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SITCSection 2
U.S. imports of gum arabic (SITC 29222) totaled $10.0M in July 2026, traded with 22 countries.
Importers of Gum Arabic paid $721K in duties in July 2026 — an effective duty rate of 8.2% on $8.8M in dutiable value, based on actual customs collections rather than the published tariff schedule. Gum Arabic imports of $10.0M in July 2026 ran 19% above the year-to-date monthly average of $8.4M.
Last updated: July 2026 dataHarvested from Acacia senegal and related species primarily in the Sahel region of Africa, gum arabic is a natural hydrocolloid used as an emulsifier, stabilizer, and encapsulant in food, beverage, pharmaceutical, and printing-ink applications. Sudan has historically been the dominant global supplier, making supply concentration and geopolitical risk a recurring concern for buyers who depend on consistent quality and viscosity specifications. Food-grade gum arabic entering US commerce is subject to FDA Generally Recognized as Safe (GRAS) status requirements, and importers should ensure supplier documentation supports the applicable food-grade specification.
AI-written summary of the official U.S. Census Bureau trade figures on this page — verify before relying on it.
127 shipments/mo
Food-grade gum arabic must meet purity standards set by bodies such as the Food Chemicals Codex (FCC) or the Joint FAO/WHO Expert Committee on Food Additives (JECFA), covering parameters like moisture content, optical rotation, ash content, and absence of microbial contaminants. Technical-grade material used in printing inks or adhesives does not require these food-safety certifications but may carry a different duty classification. Importers should obtain a certificate of analysis from the supplier confirming the applicable grade.
Because production is geographically concentrated in a narrow belt across Sudan, Chad, and neighboring countries, buyers face exposure to weather-driven yield variability, political instability, and export-policy changes from a small number of source countries. Procurement professionals often maintain safety stock, diversify across multiple certified suppliers within the region, and monitor harvest-season reports to anticipate price and availability shifts.
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Imports · July 2026
origin
France and Sudan together supply 73% of it.
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
$10.0MYoY · Pro
Exports
$1.5MYoY · Pro
12-mo low · imports
YoY · ProThrough July 2026. Source: U.S. Census Bureau.