Carboxymethyl cellulose imports in the United States: data, top suppliers and prices
The United States imported $120.6 million of carboxymethyl cellulose in 2024 (32.5 thousand tonnes). It ranks 1st of 172 countries for imports of this product. That is 28% more than in 2023. Across 2017-2024 the long-run trend was broadly stable.
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 | $120.6M | 32.5K t |
| 2023 | $94.5M | 22.2K t |
| 2022 | $123.6M | 33.1K t |
| 2021 | $88.2M | 23.7K t |
| 2020 | $76.5M | 19.2K t |
| 2019 | $80.2M | 22.3K t |
| 2018 | $89.9M | 26.0K t |
| 2017 | $85.6M | 25.8K t |
Where the United States imports carboxymethyl cellulose from
Most of the value came from China (19%), Mexico (16%), Finland (16%). Among the main suppliers, France grew fastest (+293% on the year before).
| Supplier country | Value | Share |
|---|---|---|
| China | $23.5M | 20% |
| Mexico | $19.6M | 16% |
| Finland | $19.1M | 16% |
| Netherlands | $12.0M | 9.9% |
| Germany | $10.6M | 8.8% |
| France | $8.8M | 7.3% |
| Turkey | $8.8M | 7.3% |
| Brazil | $6.5M | 5.4% |
| Japan | $4.8M | 4% |
| Taiwan | $3.0M | 2.5% |
Average import price per kg
The average declared value was about $3.71 per kg, close to the world average of $3.39.
Declared value divided by weight, all 2024 shipments. Prices per shipment and per company are in EximDataX.
Carboxymethyl cellulose exports from the United States
In 2024, the United States exported carboxymethyl cellulose worth $33.2 million (3.8 thousand tonnes). That makes it the 8th largest exporter of this product worldwide, out of 103 countries. Most of it went to China (24%), Canada (16%), Thailand (10%). Among the main buyer markets, Netherlands grew fastest (+802% on the year before).
| Destination | Value | Share |
|---|---|---|
| China | $8.1M | 24% |
| Canada | $5.4M | 16% |
| Thailand | $3.5M | 10% |
| Netherlands | $2.9M | 8.6% |
| Mexico | $2.3M | 6.9% |
| Dominican Republic | $1.8M | 5.6% |
| Japan | $1.3M | 3.9% |
| Belgium | $1.3M | 3.9% |
| Brazil | $865K | 2.6% |
| Ireland | $641K | 1.9% |
Who is behind these numbers in the United States?
The shipment records behind United States carboxymethyl cellulose imports (HS 3912.31): companies, dates, quantities and declared values.
Shipment records are in the platform
Tell us what you trade and we will show you the latest records on a live call.
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 3912.31: Cellulose ethers: carboxymethylcellulose and its salts, in primary forms.
Common questions
What is the value of carboxymethyl cellulose imported by the United States?
The United States imported carboxymethyl cellulose worth $120.6 million in 2024, the latest year with complete public data, about 32.5 thousand tonnes. That ranks it 1st of 172 countries worldwide, with 11% of world imports. The value was up 28% on 2023.
Which countries supply carboxymethyl cellulose to the United States?
China was the largest supplier with 19% of the value ($23.5 million), followed by Mexico (16%) and Finland (16%). The top three together account for 52%, out of 32 supplier countries in total. France grew fastest among the top ten, up 293% on the year.
What is the average import price of carboxymethyl cellulose per kg?
The average declared import value was about $3.71 per kg in 2024, 9% above the world average of $3.39 per kg. Declared value divided by weight mixes every grade, so read it as a benchmark rather than a quote.
How have imports of carboxymethyl cellulose to the United States changed since 2017?
Imports went from $85.6 million in 2017 to $120.6 million in 2024, an increase of 41%. The peak was 2022 at $123.6 million. Over 8 years the average was $94.9 million a year.
Does the United States also export carboxymethyl cellulose?
Yes. The United States exported $33.2 million worth of this product in 2024, mainly to China, Canada and Thailand. On balance the United States is a net importer of this product, by about $87.4 million a year.
What is the HS code for carboxymethyl cellulose?
The HS code for carboxymethyl cellulose is subheading 3912.31. It sits in HS chapter 39 (plastics and articles thereof). The full list of codes and descriptions is on the HS 3912 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 carboxymethyl cellulose trade: top importers and exporters
More trade data for the United States
See what your buyers are buying.Then decide.
Everything we show you comes from official customs filings — records, not claims. 30 minutes. Your shipment. Your HS code. Real platform. If you don’t see something new about your market by the end of the call, we walk away. No follow-ups.