U.S. imports of Lead Oxides; Red Lead & Orange Lead (SITC 52257) totaled $405K in August 2026, imported from 11 countries.
Importers of Lead Oxides; Red Lead & Orange Lead paid $49K in duties in August 2026, an average duty rate of 12.14% — duty actually collected as a share of the imports that cleared customs, not the published tariff schedule. Lead Oxides; Red Lead & Orange Lead imports of $405K in August 2026 ran 10% above the year-to-date monthly average of $367K.
Last updated: August 2026 dataLead monoxide (litharge and massicot), red lead (Pb₃O₄), and orange lead are the principal compounds in this heading, used historically in corrosion-inhibiting primers, glass and crystal manufacturing, and battery plate production. Environmental and occupational-health regulations under EPA and OSHA significantly constrain the use of lead compounds in coatings and consumer products in the US, channeling demand primarily toward industrial battery and specialty glass applications. Importers should be aware that lead-containing articles may trigger additional EPA reporting obligations and that end-use restrictions vary by application sector.
AI-written summary of the official U.S. Census Bureau trade figures on this page — verify before relying on it.
6 import shipments a month
EPA regulations under the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) and the Clean Air Act impose reporting and use restrictions on lead compounds, and OSHA's lead standard governs occupational exposure in facilities handling these materials. Importers should confirm that their intended end-use application is not subject to a specific EPA use prohibition before placing orders.
Lead-acid battery manufacturing remains the primary industrial consumer of lead oxides, as lead monoxide is a key input for battery plate paste. Specialty glass and crystal production — where lead oxide improves refractive index — and certain ceramic glazes represent secondary markets, while corrosion-inhibiting paint applications have declined sharply due to environmental restrictions.
Basic heading 424 of 465 in section 5
Basic heading 52257 · $405K of $27.5B
Trade Directory
List your company and tag the 6-digit products you trade, so the companies trading them can find you. Be the first supplier listed.
Imports · August 2026
origin
South Africa and Mexico together supply 99% of it. South Africa pays 15.5% duty; Mexico 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
$405KYoY · free account
Exports
$266KYoY · free account
12-mo low · imports
Low · free accountOver the twelve months to August 2026, the U.S. imported $4.3M of Lead Oxides; Red Lead & Orange Lead and exported $7.1M.
Fewer than 6 of the last 12 months reported trade, or the latest month was under $500K; the trend chart is not shown for thin series.
Through August 2026. Source: U.S. Census Bureau.