U.S. imports of Lactones, Not Elsewhere Specified (SITC 51563) totaled $19.1M in August 2026, imported from 29 countries.
Importers of Lactones, Not Elsewhere Specified paid $1.8M in duties in August 2026, an average duty rate of 9.71% — duty actually collected as a share of the imports that cleared customs, not the published tariff schedule.
Last updated: August 2026 dataBeyond the commercially prominent coumarins and caprolactam, a broad range of cyclic ester (lactone) structures — including gamma-butyrolactone (GBL), delta-valerolactone, and various macrocyclic musk lactones — fall into this residual NES heading. GBL in particular carries significant regulatory complexity: it is a DEA List I chemical precursor to GHB and is subject to strict import controls, requiring importers to hold appropriate DEA registration and comply with reporting requirements. Other lactones in this heading serve legitimate industrial roles as solvents, polymer intermediates, and fragrance ingredients, but the presence of controlled substances in the category makes due-diligence screening essential.
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380 import shipments a month
GBL is designated a List I chemical by the DEA under the Controlled Substances Act due to its role as a GHB precursor. Importers must be registered with the DEA, file import declarations, and comply with threshold reporting requirements. Shipments without proper DEA authorization are subject to seizure and civil or criminal penalties.
The CAS number and chemical name should be explicitly stated on all entry documents. Non-controlled lactones such as delta-valerolactone or macrocyclic musks require no DEA registration, but customs brokers and CBP officers may scrutinize lactone shipments carefully given the presence of GBL in the category. Clear product identification and a supplier certificate of analysis help expedite clearance.
Basic heading 181 of 465 in section 5
Basic heading 51563 · $19.1M of $27.5B
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Imports · August 2026
origin
China and India together supply 71% of it. China pays 13.3% duty; Italy 1.3%.
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
$19.1MYoY · free account
Exports
$7.6MYoY · free account
12-mo low · imports
Low · free accountOver the twelve months to August 2026, the U.S. imported $243.8M of Lactones, Not Elsewhere Specified and exported $103.8M.
Through August 2026. Source: U.S. Census Bureau.