U.S. imports of Sulfuric Acid & Oleum (SITC 52232) totaled $36.1M in August 2026, imported from 22 countries.
Importers of Sulfuric Acid & Oleum paid $8K in duties in August 2026, an average duty rate of 0.02% — duty actually collected as a share of the imports that cleared customs, not the published tariff schedule. Sulfuric Acid & Oleum imports of $36.1M in August 2026 ran 17% above the year-to-date monthly average of $30.7M.
Last updated: August 2026 dataSulfuric 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 import shipments a month
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.
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.
Basic heading 119 of 465 in section 5
Basic heading 52232 · $36.1M of $27.5B
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Imports · August 2026
origin
Canada and Mexico together supply 77% of it.
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.
ImportsExports
Imports
$36.1MYoY · free account
Exports
$6.3MYoY · free account
12-mo low · imports
Low · free accountOver the twelve months to August 2026, the U.S. imported $368.7M of Sulfuric Acid & Oleum and exported $55.4M.
Through August 2026. Source: U.S. Census Bureau.