Standard International Trade Classification
U.S. imports of Unground Natural Calcium Phosphates, Aluminum Calcium Phosphates & Phosphatic Chalk (SITC 27231) totaled $32.6M in August 2026, imported from 2 countries.
Unground Natural Calcium Phosphates, Aluminum Calcium Phosphates & Phosphatic Chalk imports of $32.6M in August 2026 ran 29% above the year-to-date monthly average of $25.3M.
Last updated: August 2026 dataUnground natural phosphate rock — encompassing calcium phosphates, aluminum calcium phosphates, and phosphatic chalk — is the raw mineral feedstock for the global phosphate fertilizer supply chain. The unground designation is commercially significant: it indicates the ore has not yet been milled or beneficiated, placing it earlier in the processing chain than ground or treated phosphate products. Phosphate rock deposits are geographically concentrated, making supply-chain continuity a key concern for fertilizer manufacturers who depend on consistent ore quality and P₂O₅ grade. Classification as 'imports only' reflects the US's position as a net importer of certain phosphate ore grades.
AI-written summary of the official U.S. Census Bureau trade figures on this page — verify before relying on it.
16 import shipments a month
The distinction is physical processing state: unground material has not been subjected to milling or size reduction beyond rough crushing, while ground material has been mechanically reduced to a finer particle size. The boundary can be contested when material is coarsely crushed; importers should document the processing steps and particle size distribution to support the correct heading at entry.
The 'imports only' designation indicates that the US statistical schedule tracks this commodity specifically for import reporting purposes, reflecting that the US imports certain grades or types of phosphate rock that supplement domestic production. It does not affect duty treatment but is relevant for accurate Census Bureau trade reporting at the time of entry.
Basic heading 28 of 239 in section 2
Basic heading 27231 · $32.6M of $3.8B
Imports · August 2026
origin
Peru and Canada together supply 100% 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
$32.6MYoY · free account
Exports
$10KYoY · free account
12-mo low · imports
Low · free accountOver the twelve months to August 2026, the U.S. imported $301.9M of Unground Natural Calcium Phosphates, Aluminum Calcium Phosphates & Phosphatic Chalk.
Through August 2026 · exports 9 of 12 months reported. Source: U.S. Census Bureau.
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