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HSChapter 86
U.S. exports of intermodal shipping containers (HS 860900) totaled $50.1M in July 2026.
Importers of Intermodal Shipping Containers paid $5.0M in duties in July 2026 — an effective duty rate of 23% on $22.3M in dutiable value, based on actual customs collections rather than the published tariff schedule.
Last updated: July 2026 dataSpecially designed and equipped containers built for carriage across two or more transport modes — ocean, rail, road, or air — are classified under a single 10-digit line (8609000000). China overwhelmingly dominates global container manufacturing and leads US imports under this heading by a wide margin, creating concentration risk that became acutely visible during pandemic-era equipment shortages. Importers should note that containers subject to Section 301 tariffs on Chinese-origin goods face additional duty exposure, and that temporary importation provisions (e.g., under bond) may apply when containers enter the US as instruments of international traffic rather than as imported merchandise.
AI-written summary of the official U.S. Census Bureau trade figures on this page — verify before relying on it.
1.3K shipments/mo
Yes — containers that are owned or leased by a foreign person, used primarily in international traffic, and not sold or otherwise transferred to a US person may qualify as instruments of international traffic (IIT) under 19 CFR 10.41a. When IIT status applies, the containers are not treated as imported merchandise and duties do not accrue. However, containers purchased outright for domestic use are dutiable entries under 8609000000.
Heading 8609 requires that the container be 'specially designed and equipped' for multimodal carriage — typically meaning it has standardized corner fittings, structural reinforcement for stacking, and dimensions conforming to ISO standards. General-purpose boxes, tanks, or enclosures not built to intermodal specifications would classify elsewhere (e.g., under Chapter 73 for steel structures or Chapter 39 for plastic containers).
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Subheading 1 of 1 in heading 8609
Subheading 860900 · $26.1M of $26.1M
HS10 import codes under this HS6 parent, each with its own page. Source: U.S. Harmonized Tariff Schedule.
| Code | Description | Import Value | Effective Tariff % | Dutiable Share | Duty Collected |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 8609000000 | Containers for One or More Modes of Transport | $26.1M | 19.35% | 85.28% | $5.0M |
HS10 export codes under this HS6 parent, each with its own page. Source: U.S. Schedule B export classification.
| Code | Description | Export Value |
|---|---|---|
| 8609000000 | Containers for One or More Modes of Transport | $50.1M |
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.
ImportsExports
Imports
$26.1MYoY · Pro
Exports
$50.1MYoY · Pro
12-mo low · imports
YoY · ProThrough July 2026. Source: U.S. Census Bureau.
Exports · July 2026
destination
customs district
origin
entry
rate provision · imports
12.5% enters free of duty; the effective duty rate is 19.35%.