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SITCSection 5
U.S. imports of sulfites & thiosulfates (SITC 52344) totaled $2.8M in April 2026, traded with 16 countries.
Importers of Sulfites & Thiosulfates paid $360K in duties in April 2026 — an effective duty rate of 15% on $2.3M in dutiable value, based on actual customs collections rather than the published tariff schedule. Sulfites & Thiosulfates imports of $2.8M in April 2026 ran 12% above the year-to-date monthly average of $2.5M.
Last updated: April 2026 dataSodium sulfite and sodium metabisulfite are the dominant sulfites in international trade, serving as antioxidants and preservatives in food processing, as oxygen scavengers in boiler water treatment, and as reducing agents in photographic chemistry and textile processing. Sodium thiosulfate — historically known as "hypo" in photography — is the principal thiosulfate, used as a photographic fixer, a dechlorination agent in water treatment, and an antidote in cyanide poisoning protocols. Food-grade sulfites are subject to FDA labeling requirements when used as food additives, and importers of food-contact or food-ingredient grades should verify compliance with applicable food safety standards.
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Sulfites used as food preservatives or antioxidants are regulated by FDA as food additives under GRAS (Generally Recognized as Safe) provisions, with specific labeling requirements when present above threshold levels in finished foods. Importers of food-grade sulfite products should ensure the product meets FDA purity specifications and that any food-contact application complies with 21 CFR labeling rules. Consulting a licensed customs broker and a food regulatory specialist is advisable given the complexity of admissibility review for food-ingredient chemicals.
Sodium thiosulfate is used in municipal water dechlorination (neutralizing residual chlorine after treatment), as a medical antidote for cyanide and cisplatin toxicity, and in gold leaching processes. Its classification under this heading does not change with end-use, but the grade and purity specified on the invoice (technical vs. pharmaceutical vs. photographic) are important for verifying the correct tariff line and for meeting any applicable FDA or EPA import requirements.
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Monthly import values over time