Standard International Trade Classification
U.S. imports of Cold-Formed or Cold-Finished Free-Cutting Steel Bars and Rods (SITC 67631) totaled $4.1M in August 2026, imported from 10 countries.
Importers of Cold-Formed or Cold-Finished Free-Cutting Steel Bars and Rods paid $1.3M in duties in August 2026, an average duty rate of 30.92% — duty actually collected as a share of the imports that cleared customs, not the published tariff schedule. Cold-Formed or Cold-Finished Free-Cutting Steel Bars and Rods imports of $4.1M in August 2026 ran 21% above the year-to-date monthly average of $3.4M.
Last updated: August 2026 dataCold-forming and cold-finishing — processes that improve surface finish, dimensional tolerance, and mechanical properties without reheating — distinguish this product from its hot-rolled counterparts and make it the preferred feedstock for precision screw machine work where tight tolerances are required from the bar. The free-cutting steel composition (elevated sulfur or other machinability additives) combined with cold-finishing yields a product with superior chip control and surface quality, commanding a price premium over hot-rolled equivalents. Section 232 tariffs apply, and the cold-finished designation must be supported by documentation confirming the finishing process, as CBP may scrutinize whether a product is truly cold-finished or merely cold-drawn to a minor degree.
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294 import shipments a month
The distinction turns on whether the bar has been further worked by cold-drawing, cold-rolling, or cold-finishing after the initial hot-working stage. Cold-finishing imparts tighter dimensional tolerances and a smoother surface than hot-rolling alone. If the product has only been hot-rolled and pickled without a cold-finishing pass, it belongs in the hot-rolled headings (67612 or 67622), not here.
Cold-finishing reduces diameter tolerances to levels that allow direct loading into automatic screw machines without additional straightening or sizing, cutting setup time and scrap rates. Combined with the free-cutting alloy composition's chip-breaking properties, the result is faster cycle times and longer tool life — factors that often justify the higher per-pound cost relative to hot-rolled bar.
Basic heading 436 of 766 in section 6
Basic heading 67631 · $4.1M of $27.0B
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Imports · August 2026
origin
Germany and Canada together supply 84% of it. China pays 75.0% 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
$4.1MYoY · free account
Exports
$2.1MYoY · free account
12-mo low · imports
Low · free accountOver the twelve months to August 2026, the U.S. imported $38.1M of Cold-Formed or Cold-Finished Free-Cutting Steel Bars and Rods and exported $17.7M.
Through August 2026. Source: U.S. Census Bureau.