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SITCSection 2
U.S. imports of mucilages & thickeners derived from vegetable products (SITC 29296) totaled $26.4M in July 2026, traded with 34 countries.
Importers of Mucilages & Thickeners Derived from Vegetable Products paid $2.6M in duties in July 2026 — an effective duty rate of 11% on $23.8M in dutiable value, based on actual customs collections rather than the published tariff schedule.
Last updated: July 2026 dataPlant-derived mucilages and thickeners — including guar gum, locust bean gum, xanthan gum (when plant-derived), carrageenan, and modified versions of these hydrocolloids — are widely traded functional ingredients in food, personal care, pharmaceuticals, and industrial applications such as hydraulic fracturing fluids and paper manufacturing. The heading covers both native and chemically or physically modified forms, a distinction that can affect classification at more granular tariff levels. Guar gum, a dominant commodity within this group, has historically seen significant price volatility tied to Indian crop conditions, making supply-chain diversification a recurring concern for food manufacturers.
AI-written summary of the official U.S. Census Bureau trade figures on this page — verify before relying on it.
381 shipments/mo
Basic heading 34 of 239 in section 2
Basic heading 29296 · $26.4M of $3.8B
Modified mucilages and thickeners — such as hydroxypropyl guar or carboxymethyl cellulose derived from plant sources — may shift classification to chemical headings depending on the degree of modification and the applicable tariff schedule. The SITC heading explicitly includes modified forms, but at the HTS 10-digit level, the distinction between native and chemically modified hydrocolloids can determine which tariff line applies. A customs broker should review the product's technical data sheet.
Guar gum is produced predominantly in India and Pakistan from cluster bean (Cyamopsis tetragonoloba), making supply highly sensitive to South Asian monsoon conditions and domestic Indian demand from the oil and gas sector. Importers relying on guar as a food or industrial ingredient should monitor Indian crop forecasts and consider safety-stock strategies, as price spikes and availability constraints have historically been sharp and rapid.
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Imports · July 2026
origin
India and Spain together supply 48% of it.
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
$26.4MYoY · Pro
Exports
$11.7MYoY · Pro
12-mo low · imports
YoY · ProThrough July 2026. Source: U.S. Census Bureau.