U.S. imports of Rum and Tafia (SITC 11244) totaled $13.9M in August 2026, imported from 53 countries.
Importers of Rum and Tafia paid $822K in duties in August 2026, an average duty rate of 6.39% — duty actually collected as a share of the imports that cleared customs, not the published tariff schedule.
Last updated: August 2026 dataRum and tafia—distilled from sugarcane juice, molasses, or other sugarcane byproducts—are produced across the Caribbean, Latin America, and beyond, with the US representing one of the world's largest import markets for the category. TTB's standard of identity for rum requires that the spirit be distilled from sugarcane-derived materials and bottled at a minimum alcohol content, while geographic designations (Jamaican rum, Barbados rum, etc.) carry additional labeling implications. The category spans commodity-grade bulk rum used in blending and bottling operations to ultra-premium aged expressions, each with distinct commercial and compliance profiles. Importers sourcing from Caribbean Basin countries should verify current duty treatment, as preferential programs have historically applied to some origins.
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629 import shipments a month
Both are distilled from sugarcane-derived materials, but tafia is generally a lower-grade, less-refined spirit that may not meet the quality standards required for the 'rum' designation under TTB regulations. In practice, most commercial imports enter as rum; tafia is rarely seen in US import documentation. Importers should confirm the product meets TTB's rum standard of identity before applying for a COLA.
Yes. Bulk rum imported in large containers for domestic blending or bottling follows a different commercial and sometimes regulatory pathway than finished bottled product. TTB permit requirements apply in both cases, but the COLA process differs—domestic bottlers must obtain their own label approvals for the finished product. Duty treatment may also vary by container size, so importers should confirm the applicable tariff classification with a licensed customs broker.
Basic heading 15 of 21 in section 1
Basic heading 11244 · $13.9M of $2.5B
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Imports · August 2026
origin
Dominican Republic pays 11.3% duty; Barbados 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.
ImportsExports
Imports
$13.9MYoY · free account
Exports
$8.8MYoY · free account
12-mo low · imports
Low · free accountOver the twelve months to August 2026, the U.S. imported $176.8M of Rum and Tafia and exported $144.9M.
Through August 2026. Source: U.S. Census Bureau.