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SITCSection 2
U.S. exports of natural steatite & talc (SITC 27893) totaled $7.3M in July 2026.
Importers of Natural Steatite & Talc paid $104K in duties in July 2026 — an effective duty rate of 9.8% on $1.1M in dutiable value, based on actual customs collections rather than the published tariff schedule. Natural Steatite & Talc imports of $5.2M in July 2026 ran 21% below the year-to-date monthly average of $6.6M.
Last updated: July 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.
AI-written summary of the official U.S. Census Bureau trade figures on this page — verify before relying on it.
234 shipments/mo
Basic heading 87 of 239 in section 2
Basic heading 27893 · $5.2M of $3.8B
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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Exports · July 2026
destination
Mexico and Thailand together take 52% of it.
customs district
Census does not publish district detail for this classification system.
origin
Census does not publish state detail for this classification system.
entry
Census does not publish port detail for this classification system.
ImportsExports
Imports
$5.2MYoY · Pro
Exports
$7.3MYoY · Pro
12-mo low · imports
YoY · ProThrough July 2026. Source: U.S. Census Bureau.