SITCSection 5
U.S. imports of reactive dyes and preparations (SITC 53116) totaled $1000K in July 2026, traded with 16 countries.
Importers of Reactive Dyes and Preparations paid $154K in duties in July 2026 — an effective duty rate of 16% on $988K in dutiable value, based on actual customs collections rather than the published tariff schedule. Reactive Dyes and Preparations imports of $1000K in July 2026 ran 61% above the year-to-date monthly average of $621K.
Last updated: July 2026 dataReactive dyes form a covalent bond with hydroxyl groups in cellulosic fibers or amine groups in wool and silk, producing the highest wash-fastness ratings of any dye class applied to cotton — a property that makes them the preferred colorant for high-quality apparel, home textiles, and technical fabrics. The reactive group chemistry (triazine, vinyl sulfone, or bifunctional variants) determines application temperature, fixation efficiency, and unfixed dye hydrolysis rates, all of which are critical parameters for mill process engineers evaluating a new preparation. Reactive dye preparations from China represent a significant share of US import volume and are subject to Section 301 tariff scrutiny.
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40 shipments/mo
Basic heading 393 of 465 in section 5
Basic heading 53116 · $1000K of $28.9B
The most common reactive groups are monochlorotriazine (MCT), dichlorotriazine (DCT), and vinyl sulfone (VS), with bifunctional dyes combining two reactive groups for improved fixation. For classification purposes, the specific reactive group chemistry does not change the heading — all covalent-bonding fiber-reactive dyes for cellulosic or protein fibers fall within the reactive dyes heading — but it is commercially critical for specifying fixation conditions and wash-off procedures.
Reactive dyes that hydrolyze during storage or transit lose their ability to bond covalently with fiber, reducing fixation efficiency and increasing wash-off waste at the mill. Importers and buyers typically specify maximum hydrolysis levels and require sealed, moisture-proof packaging with limited shelf life from date of manufacture. Testing on arrival against the supplier's certificate of analysis is standard practice for quality-sensitive buyers.
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Imports · July 2026
origin
Japan and India together supply 49% of it.
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.
ImportsExports
Imports
$1000KYoY · Pro
Exports
$384KYoY · Pro
12-mo low · imports
YoY · ProThrough July 2026. Source: U.S. Census Bureau.