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SITCSection 2
U.S. imports of flax, raw or retted (SITC 26511) totaled $1K in April 2026, traded with 4 countries.
Flax, Raw or Retted imports of $1K in April 2026 ran 142% above the year-to-date monthly average of $536.75.
Last updated: April 2026 dataRaw and retted flax fiber — the precursor to linen yarn — enters US trade at its most unprocessed stage, with retting (water, dew, or enzymatic) being the only transformation applied. The retting method materially affects fiber color, cleanliness, and downstream processing requirements: water-retted flax is generally cleaner and lighter, while dew-retted fiber is coarser and darker. European origins, particularly Belgium and France, have historically dominated fine linen flax supply, though Eastern European and Chinese sources serve coarser industrial grades.
AI-written summary of the official U.S. Census Bureau trade figures on this page — verify before relying on it.
Water retting produces a cleaner, more uniform fiber suited to fine linen yarn and apparel fabrics, but is increasingly restricted due to water-pollution concerns. Dew retting is more common and environmentally acceptable, yielding a coarser fiber better suited to industrial textiles, technical fabrics, and composite reinforcement. Buyers should specify retting method in purchase contracts to ensure fiber compatibility with their spinning or processing equipment.
Once flax undergoes mechanical operations — breaking, scutching, or hackling — it exits the raw/retted category and is classified as processed-but-not-spun flax. Importers should confirm with suppliers exactly which operations have been performed at origin, as even partial mechanical processing can shift the applicable classification.
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Monthly import values over time