U.S. imports of Prepared Paint Driers (SITC 53353) totaled $2.2M in August 2026, imported from 19 countries.
Importers of Prepared Paint Driers paid $203K in duties in August 2026, an average duty rate of 9.03% — duty actually collected as a share of the imports that cleared customs, not the published tariff schedule. Prepared Paint Driers imports of $2.2M in August 2026 ran 56% above the year-to-date monthly average of $1.4M.
Last updated: August 2026 dataPrepared paint driers are organometallic or metal-soap compounds—typically based on cobalt, manganese, zirconium, or calcium—added to alkyd and oil-based coatings to catalyze oxidative crosslinking and accelerate film cure. Cobalt-based driers, long the industry standard, face increasing regulatory scrutiny in major markets over toxicological concerns, driving reformulation toward cobalt-free alternatives and reshaping import demand patterns. SITC 53353 captures these preparations as a distinct chemical input category serving the coatings, ink, and adhesive industries.
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71 import shipments a month
Cobalt compounds have been classified as substances of very high concern (SVHC) under European REACH regulation due to reproductive toxicity, and similar scrutiny is emerging in other markets. While US federal regulation has not yet imposed equivalent restrictions, multinational coatings manufacturers are reformulating toward zirconium, manganese, and calcium drier systems. Importers should monitor regulatory developments and assess whether their drier formulations will remain compliant in all destination markets.
Yes. Prepared paint driers are chemical substances or mixtures subject to TSCA. Importers must certify at entry either that the product complies with all applicable TSCA rules and orders (positive certification) or that it is not subject to TSCA (negative certification, applicable only if the product is excluded). The importer of record is responsible for ensuring the active metal compounds in the drier are listed on the TSCA Chemical Substance Inventory.
Basic heading 366 of 465 in section 5
Basic heading 53353 · $2.2M of $27.5B
Imports · August 2026
origin
Spain and Austria together supply 73% of it. India pays 13.7% duty; Mexico 0.0%.
customs district
Census does not publish district detail for this classification system.
destination
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
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Exports
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12-mo low · imports
Low · free accountOver the twelve months to August 2026, the U.S. imported $17.7M of Prepared Paint Driers and exported $14.7M.
Through August 2026. Source: U.S. Census Bureau.