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SITCSection 5
U.S. imports of pigments and preparations based on synthetic organic colorants (SITC 53117) totaled $29.0M in April 2026, traded with 33 countries.
Importers of Pigments and Preparations Based on Synthetic Organic Colorants paid $5.0M in duties in April 2026 — an effective duty rate of 19% on $25.7M in dutiable value, based on actual customs collections rather than the published tariff schedule.
Last updated: April 2026 dataSynthetic organic pigments — including phthalocyanine blues and greens, azo pigments, and quinacridones — are insoluble colorants dispersed rather than dissolved in their substrate, giving them broad utility across printing inks, paints, plastics, and coatings. Unlike dyes, they do not bond chemically to a substrate, so particle size, surface treatment, and dispersibility are the primary performance variables that differentiate commercial grades. Preparations under this heading often incorporate dispersants, wetting agents, or resin carriers that are integral to end-use performance, and the proportion of such additives relative to the pigment substance is a recurring classification issue at the heading boundary.
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Pigment preparations under this heading are intermediate products — concentrated dispersions or masterbatches intended for further processing — rather than finished paints or inks ready for end use. Once a pigment preparation is formulated into a product with a defined application medium (e.g., a printing ink vehicle or a paint binder), it typically moves to a different heading covering paints, varnishes, or printing inks. The key test is whether the product is a colorant input or a finished coating/ink.
The primary demand sectors are printing inks (packaging and publication), architectural and industrial coatings, plastics compounding, and automotive coatings. Each sector has distinct particle-size and surface-treatment specifications, so pigment preparations are often highly customized to the buyer's dispersion equipment and resin system, making supplier qualification a significant barrier to switching.
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Monthly import values over time