Official data Source: US Census Bureau international trade data Data through August 2026 · updated monthly

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Carbon electrodes not elsewhere specified

In short

  • The US imported $70.6M of this product over the 12 months to August 2026, down 10% on the year before.
  • China is the largest supplier, with 55.2% of US imports; Japan is next, with 22.7%.
  • China is the cheapest main supplier before and after freight and duty, landing at $2.44/kg.
  • Duty paid averaged 24.4% of the value of imports in August 2026, down 2.3 points on a year earlier.
  • China is gaining share: 38.9% over the last 12 months, up from 8.6%.
  • US exports were $28.3M over the last 12 months; the largest market is Canada, with 16.4%.

US imports, Aug 2026

$5.5M

↑ +22% vs Aug 2025

Last 12 months

$70.6M

↓ −10% vs the 12 months before

Average duty paid

24.4%

↓ −2.3 pts vs Aug 2025

Top supplier

China

55.2% 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. Dotted lines mark lasting changes in duty paid, labelled with the supplier, or "Duty" when several moved; the tariff timeline lists each one with its notices.

Aug2025SepOctNovDecJan2026FebMarAprMayJunJulAugDuty ↑
Show the numbers
MonthUS imports
August 2025$4.5M
September 2025$4.6M
October 2025$5.6M
November 2025$7.6M
December 2025$5.9M
January 2026$3.4M
February 2026$3.5M
March 2026$12.7M
April 2026$3.8M
May 2026$3.3M
June 2026$7.0M
July 2026$7.7M
August 2026$5.5M

What changed

  • US imports were $5.5M in August 2026, down 29% from July 2026 and up 22% from August 2025.
  • Over the 12 months to August 2026 they totalled $70.6M, down 10% on the 12 months before.
  • Biggest moves in market share since July 2026: Japan up from 0.3% to 22.7%, Germany down from 49.7% to 11.3%.
  • Average price from Germany rose 709% since July 2026, to $97.89/kg.
  • Duty paid on imports from Germany fell from 6.6% to 0.5% of their value since July 2026.
  • Duty paid on imports from Japan rose from 9.7% to 12.5% of their value since July 2026.

US trade by year

US imports were $70.6M in the 12 months to Aug 2026, up 43% on the 12 months to Aug 2017. US exports were $28.3M, up 4.1%. In January 2022 the HS 2022 revision moved some goods between this code and 8549.21, 8549.29, 8549.31 and 3 more, so part of a change across the dashed line can be the revision. Dotted lines mark lasting changes in duty paid, labelled with the supplier, or "Duty" when several moved; the tariff timeline lists each one with its notices.

2017201820192020202120222023202420252026HS 2022China ↑China ↑China ↑
Show the numbers
PeriodUS imports
12 months to Aug 2017$49.2M
12 months to Aug 2018$60.3M
12 months to Aug 2019$63.7M
12 months to Aug 2020$51.1M
12 months to Aug 2021$60.1M
12 months to Aug 2022$75.0M
12 months to Aug 2023$67.3M
12 months to Aug 2024$71.1M
12 months to Aug 2025$78.8M
12 months to Aug 2026$70.6M
  • China
  • United Kingdom
  • Germany
  • Korea, South
  • All countries
Share of US imports
Show the numbers
PeriodChinaUnited KingdomGermanyKorea, South
12 months to Aug 201720.2%42.3%2.5%8.3%
12 months to Aug 201829.2%33.8%2.5%3.7%
12 months to Aug 201926.2%35.8%5.2%1.9%
12 months to Aug 202022.4%45.2%8.3%3.5%
12 months to Aug 202119.1%40.6%10.8%5.1%
12 months to Aug 202215.3%41.7%9.5%6.7%
12 months to Aug 20238.4%54.0%14.7%5.8%
12 months to Aug 202418.3%47.4%16.3%4.6%
12 months to Aug 20258.6%24.7%43.2%5.1%
12 months to Aug 202638.9%22.9%18.9%4.5%
Duty paid, % of value
Show the numbers
PeriodChinaUnited KingdomGermanyKorea, SouthAll countries
12 months to Aug 20170.0%0.0%0.0%0.0%0.0%
12 months to Aug 20180.0%0.0%0.0%0.0%0.0%
12 months to Aug 20196.7%0.0%0.0%0.0%1.8%
12 months to Aug 202018.5%0.0%0.0%0.0%4.1%
12 months to Aug 202124.2%0.0%0.0%0.0%4.6%
12 months to Aug 202225.0%0.0%0.0%0.0%3.8%
12 months to Aug 202324.9%0.0%0.0%0.0%2.1%
12 months to Aug 202424.8%0.0%0.0%0.0%4.5%
12 months to Aug 202536.1%3.6%2.2%4.7%5.6%
12 months to Aug 202635.7%7.2%7.3%11.4%19.1%
PeriodUS importsDuty paidUS exports
12 months to Aug 2026$70.6M−10%19.1%+13.5 pts$28.3M−31%
12 months to Aug 2025$78.8M+11%5.6%+1.0 pts$41.2M+35%
12 months to Aug 2024$71.1M+5.6%4.5%+2.5 pts$30.5M+2.8%
12 months to Aug 2023$67.3M−10%2.1%−1.7 pts$29.7M−19%
12 months to Aug 2022HS 2022 revision$75.0M+25%3.8%−0.8 pts$36.8M−22%
12 months to Aug 2021$60.1M+18%4.6%+0.5 pts$47.4M+16%
12 months to Aug 2020$51.1M−20%4.1%+2.4 pts$40.7M−12%
12 months to Aug 2019$63.7M+5.5%1.8%+1.8 pts$46.3M−6.9%
12 months to Aug 2018$60.3M+23%0.0%0.0 pts$49.7M+83%
12 months to Aug 2017$49.2M0.0%$27.1M

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.

CountryUS importsShareAverage priceDuty paidLast 13 months
China$3.0M55.2%+9.1 pts$2.99/kg+8.0%37.5%−8.2 pts
Japan$1.2M22.7%+22.5 pts$71.90/kg−66%12.5%−2.5 pts
Germany$618K11.3%+2.5 pts$97.89/kg+40%0.5%−11.5 pts
Canada$191K3.5%+0.3 pts$0.18/kg−13%0.0%−5.1 pts
Korea, South$113K2.1%−0.7 pts$944.34/kg+2494%12.5%−0.6 pts
Taiwan$104K1.9%−8.0 pts$10.07/kg+62%10.0%−2.0 pts
India$77K1.4%new$8.45/kg10.0%
United Kingdom$55K1.0%−19.1 pts$487.81/kg−55%10.0%+2.6 pts
Other countries (4)$53K1.0%+0.5 pts$122.98/kg+127%10.3%−1.9 pts
All countries$5.5M100.0%$2.59/kg−8.4%24.4%−2.3 pts

The 3 largest suppliers had 80.6% 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
CountryPriceFreight and insuranceDutyLanded costMake-up
China$1.62/kg$0.23/kg13.9% of price$0.59/kg36.2% of price$2.44/kg−48%
Taiwan$7.55/kg$0.16/kg2.1% of price$0.76/kg10.0% of price$8.46/kg+24%
Germany$12.82/kg$0.32/kg2.5% of price$0.94/kg7.3% of price$14.07/kg−63%
Japan$74.42/kg$0.36/kg0.5% of price$9.21/kg12.4% of price$84.00/kg−83%
Korea, South$258.07/kg$3.69/kg1.4% of price$26.61/kg10.3% of price$288.38/kg+333%
United Kingdom$974.57/kg$4.29/kg0.4% of price$93.92/kg9.6% of price$1,073/kg+19%
All countries$3.03/kg$0.18/kg5.8% of price$0.52/kg17.2% of price$3.73/kg−17%

Landed at a US port, China was cheapest, at $2.44/kg: 71.2% below Taiwan.

Landed cost from Korea, South rose 333% on a year earlier, to $288.38/kg, mostly on price: $58.88/kg then, $258.07/kg now.

How the market is shifting

China gained the most share: 38.9% of US imports over the last 12 months, up from 8.6% in the 12 months before. Germany lost the most: 18.9%, down from 43.2%. The charts show September 2024 to August 2026 for the 4 largest suppliers over the last 12 months. Dotted lines mark lasting changes in duty paid, labelled with the supplier, or "Duty" when several moved; the tariff timeline lists each one with its notices.

  • China
  • United Kingdom
  • Germany
  • Korea, South
  • All countries
Share of US imports
Show the numbers
MonthChinaUnited KingdomGermanyKorea, South
September 202425.0%1.3%36.8%5.0%
October 20248.5%29.4%26.5%19.7%
November 202420.0%27.9%21.7%1.5%
December 20240.7%14.5%63.1%0.8%
January 20254.9%29.3%36.3%2.5%
February 20251.2%27.8%24.8%4.3%
March 20253.9%23.1%63.5%1.0%
April 20254.0%23.7%51.5%11.4%
May 20253.5%25.3%61.9%3.5%
June 202511.2%45.0%13.4%7.1%
July 20252.4%41.0%40.1%2.5%
August 202546.1%20.1%8.8%2.7%
September 202516.4%62.8%5.9%3.0%
October 202540.1%35.3%10.6%2.7%
November 202555.0%22.2%3.6%3.1%
December 202560.5%17.9%8.4%4.5%
January 202633.8%1.4%25.7%8.9%
February 202639.7%37.8%2.1%6.6%
March 202650.2%19.4%16.1%0.8%
April 202614.0%35.4%22.7%4.0%
May 202626.1%47.6%11.1%2.7%
June 20268.2%22.6%43.4%16.8%
July 202635.8%1.8%49.7%2.7%
August 202655.2%1.0%11.3%2.1%
Duty paid, % of value
Show the numbers
MonthChinaUnited KingdomGermanyKorea, SouthAll countries
September 202425.0%0.0%0.0%0.0%6.2%
October 202424.8%0.0%0.0%0.0%2.1%
November 202424.9%0.0%0.0%0.0%5.0%
December 202422.2%0.0%0.0%0.0%0.2%
January 202525.0%0.0%0.0%0.0%1.2%
February 202526.4%0.0%0.0%0.0%0.3%
March 202545.0%0.0%0.0%0.0%1.8%
April 202543.5%5.5%0.4%9.9%4.5%
May 202545.2%9.0%8.6%10.0%9.9%
June 202555.0%10.0%8.4%10.0%14.2%
July 202555.0%8.5%10.0%9.1%10.2%
August 202545.7%7.4%12.0%13.1%26.6%
September 20257.6%10.0%15.0%15.0%10.4%
October 202524.0%9.9%4.5%15.0%15.3%
November 202539.5%9.9%15.0%6.6%27.2%
December 202545.0%10.0%4.3%15.0%31.2%
January 202644.5%6.4%3.6%14.3%21.6%
February 202632.8%4.6%15.0%13.6%17.7%
March 202634.1%0.1%8.9%10.0%19.9%
April 202635.0%0.4%4.2%8.0%8.3%
May 202635.0%9.7%10.0%10.0%16.0%
June 202635.0%9.8%9.7%10.0%11.8%
July 202635.0%8.0%6.6%10.9%17.1%
August 202637.5%10.0%0.5%12.5%24.4%

Tariff actions touching this product

When the duty paid on this product changed and stayed changed, for its main suppliers and all countries, newest first, with the Federal Register notices that named the product in the 3 months before. Rates are medians of the 4 months either side, less any usual seasonal swing. A change shows what happened to duty paid, not why; read each notice for what it did.

  1. September 2025–March 2026 · Duty paid: China 50.3% → 34.6%, United Kingdom 10.0% → 0.4%, Germany 13.5% → 4.3%, Taiwan 20.0% → 10.0%, all countries 12.1% → 13.7%.
  2. May–June 2025 · Duty paid: United Kingdom 0.0% → 8.8%, Germany 0.2% → 11.0%, Taiwan 0.3% → 11.0%, all countries 1.7% → 12.1%.
  3. February 2025 · Duty paid: China 24.9% → 45.0%.
  4. February 2020 · Duty paid: China 13.0% → 24.4%.
  5. June 2019 · Duty paid: China 6.3% → 22.3%.
  6. November 2018 · Duty paid: China 0.0% → 9.8%.

Where it enters the US

Main ports of entry over the 12 months to August 2026: US imports and share.

  1. Jfk International Airport, NY$16.7M · 23.7%
  2. Oakland, CA$12.4M · 17.6%
  3. Newark, NJ$7.6M · 10.8%
  4. Houston, TX$6.5M · 9.2%
  5. New Orleans, LA$5.9M · 8.4%

Where US exports go

US exports were $2.9M in August 2026, up 90% from August 2025, and $28.3M over the last 12 months, down 31% on the 12 months before. Fastest-growing market with 3% or more of US exports: India, up 1332%.

MarketLast 12 monthsSharevs 12 months before
Canada$4.6M16.4%−35%
China$4.3M15.2%+509%
United Kingdom$3.5M12.4%+47%
Saudi Arabia$3.1M11.1%−60%
Germany$2.9M10.2%+21%
Mexico$2.6M9.1%+28%
India$1.5M5.3%+1332%
France$823K2.9%−50%
Other countries (50)$4.9M17.5%−71%
All countries$28.3M100.0%−31%

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; 117 have reported 2025 so far.

MarketImportsvs year beforeFrom the USUS share
Canada$344.5Min 2025+17%$4.0M1.2%
Indonesia$333.6Min 2025+160%$112K0.0%
Norway$304.6Min 2025+7.2%$20K0.0%
Iceland$184.5Min 2025+4.8%$2K0.0%
India$153.5Min 2025+84%$114K0.1%
Bahrain$74.0Min 2024−15%$6960.0%
Sweden$60.9Min 2025+9.3%$11K0.0%
Saudi Arabia$60.0Min 2025−13%$8.8M14.7%

The biggest market outside the US is Canada, which imported $344.5M of this product in 2025, 1.2% of that from the US.

Of these, imports into Indonesia grew fastest: up 160% from 2024 to 2025.

Other products under heading 8545: carbon electrodes, carbon brushes, lamp carbons, battery carbons and other articles of graphite or other carbon used for electrical purposes. US trade over the 12 months to August 2026.

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.
  • Census revises recent months, so figures can change slightly. These are estimates for research and planning, not customs or legal advice.

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