Standard International Trade Classification
U.S. imports of Essential Oils (Except Citrus) (SITC 55132) totaled $42.6M in August 2026, imported from 91 countries.
Importers of Essential Oils (Except Citrus) paid $3.1M in duties in August 2026, an average duty rate of 7.62% — duty actually collected as a share of the imports that cleared customs, not the published tariff schedule. Essential Oils (Except Citrus) imports of $42.6M in August 2026 ran 18% above the year-to-date monthly average of $36.0M.
Last updated: August 2026 dataNon-citrus essential oils—spanning lavender, peppermint, eucalyptus, rose, vetiver, patchouli, and hundreds of other botanical sources—are among the most diverse commodity groups in the fragrance and flavor supply chain, with origin, chemotype, and extraction method all affecting commercial value and regulatory treatment. SITC 55132 excludes citrus-derived oils, which have their own heading, and covers both steam-distilled and solvent-extracted (absolute) products from floral, herbal, wood, and root sources. Adulteration and mislabeling are persistent compliance concerns in this category, making third-party authentication testing a standard practice for quality-sensitive buyers. Some species-specific oils—particularly those derived from CITES-listed plants such as rosewood or agarwood—require export permits from the country of origin and may face import restrictions.
AI-written summary of the official U.S. Census Bureau trade figures on this page — verify before relying on it.
1.2K import shipments a month
Oils derived from CITES-listed species—such as Brazilian rosewood (Aniba rosaeodora), agarwood/oud (Aquilaria spp.), and certain sandalwood species—require CITES export permits from the country of origin and may require US Fish & Wildlife Service import documentation. Importers should verify the botanical source of any wood- or bark-derived oil before shipment to avoid seizure.
Chemotypes are genetically distinct varieties of the same plant species that produce oils with different dominant compounds—for example, thymol-type versus carvacrol-type thyme oil. While chemotype differences rarely change the HTS classification, they significantly affect pricing, end-use suitability, and specification compliance. Buyers should specify the chemotype in purchase contracts and request gas chromatography analysis to verify composition.
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ImportsExports
Imports
$42.6MYoY · free account
Exports
$23.3MYoY · free account
12-mo low · imports
Low · free accountOver the twelve months to August 2026, the U.S. imported $411.1M of Essential Oils (Except Citrus) and exported $282.1M.
Through August 2026. Source: U.S. Census Bureau.
Imports · August 2026
origin
China pays 17.0% duty; Canada 0.4%.
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.
Basic heading 96 of 465 in section 5
Basic heading 55132 · $42.6M of $27.5B