U.S. imports of Opto-Electronics (Hi-Tech 03) totaled $2.4B in September 2026, imported from 98 countries.
Importers of Opto-Electronics paid $69.9M in duties in September 2026, an average duty rate of 2.98% — duty actually collected as a share of the imports that cleared customs, not the published tariff schedule. Opto-Electronics imports of $2.4B in September 2026 ran 22% above the year-to-date monthly average of $1.9B.
Last updated: September 2026 dataOpto-electronic products — including laser systems, fiber-optic components, photovoltaic cells, image sensors, and LED assemblies — are critical inputs for telecommunications infrastructure, medical imaging, and industrial sensing applications. Several product lines within this ATP category are subject to Section 301 tariffs on goods of Chinese origin, making country-of-origin documentation a high-stakes compliance task for importers sourcing from Asian supply chains. The category's overlap with dual-use export control classifications also means that some opto-electronic imports may require Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS) review for re-export purposes.
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40.7K import shipments a month
Many opto-electronic components are assembled across multiple countries, and Section 301 tariffs apply specifically to goods of Chinese origin. Substantial-transformation analysis determines the country of origin for duty purposes, so importers must document each production step carefully to support their origin claims.
Some opto-electronic items — particularly high-power lasers, certain image sensors, and advanced fiber-optic components — appear on the Commerce Control List administered by BIS. While import itself is not licensed, importers intending to re-export should verify EAR classification before the goods enter the US.
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Imports · September 2026
origin
Mexico and Kenya together supply 65% of it. Vietnam pays 13.8% duty; Kenya 0.0%.
customs district
Census does not publish district detail for this classification system.
destination
Census does not publish state detail for this classification system.
entry
Census does not publish port detail for this classification system.
ImportsExports
Imports
$2.4BYoY · free account
Exports
$541.0MYoY · free account
12-mo low · imports
Low · free accountOver the twelve months to September 2026, the U.S. imported $24.4B of Opto-Electronics and exported $5.8B.
Through September 2026. Source: U.S. Census Bureau.