Standard International Trade Classification
U.S. exports of Wastes of Metal Pickling Liquors, Hydraulic Fluids, Brake Fluids & Antifreeze (SITC 59940) totaled $677K in September 2026.
Wastes of Metal Pickling Liquors, Hydraulic Fluids, Brake Fluids & Antifreeze imports of $12K in September 2026 ran 31% above the year-to-date monthly average of $9K.
Last updated: September 2026 dataSpent metal pickling liquors—typically strong acid solutions laden with dissolved metals—and waste hydraulic, brake, and antifreeze fluids are classified as hazardous wastes under RCRA, with pickling liquors often carrying corrosivity and toxicity characteristics that restrict disposal options. Waste antifreeze (primarily ethylene glycol) and brake fluids have established recycling markets, making them more commercially viable as import feedstocks for reclamation facilities than acid pickling wastes. All four waste streams require EPA transboundary hazardous-waste notification and consent procedures, and metal-bearing pickling liquors may additionally trigger Clean Water Act pretreatment standards at the receiving facility.
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1 import shipments a month
All four waste streams require EPA notification and consent under RCRA's transboundary hazardous-waste rules, but their hazard characteristics differ significantly. Spent pickling liquors are typically corrosive and may be toxic due to dissolved heavy metals, while waste antifreeze and brake fluids are primarily hazardous for ignitability or toxicity. The specific RCRA waste codes and applicable land-disposal restrictions vary by stream, so importers must characterize each waste separately.
Spent ethylene glycol antifreeze can be reclaimed and re-refined into reusable antifreeze or industrial coolant through established recycling processes, giving it positive commercial value as a feedstock. When domestic collection volumes are insufficient to meet a reclaimer's capacity, importing waste antifreeze from nearby sources can be economically viable, provided the material meets the reclaimer's purity specifications and RCRA reclamation exemption conditions are satisfied.
Basic heading 406 of 465 in section 5
Basic heading 59940 · $677K of $26.2B
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ImportsExports
Imports
$12KYoY · free account
Exports
$677KYoY · free account
Low of 9 reported months · imports
Low · free accountOver the twelve months to September 2026, the U.S. imported $86K of Wastes of Metal Pickling Liquors, Hydraulic Fluids, Brake Fluids & Antifreeze and exported $5.6M.
Through September 2026 · imports 9 of 12 months reported. Source: U.S. Census Bureau.
Exports · September 2026
destination
Canada and Barbados together take 100% 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.