The building materials the US imports most — by HS code

If you want to sell building materials in the US, start with what the US buys and how much. Below are the biggest building-material import lines, using US customs data. Read it and you'll know which country's product you're really up against for an order.

First — what is an HS code?

An HS code is the number customs gives every product. The first 6 digits are the same worldwide; the US adds 4 more to make 10 (the US calls it an HTS code). When you ship or quote, this number sets the duty you pay. Knowing your code tells you your tax rate and your competition.

The biggest US building-material imports

• 681099 — articles of cement, concrete or artificial stone — about $1.4 billion a year. Top supplier: Vietnam.
• 690721 — ceramic floor and wall tiles — about $779 million. Top supplier: Italy.
• 680291 — worked marble for building — about $775 million. Top supplier: Italy.
• 680299 — other worked building stone — about $551 million. Top supplier: Brazil.
• 680293 — worked granite — about $246 million. Top supplier: India.

What this means for a seller

Notice one thing: the top suppliers here are Italy, Vietnam, Brazil, and India — China isn't first on any of them. Part of the reason is the heavy duty Chinese building materials face in the US (more below). So on a US buyer's desk, your real rival is often Italian tile or Indian granite, not another Chinese factory. You compete on spec, lead time, and landed price — and you should know which country you're up against for your exact code.

One thing to check before you quote

China-made ceramic tile faces a very high anti-dumping duty in the US — over 350% in some cases — on top of the Section 301 tariff. That changes your landed cost a lot. So before you promise a price, look up the current rate for your HS code. (We have a separate post on how China import duties work.)

These figures come from recent US customs import data (you can check it on the USITC DataWeb); rates change, so confirm your number on the official US tariff schedule (HTS) before quoting. Goldrute buyer reports flag this duty picture for your industry.