U.S. imports of Lithopone & Other Zinc Sulfide-Based Pigments and Preparations (SITC 53315) totaled $184K in August 2026, imported from 6 countries.
Importers of Lithopone & Other Zinc Sulfide-Based Pigments and Preparations paid $28K in duties in August 2026, an average duty rate of 15.07% — duty actually collected as a share of the imports that cleared customs, not the published tariff schedule. Lithopone & Other Zinc Sulfide-Based Pigments and Preparations imports of $184K in August 2026 ran 43% below the year-to-date monthly average of $326K.
Last updated: August 2026 dataLithopone — a co-precipitate of zinc sulfide and barium sulfate — was historically a primary white pigment before titanium dioxide displaced it, but it retains niche use in interior paints, rubber, and linoleum where its lower tinting strength and cost profile are acceptable. Other zinc sulfide-based pigments in this heading include phosphorescent grades used in safety markings and luminescent applications. The relatively narrow commercial footprint of lithopone means trade volumes are modest, and importers often source it from a limited number of specialty chemical producers.
AI-written summary of the official U.S. Census Bureau trade figures on this page — verify before relying on it.
4 import shipments a month
Lithopone remains cost-competitive in interior architectural paints where maximum opacity is less critical, in rubber compounding where TiO₂'s UV-catalytic activity is undesirable, and in certain adhesive and sealant formulations. Its lower refractive index compared to rutile TiO₂ limits its use in high-hiding exterior coatings, but its price point and compatibility with sulfur-containing rubber systems sustain demand in those specific segments.
Standard lithopone is a co-precipitate with barium sulfate and functions as a white pigment. Phosphorescent zinc sulfide pigments are typically doped with activator metals (such as copper or silver) to produce afterglow luminescence and may be more appropriately classified under the luminophore heading (SITC 53318) depending on their primary function. Importers should document the product's composition and intended use to support the correct classification.
Basic heading 433 of 465 in section 5
Basic heading 53315 · $184K of $27.5B
Imports · August 2026
origin
Slovakia and China together supply 97% of it. China pays 39.7% duty; Slovakia 10.0%.
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.
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ImportsExports
Imports
$184KYoY · free account
Exports
$29KYoY · free account
12-mo low · imports
Low · free accountOver the twelve months to August 2026, the U.S. imported $3.3M of Lithopone & Other Zinc Sulfide-Based Pigments and Preparations and exported $1.5M.
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.