U.S. imports of Direct Dyes and Preparations (SITC 53114) totaled $2.3M in August 2026, imported from 17 countries.
Importers of Direct Dyes and Preparations paid $219K in duties in August 2026, an average duty rate of 9.53% — duty actually collected as a share of the imports that cleared customs, not the published tariff schedule. Direct Dyes and Preparations imports of $2.3M in August 2026 ran 38% above the year-to-date monthly average of $1.7M.
Last updated: August 2026 dataDirect dyes are water-soluble anionic colorants applied to cellulosic fibers — primarily cotton and viscose — directly from a neutral or slightly alkaline salt bath without requiring a mordant or fiber pretreatment, which makes them a cost-efficient choice for commodity textile dyeing. Their relatively modest wash-fastness compared to reactive or vat dyes limits their use in high-performance applications, but they remain widely traded for paper, leather, and lower-cost apparel production. Preparations in this category frequently incorporate migration inhibitors or fixatives that improve fastness properties, and the ratio of such additives to the dye substance is a key classification consideration.
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70 import shipments a month
Direct dyes exhaust onto cellulosic fibers through physical adsorption and hydrogen bonding without forming a covalent bond with the fiber, while reactive dyes form a permanent covalent linkage. Chemically, reactive dyes contain a reactive group (such as a triazine or vinyl sulfone moiety) that is absent in direct dyes. This structural distinction — not just the application method — determines the correct heading.
Direct dye preparations sourced from China may be subject to Section 301 tariffs depending on the specific tariff line. Importers should verify current Section 301 List coverage for their specific product with a licensed customs broker, as the scope of covered chemical products has been updated over multiple rounds of review.
Imports · August 2026
origin
India and Mexico together supply 86% of it. India pays 16.4% duty; Mexico 0.7%.
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
$2.3MYoY · free account
Exports
$686KYoY · free account
12-mo low · imports
Low · free accountOver the twelve months to August 2026, the U.S. imported $18.1M of Direct Dyes and Preparations and exported $8.3M.
Through August 2026. Source: U.S. Census Bureau.
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Basic heading 364 of 465 in section 5
Basic heading 53114 · $2.3M of $27.5B