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SITCSection 2
U.S. imports of natural steatite & talc (SITC 27893) totaled $4.1M in April 2026, traded with 20 countries.
Importers of Natural Steatite & Talc paid $43K in duties in April 2026 — an effective duty rate of 10% on $427K in dutiable value, based on actual customs collections rather than the published tariff schedule. Natural Steatite & Talc imports of $4.1M in April 2026 ran 46% below the year-to-date monthly average of $7.6M.
Last updated: April 2026 dataTalc — the softest mineral on the Mohs scale — and its massive rock form, steatite (soapstone), serve distinct markets: talc as a functional filler and lubricant in plastics, paper, cosmetics, and pharmaceuticals, and steatite blocks or slabs as a machinable ceramic for electrical insulators and laboratory surfaces. The heading covers steatite whether roughly trimmed or sawn into square or rectangular blocks, as well as talc in all forms. Cosmetic and pharmaceutical-grade talc is subject to FDA oversight regarding asbestos contamination, making supplier qualification and testing documentation a compliance priority for those end-use channels.
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FDA requires that talc used in cosmetics and pharmaceuticals be free of asbestiform fibers. Importers in these channels should obtain certificates of analysis from accredited laboratories confirming asbestos absence, as FDA has taken enforcement action against contaminated cosmetic talc. Supplier qualification audits and batch-level testing are standard practice for compliant importers. Classification and admissibility for these end uses can be complex; consulting a licensed customs broker and reviewing FDA guidance is advisable.
Industrial-grade talc is valued primarily for particle size, brightness, and aspect ratio for use in plastics, paint, and paper — purity thresholds are less stringent than for personal-care applications. Cosmetic-grade talc must meet tighter specifications for heavy metals, microbial content, and asbestos absence, commanding a price premium and requiring more rigorous supplier documentation.
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Monthly import values over time