulose content are the determining factors, and mill processing records are the key supporting documentation.
Monthly import values over time
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| Country | Imports | Exports | Balance |
|---|---|---|---|
| JAPAN | -- | $581K | +$581K |
| TURKEY | $345K | -- | -$345K |
| CHINA | -- | $299K | +$299K |
| SOUTH AFRICA | -- | -- | -- |
| CHILE | -- | -- | -- |