U.S. imports of Formic Acid and Its Salts and Esters (SITC 51374) totaled $5.9M in August 2026, imported from 19 countries.
Importers of Formic Acid and Its Salts and Esters paid $661K in duties in August 2026, an average duty rate of 11.04% — duty actually collected as a share of the imports that cleared customs, not the published tariff schedule. Formic Acid and Its Salts and Esters imports of $5.9M in August 2026 ran 73% above the year-to-date monthly average of $3.4M.
Last updated: August 2026 dataFormic acid is the simplest carboxylic acid and serves as a preservative and antibacterial agent in livestock feed, a tanning agent in leather processing, and a reducing agent in textile dyeing. Its calcium and sodium salts are traded as de-icing agents and feed additives, while formate esters find use as solvents and flavoring intermediates. Production is concentrated in a small number of large chemical complexes globally, making supply relatively tight when plant outages occur. Importers should be aware that feed-additive applications may trigger additional regulatory review depending on the end-use declaration.
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233 import shipments a month
When formic acid or its salts are declared for use as feed preservatives or acidifiers, importers may need to provide product specifications, safety data sheets, and in some cases FDA or APHIS documentation depending on the specific formulation and concentration. Consulting a licensed customs broker and confirming the intended end-use declaration before shipment is advisable.
Formic acid is classified as a corrosive material under DOT hazmat regulations, requiring appropriate UN packaging, labeling, and emergency response documentation. Concentration thresholds determine the specific packing group, so shippers must confirm the exact concentration with their logistics provider to ensure compliant transport documentation.
Basic heading 302 of 465 in section 5
Basic heading 51374 · $5.9M of $27.5B
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Imports · August 2026
origin
Canada and Sweden together supply 60% of it. China pays 42.1% duty; Canada 0.0%.
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
$5.9MYoY · free account
Exports
$1.6MYoY · free account
12-mo low · imports
Low · free accountOver the twelve months to August 2026, the U.S. imported $41.0M of Formic Acid and Its Salts and Esters and exported $17.5M.
Through August 2026. Source: U.S. Census Bureau.