U.S. exports of Low-Density Polyethylene (LDPE) in Primary Forms (SITC 57111) totaled $430.1M in August 2026.
Importers of Low-Density Polyethylene (LDPE) in Primary Forms paid $1.5M in duties in August 2026, an average duty rate of 2.41% — duty actually collected as a share of the imports that cleared customs, not the published tariff schedule. Low-Density Polyethylene (LDPE) in Primary Forms imports of $68.2M in August 2026 ran 14% above the year-to-date monthly average of $59.7M.
Last updated: August 2026 dataPolyethylene with a specific gravity below 0.94 — the density threshold that distinguishes low-density polyethylene (LDPE) and linear low-density polyethylene (LLDPE) from their high-density counterpart — is a foundational petrochemical resin for flexible packaging, agricultural film, wire and cable insulation, and coatings. The specific gravity specification is the critical classification criterion: importers must confirm density via manufacturer's technical data sheets, as a reading at or above 0.94 shifts the product to the HDPE heading. This resin category has significant Section 301 tariff exposure depending on origin, making supplier geography a key landed-cost variable.
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1.4K import shipments a month
Specific gravity for polyethylene is typically measured by the manufacturer using ASTM D792 or ISO 1183 test methods and reported on the product's technical data sheet or certificate of analysis. Importers should retain these documents as part of the entry record, as CBP may request them to verify that the declared specific gravity is below 0.94 and the classification is correct.
Yes — both conventional LDPE and linear low-density polyethylene (LLDPE) have specific gravities below 0.94 and are therefore classified together under SITC 57111 when in primary forms. The distinction between LDPE and LLDPE matters commercially (they have different melt-flow and mechanical properties) but does not create a separate SITC classification at this level.
Basic heading 11 of 465 in section 5
Basic heading 57111 · $430.1M of $26.2B
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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.
ImportsExports
Imports
$68.2MYoY · free account
Exports
$430.1MYoY · free account
12-mo low · imports
Low · free accountOver the twelve months to August 2026, the U.S. imported $684.4M of Low-Density Polyethylene (LDPE) in Primary Forms and exported $4.6B.
Through August 2026. Source: U.S. Census Bureau.