U.S. exports of Synthetic Filament Tow of Polyesters (SITC 26662) totaled $515K in August 2026.
Synthetic Filament Tow of Polyesters imports of $48K in August 2026 ran 127% above the year-to-date monthly average of $21K.
Last updated: August 2026 dataPolyester filament tow is a high-volume intermediate in the synthetic fiber supply chain, produced by drawing and crimping continuous polyester filaments into large, untwisted bundles before cutting. Cigarette filter tow — a specialized form of cellulose acetate tow — is a separate product, but polyester tow under this heading serves apparel fiber, fiberfill, and nonwoven converting applications. Buyers typically specify denier per filament (dpf) and total tow denier as the primary quality parameters, and these specifications should be reflected in commercial invoices to support accurate classification and quality verification.
AI-written summary of the official U.S. Census Bureau trade figures on this page — verify before relying on it.
16 import shipments a month
Polyester tow is typically traded in denier-per-filament (dpf) ranges from below 1 dpf (microfiber tow) up to 15 dpf or more for coarser applications. Finer dpf tow produces softer, higher-loft staple fiber suited for apparel and premium fiberfill, while coarser dpf tow is used in industrial nonwovens and geotextiles. These specifications should appear on commercial invoices and packing lists.
Yes — tow and staple fiber are closely related forms of the same polymer, and the distinction is physical: tow is a continuous, uncut bundle while staple fiber has been cut to a defined length. A manufacturer's product data sheet specifying 'filament tow' with total denier and filament count, combined with a physical inspection confirming no cutting, is the most reliable documentation to prevent misclassification.
Basic heading 158 of 239 in section 2
Basic heading 26662 · $515K of $7.8B
ImportsExports
Imports
$48KYoY · free account
Exports
$515KYoY · free account
12-mo low · imports
Low · free accountOver the twelve months to August 2026, the U.S. imported $341K of Synthetic Filament Tow of Polyesters and exported $3.7M.
Through August 2026. Source: U.S. Census Bureau.
Trade Directory
List your company and tag the 6-digit products you trade, so the companies trading them can find you. Be the first supplier listed.
Exports · August 2026
destination
Canada and China together take 90% 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.