Loading...
HSChapter 49
U.S. exports of dictionaries, encyclopedias & serial installments thereof (HS 490191) totaled $695K in July 2026.
Dictionaries, Encyclopedias & Serial Installments Thereof imports of $504K in July 2026 ran 112% above the year-to-date monthly average of $237K.
Last updated: July 2026 dataDictionaries (including thesauruses, classified under 4901910020) and encyclopedias with their serial installments (4901910040) occupy a dedicated subheading within the printed books chapter, reflecting their reference-work character. India and China are the leading US suppliers, with Canada, the United Kingdom, and Japan also active — a supplier mix that reflects both large-scale commercial printing in South Asia and established publishing relationships with English-language markets. These articles generally enter duty-free, and the primary compliance considerations involve accurate valuation (including any royalty components) and correct country-of-origin marking based on where printing occurred.
AI-written summary of the official U.S. Census Bureau trade figures on this page — verify before relying on it.
29 shipments/mo
The US tariff schedule explicitly includes thesauruses within the dictionaries line (4901910020), so a standalone thesaurus should be classified there rather than under the general printed books NESOI heading. Combined dictionary-thesaurus volumes would similarly belong under 4901910020. Importers of reference works should review the specific article type against the available lines before filing.
Each physical shipment of encyclopedia installments is entered separately at the time of importation, classified under 4901910040 regardless of whether it is part of a multi-volume set. The heading specifically contemplates serial installments, so there is no need to hold entry until a complete set is assembled. Importers should ensure each installment's commercial invoice accurately describes it as part of a serial encyclopedia to support classification.
Supplier Network
Get discovered by U.S. importers searching for HS 490191 — Dictionaries, Encyclopedias & Serial Installments Thereof. Be the first supplier listed.
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4901910020 | Dictionaries (Including Thesauruses) | $467K | 0.45% | 5.58% | $2K |
| 4901910040 | Encyclopedias and Serial Installments Thereof | $37K | 0.70% | 9.31% | $257 |
HS10 export codes under this HS6 parent, each with its own page. Source: U.S. Schedule B export classification.
| Code | Description | Export Value |
|---|---|---|
| 4901910040 | Encyclopedias and Serial Installments Thereof | $556K |
| 4901910020 | Dictionaries (Including Thesauruses) | $139K |
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
$504KYoY · Pro
Exports
$695KYoY · Pro
12-mo low · imports
YoY · ProThrough July 2026. Source: U.S. Census Bureau.
Exports · July 2026
destination
Canada and United Kingdom together take 81% of it.
customs district
origin
entry
rate provision · imports
94.1% enters free of duty; the effective duty rate is 0.47%.