SITCSection 5

Sulfuric Acid & Oleum

Name: Sulfuric Acid & Oleum (SITC 52232) -- U.S. Import Data
Creator: U.S. Census Bureau
License: https://www.census.gov/about/policies/open-gov/open-data.html

SITC 52232Basic heading5-digit

U.S. imports · July 2026: $31.2M; YTD $209.9M

U.S. exports · July 2026: $10.7M

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Balance · July 2026: Loading the trade balance

U.S. imports of sulfuric acid & oleum (SITC 52232) totaled $31.2M in July 2026, traded with 22 countries.

Importers of Sulfuric Acid & Oleum paid $273K in duties in July 2026 — an effective duty rate of 6.4% on $4.3M in dutiable value, based on actual customs collections rather than the published tariff schedule.

Last updated: July 2026 data

Sulfuric acid — the world's most widely produced industrial chemical — and its fuming form, oleum (also called fuming sulfuric acid), are critical inputs for fertilizer manufacturing, petroleum refining, and battery electrolyte production. Both substances are classified as DOT hazardous materials and require strict packaging, labeling, and emergency response documentation for import shipments. Oleum, which contains excess dissolved sulfur trioxide, carries additional handling complexity due to its extreme reactivity with moisture, making concentration specification a key factor in both logistics planning and customs classification. EPA TSCA import certification is required for both substances.

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2.1K shipments/mo

12-month trend

ImportsExports

Imports

$31.2MYoY · Pro

Exports

$10.7MYoY · Pro

12-mo low · imports

YoY · Pro

$40.2M$0

June 2025December 2025July 2026

Through July 2026. Source: U.S. Census Bureau.

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Basic heading 122 of 465 in section 5

Share of section 5 imports0.11%

Basic heading 52232 · $31.2M of $28.9B

Where it comes from, where it lands, what it pays

Imports · July 2026

Countries

origin

Canada and Mexico together supply 81% of it.

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Districts

customs district

Census does not publish district detail for this classification system.

States

destination

Census does not publish state detail for this classification system.

Ports

entry

Census does not publish port detail for this classification system.

Frequently Asked Questions

What distinguishes oleum from standard sulfuric acid for trade classification purposes?

Oleum contains dissolved sulfur trioxide (SO₃) in excess of 100% H₂SO₄ concentration, making it chemically distinct from standard sulfuric acid. The SO₃ content percentage is the key specification that differentiates oleum grades and may affect classification, hazmat transport tier, and end-use documentation.

What are the primary end-use sectors driving US imports of sulfuric acid?

Fertilizer production (particularly phosphate fertilizers), petroleum refining, and lead-acid battery manufacturing are the dominant domestic end-use sectors. Import demand typically reflects regional supply gaps or price differentials rather than a structural dependence on foreign sources, given domestic production capacity.