SITCSection 3

Pitch & Pitch Coke from Coal Tar or Mineral Tars

Name: Pitch & Pitch Coke from Coal Tar or Mineral Tars (SITC 33531) -- U.S. Import Data
Creator: U.S. Census Bureau
License: https://www.census.gov/about/policies/open-gov/open-data.html

SITC 33531Basic heading5-digit

U.S. imports · July 2026: $13.6M; YTD $52.1M

U.S. exports · July 2026: $372K

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Balance · July 2026: Loading the trade balance

U.S. imports of pitch & pitch coke from coal tar or mineral tars (SITC 33531) totaled $13.6M in July 2026, traded with 11 countries.

Pitch & Pitch Coke from Coal Tar or Mineral Tars imports of $13.6M in July 2026 ran 83% above the year-to-date monthly average of $7.4M.

Last updated: July 2026 data

Coal tar pitch — the residue remaining after distillation of coal tar — is an essential binder in the production of carbon anodes for aluminum smelting and graphite electrodes for electric arc furnaces, making it a critical upstream input for both primary aluminum and steel production. Pitch coke, produced by further calcination of pitch, serves similar electrode and refractory applications. The aluminum and steel industries' demand cycles therefore drive pitch trade flows, and supply tightness in coal tar pitch has historically correlated with periods of high aluminum smelter utilization. PAH content in pitch requires full hazmat documentation under DOT and OSHA HazCom standards.

AI-written summary of the official U.S. Census Bureau trade figures on this page — verify before relying on it.

344 shipments/mo

12-month trend

ImportsExports

Imports

$13.6MYoY · Pro

Exports

$372KYoY · Pro

12-mo low · imports

YoY · Pro

$13.6M$0

June 2025December 2025July 2026

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

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Basic heading 17 of 32 in section 3

Share of section 3 imports0.07%

Basic heading 33531 · $13.6M of $19.0B

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

Imports · July 2026

Countries

origin

Canada and Netherlands together supply 86% of it.

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Districts

customs district

Census does not publish district detail for this classification system.

States

destination

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

Why is coal tar pitch considered a critical material for aluminum production?

Coal tar pitch is the primary binder used to manufacture prebaked carbon anodes, which are consumed in the electrolytic reduction of alumina to aluminum metal. Each ton of primary aluminum requires a significant quantity of anode material, making pitch supply a direct constraint on smelter output. Disruptions in coal tar pitch availability — driven by coking coal production levels or competing demand from graphite electrode manufacturers — can affect aluminum production costs and timelines.

What hazmat documentation is required for importing coal tar pitch?

Coal tar pitch is classified as a hazardous material (UN 1999 or similar, depending on form and temperature) and a probable human carcinogen due to its PAH content. Imports require a DOT-compliant shipping description, an OSHA-compliant Safety Data Sheet, and potentially EPA TSCA and TRI compliance documentation. Importers should work with a licensed customs broker and environmental compliance counsel to ensure all entry and transport documentation is in order.