U.S. exports of Polishes & Creams for Footwear and Leather (SITC 55431) totaled $2.1M in August 2026.
Importers of Polishes & Creams for Footwear and Leather paid $138K in duties in August 2026, an average duty rate of 16.90% — duty actually collected as a share of the imports that cleared customs, not the published tariff schedule. Polishes & Creams for Footwear and Leather imports of $923K in August 2026 ran 24% above the year-to-date monthly average of $744K.
Last updated: August 2026 dataShoe polishes, leather conditioners, and similar cream or paste preparations formulated specifically for footwear and leather goods occupy this heading, explicitly excluding artificial and prepared waxes (which fall under a separate wax heading). The footwear and leather care market spans consumer retail tins and tubes as well as professional-grade bulk products used by cobblers and leather goods manufacturers. Solvent content and flammability classification are practical concerns for importers, as products with high organic solvent concentrations may trigger DOT hazardous materials packaging and labeling requirements during ocean or air freight.
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74 import shipments a month
Artificial and prepared waxes have their own dedicated tariff heading based on their chemical composition and physical form. When a product's primary character is that of a wax rather than a polish or cream preparation, it is classified under the wax heading regardless of its end-use application. Shoe polishes and leather creams that use wax as one ingredient among several functional components remain in this heading.
Shoe polishes containing flammable solvents (such as naphtha or mineral spirits) above certain flash-point thresholds are classified as flammable liquids under DOT 49 CFR, requiring proper UN packaging, hazard labels, and shipping documentation. Importers should obtain Safety Data Sheets from the manufacturer and confirm the flash point before booking ocean or air freight.
Basic heading 350 of 465 in section 5
Basic heading 55431 · $2.1M of $26.2B
Exports · August 2026
destination
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.
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ImportsExports
Imports
$923KYoY · free account
Exports
$2.1MYoY · free account
12-mo low · imports
Low · free accountOver the twelve months to August 2026, the U.S. imported $9.3M of Polishes & Creams for Footwear and Leather and exported $19.8M.
Through August 2026. Source: U.S. Census Bureau.