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SITCSection 6
U.S. imports of hard rubber (ebonite) — all forms & articles (SITC 62991) totaled $1.9M in April 2026, traded with 36 countries.
Importers of Hard Rubber (Ebonite) — All Forms & Articles paid $162K in duties in April 2026 — an effective duty rate of 16% on $1.0M in dutiable value, based on actual customs collections rather than the published tariff schedule. Hard Rubber (Ebonite) — All Forms & Articles imports of $1.9M in April 2026 ran 10% below the year-to-date monthly average of $2.1M.
Last updated: April 2026 dataHard rubber, commercially known as ebonite or vulcanite, is produced by vulcanizing natural or synthetic rubber with a high proportion of sulfur, yielding a rigid, chemically resistant material used in battery cases, bowling balls, musical instrument mouthpieces, electrical insulators, and laboratory equipment. Unlike flexible vulcanized rubber, ebonite is non-elastic and can be machined, turned, or molded to tight tolerances, making it a specialty engineering material rather than a commodity elastomer. This heading also captures waste and scrap of hard rubber, which enters secondary material markets for grinding and reuse as a filler or insulating compound.
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The key distinction is the base material: ebonite is derived from natural or synthetic rubber vulcanized with high sulfur content, while engineering plastics (such as phenolics or nylon) are polymer-based without a rubber origin. CBP may request material composition analysis or a manufacturer's certificate of composition when the physical appearance of a finished article does not clearly indicate whether it is hard rubber or a thermoplastic. The sulfur content and rubber-origin of the polymer are the definitive classification criteria.
Hard rubber scrap is generally not subject to the same environmental restrictions as used pneumatic tires, since it does not create water-pooling biosecurity risks. However, importers of rubber scrap should verify that the material does not contain regulated substances (such as certain plasticizers or heavy-metal stabilizers) that could trigger EPA or state hazardous-material regulations. A material safety data sheet from the exporter is advisable for any scrap or waste shipment.
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Monthly import values over time