Currently, only about 3% of fireworks set off in the United States are produced domestically, with the vast majority of imported products coming from China. According to estimates by the American Pyrotechnics Association, Americans purchased 207.5 million pounds of fireworks in 2012, of which only 6.7 million pounds were U.S.-made. Industry data from the U.S. Census Bureau shows that the U.S. imported 201 million pounds of fireworks in 2013, 96% of which were made in China. May is the peak season for fireworks imports each year, timed to meet the high demand for the Independence Day sales season.
These imports are primarily small fireworks and firecrackers intended for individual and household use. As mentioned earlier, large-scale fireworks displays held in various locations use aerial shells and spectacular special-effect fireworks that can be launched to high altitudes to illuminate large areas. These high-powered fireworks are more dangerous and are therefore regulated by the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, which is why they are mainly manufactured within the United States.
In the United States, approximately three-quarters of the states have historically allowed individuals to purchase and set off fireworks. Over the past decade or two, states such as West Virginia, Connecticut, Maryland, Minnesota, Vermont, Pennsylvania, Georgia, Arizona, and Rhode Island have joined the ranks of those allowing household use of fireworks. To date, only a few states, including New York, New Jersey, Massachusetts, and Delaware, still prohibit consumers from purchasing and setting off fireworks without special permits.
As Independence Day approaches, in addition to licensed retail stores, temporary roadside tents often appear in parking lots, selling fireworks for home and small-scale event use, such as standard firecrackers, bottle rockets, handheld or ground-based sparklers, and various types of rockets, both audible and silent. Apart from a very few American brands, such as Black Cat Fireworks and Diamond Sparklers, the fireworks found in these locations are almost all "Made in China," and most originate from Liuyang, Hunan—the fireworks export capital of China.
Fireworks are classified as flammable and explosive materials. Nevertheless, because of their colorful and spectacular nature, they remain deeply popular. Regulations regarding the use of fireworks in the United States differ from those in China. Chinese residents should take note and familiarize themselves with the relevant regulations before setting off fireworks to avoid unnecessary trouble.
