U.S. exports of Phenolic Resins in Primary Forms (SITC 57544) totaled $25.0M in August 2026.
Importers of Phenolic Resins in Primary Forms paid $724K in duties in August 2026, an average duty rate of 5.74% — duty actually collected as a share of the imports that cleared customs, not the published tariff schedule. Phenolic Resins in Primary Forms imports of $12.6M in August 2026 ran 21% above the year-to-date monthly average of $10.4M.
Last updated: August 2026 dataPhenol-formaldehyde (PF) resins — commercially known as Bakelite-type resins — are among the oldest synthetic polymers in industrial trade and remain essential binders for abrasive wheels, brake linings, foundry sand cores, and insulation boards. The primary-forms heading encompasses both resole and novolac grades, which differ fundamentally in their cure mechanism: resoles are self-curing under heat, while novolacs require a hardener such as hexamethylenetetramine. This distinction matters for classification when the resin is imported as a compound rather than a neat polymer.
AI-written summary of the official U.S. Census Bureau trade figures on this page — verify before relying on it.
327 import shipments a month
Both resole and novolac grades fall within phenolic resins in primary forms, but a novolac pre-blended with hexamethylenetetramine hardener may be considered a compound or mixture rather than a pure polymer, potentially shifting its classification. Importers should verify the composition and any added curing agents with a customs broker.
Abrasives manufacturing (grinding wheels and coated abrasives), friction materials (brake pads and clutch facings), foundry binders for sand casting, and mineral wool insulation are the primary consuming sectors. Demand in these industries tends to track industrial production cycles rather than consumer spending.
Basic heading 166 of 465 in section 5
Basic heading 57544 · $25.0M of $26.2B
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Exports · August 2026
destination
Canada and Mexico together take 59% of it.
customs district
Census does not publish district detail for this classification system.
origin
Census does not publish state detail for this classification system.
entry
Census does not publish port detail for this classification system.
ImportsExports
Imports
$12.6MYoY · free account
Exports
$25.0MYoY · free account
12-mo low · imports
Low · free accountOver the twelve months to August 2026, the U.S. imported $116.0M of Phenolic Resins in Primary Forms and exported $246.2M.
Through August 2026. Source: U.S. Census Bureau.