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SITCSection 5
U.S. imports of industrial fatty alcohols (SITC 51217) totaled $10.3M in April 2026, traded with 20 countries.
Importers of Industrial Fatty Alcohols paid $1.0M in duties in April 2026 — an effective duty rate of 12% on $8.0M in dutiable value, based on actual customs collections rather than the published tariff schedule. Industrial Fatty Alcohols imports of $10.3M in April 2026 ran 53% below the year-to-date monthly average of $21.9M.
Last updated: April 2026 dataDerived primarily from natural fats and oils through hydrogenation of fatty acids or methyl esters, industrial fatty alcohols — including lauryl, cetyl, stearyl, and oleyl alcohols — are essential intermediates for surfactants, emulsifiers, lubricants, and personal care formulations. The feedstock origin (palm kernel oil, coconut oil, or petrochemical routes) significantly affects both cost structure and sustainability credentials, the latter increasingly scrutinized under corporate supply-chain due-diligence frameworks. Chain length and saturation profile are the key specification variables that determine which downstream application a given fatty alcohol grade serves.
AI-written summary of the official U.S. Census Bureau trade figures on this page — verify before relying on it.
Fatty alcohols produced from palm kernel or coconut oil (oleochemical route) and those from petrochemical feedstocks (Ziegler or oxo process) are chemically identical at a given chain length but differ in sustainability documentation requirements. Many buyers now require RSPO (Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil) certification or equivalent for bio-based grades, and this documentation should be requested from suppliers before contracting.
C12–C14 (lauryl/myristyl), C16–C18 (cetyl/stearyl), and C16–C18 blends are the highest-volume grades. C12–C14 alcohols are primarily used in surfactant synthesis, while C16–C18 grades serve emollient and emulsifier applications in personal care and pharmaceutical manufacturing. Buyers should specify chain-length distribution and iodine value to ensure grade conformance.
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| Country | Imports | Exports | Balance |
|---|---|---|---|
| NETHERLANDS | $100K | $21.2M | +$21.1M |
| JAPAN | $52K | $5.9M | +$5.8M |
| MALAYSIA | $4.8M | -- | -$4.8M |
| CANADA | -- | $4.0M | +$4.0M |
| MEXICO | -- | $3.8M | +$3.8M |
Monthly import values over time