BETHLEHEM, Pa. — The Lehigh Valley’s fireworks industry continues to boom in anticipation of the Fourth of July.
But there could be serious issues ahead, especially with the 250th anniversary of the United States just over a year away.
Pennsylvania has long been a major East Coast hub for fireworks sales, and the Lehigh Valley is a central location for stores that sell fireworks.
But retailers well-stocked and doing brisk business this year — including Phantom Fireworks, Boom Boss Fireworks (a Phantom store), TNT Fireworks and more throughout the area — could face a hefty tariff burden on products going forward.
"Everybody will be able to celebrate multiple days over the long holiday weekend, and it could be a record-breaking season for the consumer firework industry.”American Pyrotechnics Association Executive Director Julie L. Heckman
This year, despite the threat of new tariffs looming over the industry, many, if not most, retailers and commercial production companies have said business is good.
It comes after a tariff exemption during President Donald Trump’s first term protected the industry from major tariffs on Chinese imports, where almost all consumer and display fireworks are produced.
But with the possibility of new tariffs on China looming, the key question is whether the uncertainty has affected fireworks retailers and customers ahead of the holiday weekend.
“Retailers have reported that sales have been off to a very brisk start," American Pyrotechnics Association Executive Director Julie L. Heckman said.
"So an early start for this Fourth of July, which happens to be on Friday, which is good for the firework industry, because we have a nice, long, extended holiday weekend.
“But Mother Nature will have the ultimate say on how successful the season will play out. If Mother Nature cooperates, sales will be strong.
"Everybody will be able to celebrate multiple days over the long holiday weekend, and it could be a record-breaking season for the consumer firework industry.”
Robust sales, but room for concern
In Easton, Boom Boss Fireworks has been seeing a steady stream of customers flocking in to stock up for the holidays, the company said.
“We’ve had a lot of traffic, especially over the weekend, and last night was really busy,” Phantom Fireworks Corporate Advisor Brian Wojtowicz said at Boom Boss on Tuesday.
“It usually picks up about seven days before the Fourth and just goes really all the way through the Fourth. We get super, super busy.”
The store sells a spectrum of products for just about everyone: sparklers and Roman candles, 500-gram cakes, repeaters and mortar shells, all the way up to all-in-one packaged shows.
Customer favorites include the Pyro Bang Town, Buried Treasure (retailing at $799.99) and more.
“What we try to do is we have a salesperson on every row, and we go ahead and have them walk guests around and point out different ones, you know, ask them kind of what they like, if they've been here in the past, what the budget is, and then we work off of that,” Wojtowicz said.
And even though most large-scale retailers stocked up well ahead of tariffs and business seems to be going well, he said there is room for concern.
If tariffs remain or increase over the following year, retailers may have to absorb those bumps, or possibly pass them on to customers.
“People don't realize 99.9% of these products come from China and only come from China," Wojtowicz said.
"That's a 2,000-year-old art, and they're all handmade, so it couldn't be duplicated in the U.S., unfortunately.”
'Ramping up for next year'
Celebration Fireworks Inc. Creative Director Chris Hopkins also said commercial operations such as his were prepped for this season.
“Most everybody has their product in place," Hopkins said. "Most of the receiving of product happens between November and February.
"And, you know, I'm hopeful that by that time [in 2025-26], they'll get it all sorted out and won't be affected.”
“While I don't know what's going to happen now, at least we have a history of being successful with that discussion."Celebration Fireworks Inc. Creative Director Chris Hopkins
Celebration, as with many other large-scale event producers, has been in recovery since the coronavirus pandemic, Hopkins said.
And while operations have largely gotten back to normal, business is increasing — which could spell problems in the future if tariffs go up.
“We're increasing the amount of shows; more people are doing more shows," Hopkins said. "And I think a lot of people are kind of ramping up for next year, which is the big America 250 celebration."
Hopkins said the carve out for fireworks in 2020 helped avert substantial issues, especially in light of the lack of domestic production, but the future is uncertain.
“While I don't know what's going to happen now, at least we have a history of being successful with that discussion,” Hopkins said.
'Sitting on pins and needles'
Heckman said her organization was able to offer public comment on the tariff discussions in 2019, giving perspective on the unique position its industry was in, and its dependence upon importing goods.
But as of now, there are no opportunities to exempt fireworks from tariffs on China.
“So it's been a bit of a roller coaster ride since February, beginning with 20-perent tariffs reaching a high of 145 percent in April, when the 125-perent reciprocal tariff was imposed on China," Heckman said.
"And then coming back down in early May to where the reciprocal tariff was paused, but a 30-percent tariff remains.”
That 30% is unsustainable, she said, and it has the fireworks industry questioning if and when tariffs will return to the triple digits.
“And that has the whole industry sitting on pins and needles, very concerned about what the impact will be on the Christmas and New Year's season for fireworks," Heckman said.
"But more importantly, 2026, and all of the America's 250th anniversary celebrations, which should be a record breaking, historic year for the firework industry."
Next year's celebration up in the air
As for domestic production, Heckman said it is all but impossible, and would require decades of work before any product could be produced because of infrastructure and safety regulations.
“We typically annually import over 320 million pounds of fireworks, and this is not a process where you can build a factory and have an assembly line,” she said.
“The fireworks industry can’t survive if the tariffs are going to be 30 percent, or even increase above that."American Pyrotechnics Association Executive Director Julie L. Heckman
“It's heavily regulated. You're dealing with explosive compositions. They are very sensitive to heat, friction and high humidity.
"I don't know if you've been watching the news reports, but there was a pretty significant accident [Tuesday] night in California where a fireworks warehouse facility blew up and they weren't even manufacturing.”
Groups such as the APA will continue to encourage the Trump administration to make exceptions for fireworks and other goods solely produced in China, Heckman said.
So while the local retailers and production companies may be prepped for this holiday weekend — and the rest of the summer, of course — the state of next year’s massive celebration is up in the air… for now.
“The fireworks industry can’t survive if the tariffs are going to be 30 percent, or even increase above that,” Heckman said.
