Carbon-based refractory ceramics imports in the United States: data, top suppliers and prices
Imports of carbon-based refractory ceramics by the United States reached $20.6 million in 2024 (3.9 thousand tonnes). It ranks 1st of 157 countries for imports of this product. That is 6% more than in 2023. Over 2017-2024 the trade grew strongly, by about 12% a year on average. The peak in this period was 2021, at $30.8 million.
Public statistics, latest complete year (2024). Values in US dollars. Page updated .
Imports by year, 2017-2024
Hover or tap a year for detail.
Year by year
| Year | Value | Quantity |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $20.6M | 3.9K t |
| 2023 | $19.4M | 4.4K t |
| 2022 | $23.5M | 5.1K t |
| 2021 | $30.8M | 5.0K t |
| 2020 | $24.3M | 3.8K t |
| 2019 | $22.1M | 3.2K t |
| 2018 | $11.4M | 1.4K t |
| 2017 | $9.4M | 1.6K t |
Where the United States imports carbon-based refractory ceramics from
The largest suppliers were Poland (29%), South Korea (19%), Mexico (16%). Among the main suppliers, France grew fastest (+337% on the year before).
| Supplier country | Value | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Poland | $5.9M | 29% |
| South Korea | $4.0M | 19% |
| Mexico | $3.2M | 16% |
| Japan | $2.1M | 10% |
| Italy | $1.3M | 6.2% |
| India | $1.1M | 5.5% |
| Brazil | $828K | 4% |
| France | $781K | 3.8% |
| China | $723K | 3.5% |
| Germany | $184K | 0.9% |
Average import price per kg
The average declared value was about $5.34 per kg, close to the world average of $6.14.
Declared value divided by weight, all 2024 shipments. Prices per shipment and per company are in EximDataX.
Carbon-based refractory ceramics exports from the United States
The United States exported $18.9 million of carbon-based refractory ceramics in 2024 (617 tonnes). That makes it the 2nd largest exporter of this product worldwide, out of 73 countries. Most of it went to Italy (17%), Malaysia (13%), Germany (10%). Trade is spread widely: the top three buyer markets together make up only 40%. Among the main buyer markets, Malaysia grew fastest (+135% on the year before).
| Destination | Value | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Italy | $3.2M | 17% |
| Malaysia | $2.5M | 13% |
| Germany | $1.9M | 10% |
| Canada | $1.6M | 8.3% |
| Mexico | $1.5M | 8.2% |
| Japan | $952K | 5.1% |
| China | $900K | 4.8% |
| Netherlands | $674K | 3.6% |
| United Kingdom | $471K | 2.5% |
| South Korea | $435K | 2.3% |
Who is behind these numbers in the United States?
The shipment records behind United States carbon-based refractory ceramics imports (HS 6903.10): companies, dates, quantities and declared values.
Shipment records are in the platform
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Direct customs feed: shipment-level records from the official customs source.
Source: CEPII BACI (reconciled UN Comtrade data), HS 2017 edition, release 202601, Etalab Open Licence 2.0. Annual values in US dollars at the customs border; quantities in tonnes where reported. HS 6903.10: Refractory ceramic goods: containing by weight more than 50% of graphite or other forms of carbon or of a mixture of these products, excluding those of siliceous fossil meals or similar earths.
Common questions
What is the value of carbon-based refractory ceramics imported by the United States?
The United States imported carbon-based refractory ceramics worth $20.6 million in 2024, the latest year with complete public data, about 3.9 thousand tonnes. That ranks it 1st of 157 countries worldwide, with 14% of world imports. The value was up 6% on 2023.
Which countries supply carbon-based refractory ceramics to the United States?
Poland was the largest supplier with 29% of the value ($5.9 million), followed by South Korea (19%) and Mexico (16%). The top three together account for 64%, out of 28 supplier countries in total. France grew fastest among the top ten, up 337% on the year.
What is the average import price of carbon-based refractory ceramics per kg?
The average declared import value was about $5.34 per kg in 2024, 13% below the world average of $6.14 per kg. Declared value divided by weight mixes every grade, so read it as a benchmark rather than a quote.
How have imports of carbon-based refractory ceramics to the United States changed since 2017?
Imports went from $9.4 million in 2017 to $20.6 million in 2024, an increase of 119%. The peak was 2021 at $30.8 million. Over 8 years the average was $20.2 million a year.
Does the United States also export carbon-based refractory ceramics?
Yes. The United States exported $18.9 million worth of this product in 2024, mainly to Italy, Malaysia and Germany. That compares with imports of $20.6 million in the same year.
What is the HS code for carbon-based refractory ceramics?
The HS code for carbon-based refractory ceramics is subheading 6903.10. It sits in HS chapter 69 (ceramic products). The full list of codes and descriptions is on the HS 6903 page.
How can I find the companies behind this trade?
The totals here are public statistics; the company-level detail sits in EximDataX, which has a direct customs feed for the United States. Tell us your product to see it live.
Same product, other countries
World carbon-based refractory ceramics trade: top importers and exporters
More trade data for the United States
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