SITCSection 5
U.S. imports of dimethyl terephthalate (SITC 51384) totaled $270K in July 2026, traded with 2 countries.
Importers of Dimethyl Terephthalate paid $27K in duties in July 2026 — an effective duty rate of 10% on $270K in dutiable value, based on actual customs collections rather than the published tariff schedule. Dimethyl Terephthalate imports of $270K in July 2026 ran 61% above the year-to-date monthly average of $167K.
Last updated: July 2026 dataDimethyl terephthalate (DMT) is one of two principal monomers used to produce polyethylene terephthalate (PET) resin and polyester fiber, competing commercially with purified terephthalic acid (PTA) depending on plant technology. Global capacity has shifted heavily toward PTA, making DMT a more specialized import with a narrower supplier base. Trade professionals should confirm that the contracted grade meets polymerization-grade purity specifications, as off-spec material can disrupt downstream fiber or bottle-resin production.
AI-written summary of the official U.S. Census Bureau trade figures on this page — verify before relying on it.
5 shipments/mo
Basic heading 428 of 465 in section 5
Basic heading 51384 · $270K of $28.9B
Both DMT and purified terephthalic acid (PTA) are monomers for PET, but they require different reactor technologies. DMT-based processes use methanol as a byproduct and are more common in older plants, while PTA-based processes dominate new capacity. Buyers should confirm which monomer their production facility is designed to process before sourcing.
Polymerization-grade DMT typically requires very high purity with tightly controlled levels of color bodies, acid value, and moisture. Importers should request a certificate of analysis for each lot and specify acceptable limits contractually, as even minor impurities can cause color defects or molecular-weight irregularities in finished PET.
Supplier Network
Get discovered by U.S. importers searching for HS 51384 — Dimethyl Terephthalate. Be the first supplier listed.
Imports · July 2026
origin
Korea, South and Japan together supply 100% of it.
Sign in free to see the top 5 →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
$270KYoY · Pro
Exports
$261KYoY · Pro
12-mo low · imports
YoY · ProFewer than 6 of the last 12 months reported trade above $500K; the trend chart is not shown for thin series.
Through July 2026. Source: U.S. Census Bureau.