U.S. exports of Zirconium Ores and Concentrates (SITC 28784) totaled $3.5M in August 2026.
Importers of Zirconium Ores and Concentrates paid $250K in duties in August 2026, an average duty rate of 12.51% — duty actually collected as a share of the imports that cleared customs, not the published tariff schedule. Zirconium Ores and Concentrates imports of $2.0M in August 2026 ran 162% above the year-to-date monthly average of $761K.
Last updated: August 2026 dataZircon sand, the dominant commercial form traded under this heading, is a foundational raw material for ceramic tiles, refractory linings, and nuclear-grade zirconium metal, giving it strategic importance across both industrial and defense-adjacent supply chains. The mineral's radioactive co-occurrence with monazite (a thorium-bearing mineral) can trigger Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) considerations for certain high-thorium-content shipments, a compliance dimension that distinguishes zirconium ore imports from most other mineral concentrates. Buyers sourcing for ceramic or foundry applications should specify zircon purity and hafnium content, as nuclear-grade material requires hafnium separation that standard ceramic-grade product does not undergo.
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7 import shipments a month
Hafnium and zirconium occur together naturally and are chemically similar, but hafnium strongly absorbs neutrons while zirconium does not. Nuclear-grade zirconium requires costly hafnium separation, whereas ceramic and foundry grades do not. Specifying the intended end use and hafnium level in purchase contracts helps ensure the correct grade is shipped and classified.
Zircon sand naturally contains low levels of uranium and thorium. Shipments with elevated radioactivity readings may be flagged by Customs and Border Protection radiation detection equipment. Importers should be prepared to provide radiological characterization data and, if thorium content is significant, consult with the NRC regarding any applicable licensing requirements.
Basic heading 97 of 239 in section 2
Basic heading 28784 · $3.5M of $7.8B
Exports · August 2026
destination
Mexico and Belgium together take 54% 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.
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ImportsExports
Imports
$2.0MYoY · free account
Exports
$3.5MYoY · free account
12-mo low · imports
Low · free accountOver the twelve months to August 2026, the U.S. imported $7.0M of Zirconium Ores and Concentrates and exported $46.0M.
Through August 2026. Source: U.S. Census Bureau.