U.S. imports of Sodium Chloride, Common Salt, and Sea Water (SITC 27830) totaled $59.4M in August 2026, imported from 60 countries.
Importers of Sodium Chloride, Common Salt, and Sea Water paid $4.5M in duties in August 2026, an average duty rate of 7.61% — duty actually collected as a share of the imports that cleared customs, not the published tariff schedule.
Last updated: August 2026 dataSodium chloride in its various commercial forms — table salt, industrial salt, denatured salt, brine, and sea water — underpins the chlor-alkali chemical industry (a primary feedstock for chlorine and caustic soda production), highway de-icing operations, food processing, and water treatment. Industrial-grade salt and food-grade salt are produced to very different purity and additive specifications, and denatured salt (rendered unfit for human consumption) carries distinct regulatory treatment. Canada and Mexico are the dominant suppliers of salt to the US market given geographic proximity and large evaporative and rock-salt operations.
AI-written summary of the official U.S. Census Bureau trade figures on this page — verify before relying on it.
2.4K import shipments a month
Denatured salt has been treated with additives (such as ferric ferrocyanide or other approved agents) to render it unfit for human or animal consumption, typically to qualify for duty or tax exemptions applicable to non-food industrial salt. Importers must document the denaturing agent and concentration on the commercial invoice, as customs authorities may require proof of denaturant to apply the correct tariff treatment. Food-grade salt, by contrast, must meet FDA purity and additive standards.
Yes — sea water is explicitly included in this SITC heading alongside solid sodium chloride and brine. However, sea water imports for industrial use (such as mineral extraction or aquaculture) are uncommon given the cost of transport; the inclusion is primarily a classification convenience. Importers of concentrated brine or sea water should confirm the applicable HTS subheading with a licensed customs broker, as the form of the material affects classification.
Trade Directory
List your company and tag the 6-digit products you trade, so the companies trading them can find you. Be the first supplier listed.
ImportsExports
Imports
$59.4MYoY · free account
Exports
$20.7MYoY · free account
12-mo low · imports
Low · free accountOver the twelve months to August 2026, the U.S. imported $709.9M of Sodium Chloride, Common Salt, and Sea Water and exported $227.4M.
Through August 2026. Source: U.S. Census Bureau.
Imports · August 2026
origin
Canada and Chile together supply 52% of it. Chile pays 12.5% duty; Mexico 0.2%.
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.
Basic heading 17 of 239 in section 2
Basic heading 27830 · $59.4M of $3.8B