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SITCSection 2
U.S. imports of mucilages & thickeners derived from vegetable products (SITC 29296) totaled $31.0M in April 2026, traded with 31 countries.
Importers of Mucilages & Thickeners Derived from Vegetable Products paid $3.2M in duties in April 2026 — an effective duty rate of 11% on $30.1M in dutiable value, based on actual customs collections rather than the published tariff schedule. Mucilages & Thickeners Derived from Vegetable Products imports of $31.0M in April 2026 ran 28% above the year-to-date monthly average of $24.3M.
Last updated: April 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.
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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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Monthly import values over time
| Country | Imports | Exports | Balance |
|---|---|---|---|
| INDIA | $12.6M | $182K | -$12.4M |
| PHILIPPINES | $3.6M | $97K | -$3.5M |
| CHINA | $1.9M | $1.4M | -$506K |
| MEXICO | $916K | $1.5M | +$629K |
| SPAIN | $2.4M | $33K | -$2.3M |