Citric acid imports in the United States: data, top suppliers and prices
In 2024, the United States imported citric acid worth $420.9 million (237.8 thousand tonnes). That makes it the largest importer of this product worldwide, out of 208 countries. That is close to the 2023 level. Over 2017-2024 the trade grew strongly, by about 13% a year on average.
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 | $420.9M | 237.8K t |
| 2023 | $429.5M | 206.6K t |
| 2022 | $389.0M | 137.1K t |
| 2021 | $338.4M | 185.8K t |
| 2020 | $197.2M | 177.9K t |
| 2019 | $183.9M | 162.0K t |
| 2018 | $180.9M | 133.0K t |
| 2017 | $182.3M | 148.7K t |
Where the United States imports citric acid from
Most of the value came from Canada (48%), Thailand (35%), Colombia (8%).
| Supplier country | Value | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Canada | $201.7M | 48% |
| Thailand | $149.2M | 35% |
| Colombia | $32.9M | 7.8% |
| China | $8.3M | 2% |
| Turkey | $5.6M | 1.3% |
| India | $5.4M | 1.3% |
| Belgium | $4.5M | 1.1% |
| Austria | $4.1M | 1% |
| Brazil | $2.7M | 0.6% |
| Mexico | $2.1M | 0.5% |
Average import price per kg
The average declared value was about $1.77 per kg, 58% above the world average of $1.12. This usually points to higher-grade or processed goods.
Declared value divided by weight, all 2024 shipments. Prices per shipment and per company are in EximDataX.
Citric acid exports from the United States
In 2024, the United States exported citric acid worth $39.4 million (13.2 thousand tonnes). That makes it the 8th largest exporter of this product worldwide, out of 127 countries. The largest buyer markets were Mexico (47%), Canada (29%), Guatemala (7%). Among the main buyer markets, Guatemala grew fastest, more than tenfold on the year before.
| Destination | Value | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Mexico | $18.4M | 47% |
| Canada | $11.4M | 29% |
| Guatemala | $2.7M | 6.7% |
| Taiwan | $1.5M | 3.8% |
| South Korea | $672K | 1.7% |
| Belgium | $492K | 1.3% |
| Thailand | $438K | 1.1% |
| Germany | $402K | 1% |
| Uruguay | $268K | 0.7% |
| Panama | $229K | 0.6% |
Who is behind these numbers in the United States?
The shipment records behind United States citric acid imports (HS 2918.14): 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 2918.14: Acids: carboxylic acids, (with alcohol function but without other oxygen function), citric acid.
Common questions
What is the value of citric acid imported by the United States?
The United States imported citric acid worth $420.9 million in 2024, the latest year with complete public data, about 237.8 thousand tonnes. That ranks it 1st of 208 countries worldwide, with 19% of world imports. The value was down 2% on 2023.
Which countries supply citric acid to the United States?
Canada was the largest supplier with 48% of the value ($201.7 million), followed by Thailand (35%) and Colombia (8%). The top three together account for 91%, out of 51 supplier countries in total. Brazil grew fastest among the top ten, up 52% on the year.
What is the average import price of citric acid per kg?
The average declared import value was about $1.77 per kg in 2024, 58% above the world average of $1.12 per kg. The figure blends every grade shipped, so it works as a reference point rather than a quote.
How have imports of citric acid to the United States changed since 2017?
Imports went from $182.3 million in 2017 to $420.9 million in 2024, an increase of 131%. The peak was 2023 at $429.5 million. Over 8 years the average was $290.3 million a year.
Does the United States also export citric acid?
Yes. The United States exported $39.4 million worth of this product in 2024, mainly to Mexico, Canada and Guatemala. On balance the United States is a net importer of this product, by about $381.5 million a year.
What is the HS code for citric acid?
The HS code for citric acid is subheading 2918.14. It sits in HS chapter 29 (organic chemicals). The full list of codes and descriptions is on the HS 2918 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
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.