Official data Source: US Census Bureau international trade data
Track this productCellulose ethers not elsewhere specified, in primary forms
In short
- The US imported $218.2M of this product over the 12 months to August 2026, down 16% on the year before.
- Germany is the largest supplier, with 31.4% of US imports; Belgium is next, with 27.9%.
- China is the cheapest main supplier before and after freight and duty, landing at $5.98/kg.
- Duty paid averaged 8.1% of the value of imports in August 2026, up 6.3 points on a year earlier.
- Belgium is gaining share: 18.1% over the last 12 months, up from 16.1%.
- 3 Federal Register notices named this product's tariff codes in the last 12 months.
US imports, Aug 2026
$19.7M
↓ −0.9% vs Aug 2025
Last 12 months
$218.2M
↓ −16% vs the 12 months before
Average duty paid
8.1%
↑ +6.3 pts vs Aug 2025
Top supplier
Germany
31.4% of US imports
US imports by month
The last 13 months, so the same month a year ago is on the left. August 2026 is highlighted.
Show the numbers
| Month | US imports |
|---|---|
| August 2025 | $19.9M |
| September 2025 | $19.8M |
| October 2025 | $16.9M |
| November 2025 | $15.5M |
| December 2025 | $12.2M |
| January 2026 | $17.4M |
| February 2026 | $14.5M |
| March 2026 | $20.6M |
| April 2026 | $19.2M |
| May 2026 | $19.8M |
| June 2026 | $21.0M |
| July 2026 | $21.4M |
| August 2026 | $19.7M |
What changed
- US imports were $19.7M in August 2026, down 8.0% from July 2026 and down 0.9% from August 2025.
- Over the 12 months to August 2026 they totalled $218.2M, down 16% on the 12 months before.
- Biggest moves in market share since July 2026: Belgium up from 15.8% to 27.9%, Korea, South down from 22.9% to 16.1%.
- Average price from Japan rose 48% since July 2026, to $19.56/kg.
- Duty paid on imports from Belgium rose from 3.4% to 9.1% of their value since July 2026.
- Duty paid on imports from Korea, South rose from 1.5% to 6.8% of their value since July 2026.
US trade by year
US imports were $218.2M in the 12 months to Aug 2026, up 19% on the 12 months to Aug 2017. US exports were $450.2M, up 16%.
Show the numbers
| Period | US imports |
|---|---|
| 12 months to Aug 2017 | $183.6M |
| 12 months to Aug 2018 | $198.1M |
| 12 months to Aug 2019 | $202.0M |
| 12 months to Aug 2020 | $196.5M |
| 12 months to Aug 2021 | $209.5M |
| 12 months to Aug 2022 | $248.0M |
| 12 months to Aug 2023 | $241.4M |
| 12 months to Aug 2024 | $223.7M |
| 12 months to Aug 2025 | $259.7M |
| 12 months to Aug 2026 | $218.2M |
- Germany
- Korea, South
- Japan
- Belgium
- All countries
Show the numbers
| Period | Germany | Korea, South | Japan | Belgium |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 12 months to Aug 2017 | 47.2% | 13.1% | 9.0% | 11.9% |
| 12 months to Aug 2018 | 46.1% | 12.1% | 13.1% | 11.3% |
| 12 months to Aug 2019 | 45.4% | 14.6% | 13.5% | 12.3% |
| 12 months to Aug 2020 | 37.1% | 17.9% | 15.9% | 13.1% |
| 12 months to Aug 2021 | 38.0% | 16.4% | 16.7% | 15.4% |
| 12 months to Aug 2022 | 43.7% | 15.9% | 13.5% | 14.1% |
| 12 months to Aug 2023 | 40.5% | 18.9% | 16.0% | 12.8% |
| 12 months to Aug 2024 | 36.0% | 20.7% | 17.4% | 16.2% |
| 12 months to Aug 2025 | 36.0% | 19.0% | 17.9% | 16.1% |
| 12 months to Aug 2026 | 33.0% | 20.5% | 18.2% | 18.1% |
Show the numbers
| Period | Germany | Korea, South | Japan | Belgium | All countries |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 12 months to Aug 2017 | 4.2% | 0.0% | 4.2% | 3.7% | 3.6% |
| 12 months to Aug 2018 | 4.2% | 0.1% | 4.1% | 3.6% | 3.6% |
| 12 months to Aug 2019 | 4.2% | 0.1% | 3.8% | 3.4% | 4.4% |
| 12 months to Aug 2020 | 4.2% | 0.1% | 4.0% | 3.2% | 4.2% |
| 12 months to Aug 2021 | 4.2% | 0.1% | 3.9% | 3.5% | 4.2% |
| 12 months to Aug 2022 | 4.2% | 0.1% | 4.0% | 3.2% | 4.2% |
| 12 months to Aug 2023 | 4.2% | 0.1% | 4.1% | 3.3% | 4.1% |
| 12 months to Aug 2024 | 4.2% | 0.1% | 4.2% | 3.6% | 4.1% |
| 12 months to Aug 2025 | 3.6% | 0.1% | 3.3% | 3.0% | 4.2% |
| 12 months to Aug 2026 | 3.1% | 0.8% | 2.4% | 3.1% | 3.3% |
| Period | US imports | Duty paid | US exports |
|---|---|---|---|
| 12 months to Aug 2026 | $218.2M−16% | 3.3%−0.8 pts | $450.2M−13% |
| 12 months to Aug 2025 | $259.7M+16% | 4.2%+0.1 pts | $516.1M+11% |
| 12 months to Aug 2024 | $223.7M−7.3% | 4.1%0.0 pts | $465.2M−2.9% |
| 12 months to Aug 2023 | $241.4M−2.7% | 4.1%−0.1 pts | $478.9M−3.9% |
| 12 months to Aug 2022 | $248.0M+18% | 4.2%0.0 pts | $498.4M+8.5% |
| 12 months to Aug 2021 | $209.5M+6.6% | 4.2%0.0 pts | $459.3M+2.8% |
| 12 months to Aug 2020 | $196.5M−2.7% | 4.2%−0.3 pts | $446.6M−10.0% |
| 12 months to Aug 2019 | $202.0M+2.0% | 4.4%+0.8 pts | $496.2M+7.8% |
| 12 months to Aug 2018 | $198.1M+7.9% | 3.6%+0.1 pts | $460.4M+19% |
| 12 months to Aug 2017 | $183.6M | 3.6% | $387.3M |
Who supplies the US
August 2026. Small figures under each value are the change from August 2025. Landed cost by origin, below, adds freight and duty to the price.
| Country | US imports | Share | Average price | Duty paid | Last 13 months |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Germany | $6.2M | 31.4%−4.5 pts | $6.33/kg+7.0% | 8.7%+8.7 pts | |
| Belgium | $5.5M | 27.9%+6.3 pts | $9.39/kg+0.6% | 9.1%+9.1 pts | |
| Japan | $3.2M | 16.5%−5.1 pts | $19.56/kg+70% | 4.3%+4.3 pts | |
| Korea, South | $3.2M | 16.1%+2.6 pts | $6.33/kg+11% | 6.8%+6.8 pts | |
| Netherlands | $422K | 2.1%+1.5 pts | $6.33/kg−0.7% | 9.3%+9.3 pts | |
| Sweden | $340K | 1.7%+1.1 pts | $4.98/kg+4.7% | 10.0%+1.0 pts | |
| Turkey | $265K | 1.3%new | $7.38/kg | 16.7% | |
| Mexico | $246K | 1.3%+1.0 pts | $11.42/kg+3.7% | 0.2%+0.2 pts | |
| Other countries (6) | $324K | 1.6%−3.5 pts | $4.50/kg−31% | 23.9%−7.6 pts | |
| All countries | $19.7M | 100.0% | $7.90/kg+9.2% | 8.1%+6.3 pts |
The 3 largest suppliers had 71.7% of US imports over the last 12 months.
Landed cost by origin
What importers paid to land this product at a US port from each main supplier, June–August 2026: the price, freight and insurance to the first US port, and duty, per unit. Suppliers with 3% or more of these imports, cheapest landed first. Small figures under landed cost are the change from the same months a year earlier.
- Price
- Freight and insurance
- Duty
| Country | Price | Freight and insurance | Duty | Landed cost | Make-up |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| China | $4.41/kg | $0.28/kg6.3% of price | $1.29/kg29.3% of price | $5.98/kg−10% | |
| Germany | $6.20/kg | $0.23/kg3.6% of price | $0.35/kg5.6% of price | $6.77/kg+1.4% | |
| Korea, South | $6.35/kg | $0.32/kg5.0% of price | $0.16/kg2.5% of price | $6.83/kg+3.9% | |
| Belgium | $9.39/kg | $0.27/kg2.9% of price | $0.59/kg6.3% of price | $10.25/kg+0.5% | |
| Japan | $14.21/kg | $0.34/kg2.4% of price | $0.48/kg3.4% of price | $15.03/kg+24% | |
| All countries | $7.44/kg | $0.27/kg3.7% of price | $0.42/kg5.6% of price | $8.14/kg+3.2% |
Landed at a US port, China was cheapest, at $5.98/kg: 11.7% below Germany.
Landed cost from Japan rose 24% on a year earlier, to $15.03/kg, mostly on price: $11.54/kg then, $14.21/kg now.
How the market is shifting
Belgium gained the most share: 18.1% of US imports over the last 12 months, up from 16.1% in the 12 months before. Germany lost the most: 33.0%, down from 36.0%. The charts show September 2024 to August 2026 for the 4 largest suppliers over the last 12 months.
- Germany
- Korea, South
- Japan
- Belgium
- All countries
Show the numbers
| Month | Germany | Korea, South | Japan | Belgium |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| September 2024 | 38.0% | 18.4% | 14.7% | 17.1% |
| October 2024 | 37.2% | 19.7% | 16.6% | 12.2% |
| November 2024 | 35.0% | 21.0% | 12.8% | 19.3% |
| December 2024 | 34.6% | 21.0% | 22.1% | 9.6% |
| January 2025 | 38.5% | 20.5% | 8.8% | 12.6% |
| February 2025 | 39.0% | 14.2% | 23.5% | 14.5% |
| March 2025 | 37.3% | 19.5% | 14.8% | 18.8% |
| April 2025 | 42.2% | 19.3% | 17.6% | 13.9% |
| May 2025 | 28.7% | 20.0% | 25.1% | 18.4% |
| June 2025 | 35.8% | 15.0% | 19.4% | 19.2% |
| July 2025 | 30.9% | 24.5% | 17.3% | 15.4% |
| August 2025 | 35.9% | 13.6% | 21.5% | 21.6% |
| September 2025 | 40.9% | 14.7% | 17.8% | 15.3% |
| October 2025 | 34.9% | 17.3% | 11.8% | 25.7% |
| November 2025 | 28.0% | 21.8% | 28.8% | 14.1% |
| December 2025 | 32.6% | 27.2% | 21.6% | 8.8% |
| January 2026 | 26.9% | 23.1% | 12.1% | 26.6% |
| February 2026 | 41.0% | 18.6% | 15.7% | 13.0% |
| March 2026 | 31.5% | 22.6% | 12.7% | 26.2% |
| April 2026 | 28.2% | 20.7% | 28.2% | 15.1% |
| May 2026 | 37.1% | 24.9% | 18.6% | 10.6% |
| June 2026 | 37.4% | 18.3% | 15.9% | 14.6% |
| July 2026 | 26.4% | 22.9% | 20.7% | 15.8% |
| August 2026 | 31.4% | 16.1% | 16.5% | 27.9% |
Show the numbers
| Month | Germany | Korea, South | Japan | Belgium | All countries |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| September 2024 | 4.2% | 0.0% | 4.2% | 3.5% | 4.9% |
| October 2024 | 4.2% | 0.0% | 4.1% | 4.2% | 4.6% |
| November 2024 | 4.2% | 0.1% | 4.2% | 3.6% | 3.8% |
| December 2024 | 4.2% | 0.2% | 4.2% | 3.7% | 4.4% |
| January 2025 | 4.2% | 0.1% | 4.2% | 3.7% | 6.0% |
| February 2025 | 4.2% | 0.0% | 4.2% | 3.5% | 4.6% |
| March 2025 | 4.2% | 0.2% | 4.2% | 3.3% | 3.9% |
| April 2025 | 4.1% | 0.3% | 2.9% | 3.7% | 3.8% |
| May 2025 | 4.2% | 0.1% | 3.5% | 3.7% | 4.4% |
| June 2025 | 4.2% | 0.0% | 4.2% | 3.5% | 5.1% |
| July 2025 | 1.6% | 0.0% | 1.7% | 0.8% | 3.0% |
| August 2025 | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.0% | 1.7% |
| September 2025 | 0.5% | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.0% | 1.1% |
| October 2025 | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.0% | 1.0% |
| November 2025 | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.1% | 1.5% |
| December 2025 | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.1% | 0.0% | 1.3% |
| January 2026 | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.1% | 1.2% |
| February 2026 | 4.2% | 0.0% | 3.8% | 4.0% | 4.1% |
| March 2026 | 4.1% | 0.4% | 4.2% | 4.0% | 3.8% |
| April 2026 | 4.2% | 0.0% | 4.2% | 3.2% | 4.0% |
| May 2026 | 4.2% | 0.8% | 4.2% | 3.4% | 3.5% |
| June 2026 | 4.2% | 0.3% | 4.2% | 4.4% | 4.6% |
| July 2026 | 4.2% | 1.5% | 2.1% | 3.4% | 4.3% |
| August 2026 | 8.7% | 6.8% | 4.3% | 9.1% | 8.1% |
Tariff actions touching this product
Federal Register notices from the last 12 months that list this product's tariff codes. A notice can add a duty, exclude products from one or only mention them, so read each for what it changes. Search the Federal Register for 3912.39
- Notice of Action: Brazil's Acts, Policies, and Practices Related to Digital Trade and Electronic Payment Services; Unfair, Preferential Tariffs; Anti-Corruption Enforcement; Intellectual Property Protection; Ethanol Market Access; and Illegal Deforestation
- Notice of Determination and Request for Comments Concerning Action Pursuant to Section 301: Brazil's Acts, Policies, and Practices Related to Digital Trade and Electronic Payment Services; Unfair, Preferential Tariffs; Anti-Corruption Enforcement; Intellectual Property Protection; Ethanol Market Access; and Illegal Deforestation
- Implementing Certain Tariff-Related Elements of the Framework for a United States-Switzerland-Liechtenstein Agreement on Fair, Balanced, and Reciprocal Trade
Where it enters the US
Main ports of entry over the 12 months to August 2026: US imports and share.
Where US exports go
US exports were $35.5M in August 2026, down 28% from August 2025, and $450.2M over the last 12 months, down 13% on the 12 months before. Fastest-growing market with 3% or more of US exports: Korea, South, up 30%.
| Market | Last 12 months | Share | vs 12 months before |
|---|---|---|---|
| India | $90.8M | 20.2% | −21% |
| Belgium | $51.8M | 11.5% | −8.6% |
| China | $47.2M | 10.5% | −14% |
| Mexico | $34.3M | 7.6% | −18% |
| Canada | $31.9M | 7.1% | −20% |
| Switzerland | $29.9M | 6.6% | −18% |
| Brazil | $26.2M | 5.8% | +17% |
| Japan | $19.1M | 4.2% | −15% |
| Other countries (80) | $119.1M | 26.5% | −5.2% |
| All countries | $450.2M | 100.0% | −13% |
Markets abroad
Each country's own import figures for this product, from UN Comtrade: the 8 biggest importers outside the US in the latest year each has reported, what they bought from the US, and the change from the year before. Values usually include freight and insurance to the importer's border, so they run a little above US export figures. Countries report a year or more late; 119 have reported 2025 so far. Where a country's figure for imports from the US is under half or over double what the US recorded exporting there that year, the US figure is shown under it.
| Market | Imports | vs year before | From the US | US share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| India | $399.2Min 2025 | +0.7% | $116.7M | 29.2% |
| Germany | $160.3Min 2025 | +26% | $24.1MUS records $8.9M | 15.1% |
| Turkey | $158.0Min 2025 | +17% | $16.8MUS records $510K | 10.7% |
| China | $149.1Min 2025 | −9.0% | $57.7M | 38.7% |
| Brazil | $111.3Min 2025 | +4.5% | $25.1M | 22.5% |
| Italy | $107.7Min 2025 | −0.5% | $58K | 0.1% |
| Netherlands | $106.7Min 2025 | +28% | $49.6MUS records $5.7M | 46.5% |
| France | $104.9Min 2025 | −0.7% | $10.0MUS records $179K | 9.5% |
The biggest market outside the US is India, which imported $399.2M of this product in 2025, 29.2% of that from the US.
The US supplies 29.2% of imports into India and 38.7% into China, but under 10% into Italy.
Related products
Other products under heading 3912: cellulose and its chemical derivatives not elsewhere specified, in primary forms. US trade over the 12 months to August 2026.
| Product | US imports | US exports |
|---|---|---|
| Cellulose acetates, nonplasticized, in primary formsHS 3912.11 | $2.9M | $471.7M |
| Cellulose and its chemical derivatives not elsewhere specified, in primary formsHS 3912.90 | $126.4M | $338.3M |
| Cellulose nitrates (including collodions), in primary formsHS 3912.20 | $146.3M | $21.9M |
| Carboxymethylcellulose and its salts, in primary formsHS 3912.31 | $119.7M | $23.1M |
| Cellulose acetates, plasticized, in primary formsHS 3912.12 | $639K | $11.4M |
About these figures
- Source: US Census Bureau international trade data, not seasonally adjusted, in US dollars. Retrieved November 3, 2026.
- US imports are general imports at customs value, which excludes freight and insurance. Exports are at free-alongside-ship value.
- Average price is customs value divided by quantity (kilograms), across all of the product's 10-digit lines.
- Duty paid is the duty Census calculates on each country's imports for consumption, as a share of their value. It moves with tariff changes, exemptions and the mix of goods within the product.
- Landed cost adds Census's import charges (freight, insurance and other costs of bringing the goods to the first US port) and calculated duty to the customs value, per unit, across the product's 10-digit lines. It leaves out antidumping and countervailing duties, customs fees and transport inland. Prices are averages across the goods within the code, so a lower one can mean cheaper goods, not the same goods for less.
- Markets abroad are each country's imports as it reports them to UN Comtrade, in US dollars, usually including freight and insurance. Countries report a year or more late and in their own edition of the HS codes, so one still on an older edition is missing for codes that changed in 2022.
- Tariff notices are from the Federal Register, matched to this product by the HTS numbers in their text.
- Census revises recent months, so figures can change slightly. These are estimates for research and planning, not customs or legal advice.