SITCSection 6

Unrefined Lead and Lead Alloys, Unwrought

Name: Unrefined Lead and Lead Alloys, Unwrought (SITC 68511) -- U.S. Import Data
Creator: U.S. Census Bureau
License: https://www.census.gov/about/policies/open-gov/open-data.html

SITC 68511Basic heading5-digit

U.S. imports · July 2026: $33.8M; YTD $255.5M

U.S. exports · July 2026: $6.9M

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U.S. imports of unrefined lead and lead alloys, unwrought (SITC 68511) totaled $33.8M in July 2026, traded with 9 countries.

Importers of Unrefined Lead and Lead Alloys, Unwrought paid $72K in duties in July 2026 — an effective duty rate of 10% on $722K in dutiable value, based on actual customs collections rather than the published tariff schedule.

Last updated: July 2026 data

Unrefined (bullion or base-bullion) lead and its alloys in unwrought form represent an early-stage smelter output that still contains significant impurities — antimony, bismuth, copper, and other metals — before electrolytic or pyrometallurgical refining. This material moves primarily between smelters and refineries rather than into direct end-use manufacturing, making it a bulk commodity traded on metal-exchange pricing benchmarks. Import volumes are sensitive to domestic secondary-lead smelter capacity and the economics of recycling lead-acid batteries, which are the dominant feedstock for the global lead supply chain.

AI-written summary of the official U.S. Census Bureau trade figures on this page — verify before relying on it.

446 shipments/mo

12-month trend

ImportsExports

Imports

$33.8MYoY · Pro

Exports

$6.9MYoY · Pro

12-mo low · imports

YoY · Pro

$51.0M$0

June 2025December 2025July 2026

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

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Basic heading 167 of 766 in section 6

Share of section 6 imports0.13%

Basic heading 68511 · $33.8M of $26.7B

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

Imports · July 2026

Countries

origin

Canada and Mexico together supply 97% 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 unrefined lead from refined lead for classification purposes?

Unrefined lead (base bullion) retains a significant impurity profile from the smelting process and requires further refining before it meets commercial purity standards. Refined lead, by contrast, has undergone electrolytic or fire-refining to achieve high purity. The distinction is material-based and should be supported by assay certificates showing the chemical composition of the shipment.

Are there environmental or regulatory considerations specific to importing unrefined lead?

Lead is a regulated hazardous substance under EPA frameworks, and imports of lead-bearing materials may be subject to EPA Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) reporting or notification requirements depending on form and intended use. Importers should also confirm compliance with any applicable state-level hazardous-materials regulations and consult a licensed customs broker familiar with metals and hazmat imports.