U.S. imports of Connectors for Optical Fibers, Bundles, or Cables (HS 853670) totaled $135.4M in August 2026, imported from 57 countries.
Importers of Connectors for Optical Fibers, Bundles, or Cables paid $10.9M in duties in August 2026, an average duty rate of 8.14% — duty actually collected as a share of the imports that cleared customs, not the published tariff schedule. Connectors for Optical Fibers, Bundles, or Cables imports of $135.4M in August 2026 ran 25% above the year-to-date monthly average of $108.4M.
Last updated: August 2026 dataOptical fiber connectors — including ferrule-based types such as LC, SC, and MPO — are a high-precision component underpinning broadband, data center, and telecommunications infrastructure buildout. Unlike copper-based connectors in heading 8536, these devices manage light transmission alignment rather than electrical continuity, and that functional distinction drives their separate classification under 853670 with a single US tariff line (8536700000). Mexico is the leading US import source, with Taiwan and Japan also prominent suppliers, reflecting the concentration of precision fiber-optic manufacturing in East Asia and nearshore assembly operations. Importers should be aware that misclassification between optical connectors and copper connectors is a recurring audit issue given the physical similarity of some connector housings.
AI-written summary of the official U.S. Census Bureau trade figures on this page — verify before relying on it.
3.0K import shipments a month
Hybrid connectors present a classification challenge. CBP guidance generally directs classification based on the essential character or the component that gives the article its primary function. A connector whose primary purpose is optical signal transmission may still qualify under 853670, but one where the copper conductors are equally or more significant may be classified elsewhere. A binding ruling request to CBP is advisable for hybrid designs.
Optical fiber connectors require tight ferrule tolerances — often sub-micron — and consistent polishing quality to meet insertion-loss and return-loss specifications. Taiwanese and Japanese manufacturers have long-established precision manufacturing capabilities and quality certifications (such as Telcordia GR-326) that are difficult to replicate quickly, sustaining their market position even as other regions expand capacity.
Subheading 5 of 10 in heading 8536
Subheading 853670 · $135.4M of $1.6B
ImportsExports
Imports
$135.4MYoY · free account
Exports
$138.7MYoY · free account
12-mo low · imports
Low · free accountOver the twelve months to August 2026, the U.S. imported $1.3B of Connectors for Optical Fibers, Bundles, or Cables and exported $1.1B.
Through August 2026. Source: U.S. Census Bureau.
Imports · August 2026
origin
Mexico and Japan together supply 76% of it. China pays 37.5% duty; Mexico 0.9%.
customs district
destination
entry
rate provision · imports
41.7% enters free of duty; duty collected equals 8.14% of imports for consumption.
HS10 import codes under this HS6 parent, each with its own page. Source: U.S. Harmonized Tariff Schedule.
| Code | Description | Imports for consumption | Average duty rate | Dutiable Share | Duty Collected |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 8536700000 | Connectors for Optical Fibers, Bundles, or Cables | $134.5M | 8.14% | 57.76% | $10.9M |
HS10 export codes under this HS6 parent, each with its own page. Source: U.S. Schedule B export classification.
| Code | Description | Export Value |
|---|---|---|
| 8536700000 | Connectors for Optical Fibers, Bundles, or Cables | $138.7M |
Import lines come from the U.S. Harmonized Tariff Schedule and export lines from Schedule B. The two are numbered by different agencies, so the same 10-digit code can appear in both tables describing a different product.
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