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SITCSection 5
U.S. imports of lactams (SITC 51561) totaled $82.2M in April 2026, traded with 25 countries.
Importers of Lactams paid $2.8M in duties in April 2026 — an effective duty rate of 25% on $11.5M in dutiable value, based on actual customs collections rather than the published tariff schedule. Lactams imports of $82.2M in April 2026 ran 32% above the year-to-date monthly average of $62.4M.
Last updated: April 2026 dataCaprolactam — the dominant commercial lactam — is the monomer feedstock for nylon-6 fiber and engineering plastics, making this heading a critical upstream input for the textile, automotive, and packaging industries. Trade volumes in caprolactam are substantial, and the product has historically been subject to antidumping investigations in multiple jurisdictions, reflecting the competitive intensity of global nylon supply chains. Importers should verify current trade-remedy orders at the time of purchase, as duty exposure can shift significantly depending on the country of origin.
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Caprolactam production is capital-intensive and concentrated among a relatively small number of large producers globally. When excess capacity leads to below-cost pricing in export markets, domestic producers in importing countries frequently file antidumping petitions. US importers should check the Department of Commerce and USITC databases for active orders before contracting supply.
Nylon-6 fiber producers (serving apparel and carpet markets), engineering plastics compounders (serving automotive and electronics), and film manufacturers are the primary downstream consumers. Cost pass-through from caprolactam to finished goods is significant, so procurement teams in these sectors monitor import pricing closely.
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Monthly import values over time