U.S. imports of Vegetable & Animal Coloring Matter and Preparations (SITC 53222) totaled $32.2M in August 2026, imported from 47 countries.
Importers of Vegetable & Animal Coloring Matter and Preparations paid $3.8M in duties in August 2026, an average duty rate of 11.69% — duty actually collected as a share of the imports that cleared customs, not the published tariff schedule. Vegetable & Animal Coloring Matter and Preparations imports of $32.2M in August 2026 ran 14% above the year-to-date monthly average of $28.3M.
Last updated: August 2026 dataNatural colorants sourced from plants and animals — including dyeing extracts such as indigo, annatto, and cochineal, but excluding animal black — serve the food, textile, cosmetic, and pharmaceutical sectors, where synthetic dye restrictions are driving renewed commercial interest. Preparations based on these colorants (blended or standardized formulations) are also captured here. Importers should be aware that colorants intended for food or cosmetic use may require FDA review of the specific substance and its intended application.
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585 import shipments a month
Yes. Color additives for food, drug, or cosmetic use are subject to FDA pre-market approval or listing requirements under the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act. Importers must confirm that the specific colorant is either exempt from certification or holds an approved color additive petition before entry into commerce. Consult a licensed customs broker or regulatory counsel familiar with FDA color additive rules.
A dyeing extract is a concentrated product obtained directly from a plant or animal source with minimal processing, retaining the natural colorant in a semi-crude form. A preparation is a formulated product where the natural colorant has been blended with carriers, standardizing agents, or other ingredients to achieve a specific hue strength or application profile — a distinction that can affect both classification and end-use labeling requirements.
Basic heading 128 of 465 in section 5
Basic heading 53222 · $32.2M of $27.5B
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Imports · August 2026
origin
China pays 36.0% duty; Italy 7.3%.
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
$32.2MYoY · free account
Exports
$15.6MYoY · free account
12-mo low · imports
Low · free accountOver the twelve months to August 2026, the U.S. imported $302.7M of Vegetable & Animal Coloring Matter and Preparations and exported $199.5M.
Through August 2026. Source: U.S. Census Bureau.