Industrial manufacturing is the largest sector by company count for drawback eligibility. The category covers diversified manufacturers importing metals, plastics, components, and raw materials for re-export, either directly or as inputs to finished products. While individual claims may be smaller than in chemicals or automotive, the aggregate addressable market is among the largest in any tier.

Steel and aluminum (subject to Section 232 tariffs at 25%), specialty metals, plastics and polymers, industrial components, machinery parts, and raw materials used in manufacturing. Any of these inputs that flow into goods later exported, or that are themselves exported in the same condition, are eligible for drawback under the relevant program.

Section 232 tariffs on steel and aluminum apply broadly across industrial manufacturing inputs. Because the tariff rate is 25% (vs. typical MFN rates of 0-6% for these materials), Section 232 creates substantially larger drawback recoveries when the goods are subsequently exported. For diversified manufacturers, Section 232 entries often represent a disproportionate share of the recoverable refund pool.

Yes, though "complex" is exactly what historically made drawback impractical for this sector. Industrial manufacturers typically import from multiple countries, run inputs through multi-stage production, and export through different channels (direct, distributor, OEM customer).  Drawback documentation requires reconciling all of this back to the original duty paid. Caspian's platform automates the reconciliation.

Most don't. Imports live in customs and ERP systems; exports live in shipping, inventory, or sales systems. This data fragmentation is one of the primary reasons fewer than 5% of eligible companies file drawback claims. Caspian's Plug-and-Play Integration connects to 80+ systems and reconciles import and export data automatically, eliminating the manual matching step.

Yes, in some cases. Goods destroyed under CBP supervision can qualify for drawback under the Rejected Merchandise or Unused Merchandise programs, depending on circumstances. For industrial manufacturers with unsold or non-conforming inventory, this is a recovery path that's frequently overlooked. Eligibility requires specific documentation and CBP-witnessed destruction in most cases Caspian's Trade Audit flags qualifying inventory for analysis.