SITCSection 5

Aqueous Paints & Varnishes Based on Synthetic Polymers

Name: Aqueous Paints & Varnishes Based on Synthetic Polymers (SITC 53341) -- U.S. Export Data
Creator: U.S. Census Bureau
License: https://www.census.gov/about/policies/open-gov/open-data.html

SITC 53341Basic heading5-digit

U.S. imports · July 2026: $39.7M; YTD $254.9M

U.S. exports · July 2026: $95.0M

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U.S. exports of aqueous paints & varnishes based on synthetic polymers (SITC 53341) totaled $95.0M in July 2026.

Importers of Aqueous Paints & Varnishes Based on Synthetic Polymers paid $3.1M in duties in July 2026 — an effective duty rate of 14% on $22.5M in dutiable value, based on actual customs collections rather than the published tariff schedule.

Last updated: July 2026 data

Water-borne coatings based on synthetic or chemically modified natural polymers—including acrylic, vinyl-acrylic, and styrene-acrylic emulsions—dominate architectural and industrial maintenance markets due to their lower VOC profiles relative to solvent-borne alternatives. Regulatory pressure from EPA air-quality rules has accelerated the shift toward aqueous formulations, making this category a growth segment in both domestic production and import trade. SITC 53341 captures enamels, lacquers, and varnishes in this medium, and importers should be aware that certain Chinese-origin coatings have faced antidumping scrutiny at the HTS level.

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1.6K shipments/mo

12-month trend

ImportsExports

Imports

$39.7MYoY · Pro

Exports

$95.0MYoY · Pro

12-mo low · imports

YoY · Pro

$98.4M$0

June 2025December 2025July 2026

Through July 2026. Source: U.S. Census Bureau.

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Basic heading 97 of 465 in section 5

Share of section 5 imports0.14%

Basic heading 53341 · $39.7M of $28.9B

Where it comes from, where it lands, what it pays

Exports · July 2026

Countries

destination

Canada and Mexico together take 82% of it.

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Districts

customs district

Census does not publish district detail for this classification system.

States

origin

Census does not publish state detail for this classification system.

Ports

entry

Census does not publish port detail for this classification system.

Frequently Asked Questions

How does EPA VOC regulation affect the import classification or admissibility of aqueous polymer-based paints?

EPA VOC limits under the National Volatile Organic Compound Emission Standards apply to coatings sold in the US market regardless of origin. While VOC content does not change the HTS classification, importers must ensure products meet applicable EPA and state-level VOC standards before distribution. California's CARB rules are often more stringent than federal limits and apply to products sold in that state.

What distinguishes an aqueous synthetic-polymer paint from a non-aqueous one for classification purposes?

The carrier medium is the defining criterion: aqueous formulations use water as the primary solvent or dispersant, while non-aqueous formulations use organic solvents. This distinction is material at both the SITC and HTS levels, so the technical data sheet or SDS confirming the carrier system is essential supporting documentation for correct classification.