U.S. exports of Intermodal Shipping Containers (HS 860900) totaled $43.8M in August 2026.
Importers of Intermodal Shipping Containers paid $5.5M in duties in August 2026, an average duty rate of 20.10% — duty actually collected as a share of the imports that cleared customs, not the published tariff schedule. Intermodal Shipping Containers imports of $27.3M in August 2026 ran 10% above the year-to-date monthly average of $24.8M.
Last updated: August 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.
1.2K import shipments a month
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 · $43.8M of $43.8M
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 8609000000 | Containers for One or More Modes of Transport | $27.4M | 20.10% | 85.40% | $5.5M |
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 | $43.8M |
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.
Exports · August 2026
destination
customs district
origin
entry
rate provision · imports
14.0% enters free of duty; duty collected equals 20.10% of imports for consumption.
ImportsExports
Imports
$27.3MYoY · free account
Exports
$43.8MYoY · free account
12-mo low · imports
Low · free accountOver the twelve months to August 2026, the U.S. imported $315.4M of Intermodal Shipping Containers and exported $562.4M.
Through August 2026. Source: U.S. Census Bureau.