U.S. imports of Direction Finding Compasses (HS 901410) totaled $2.6M in August 2026, imported from 32 countries.
Importers of Direction Finding Compasses paid $219K in duties in August 2026, an average duty rate of 8.54% — duty actually collected as a share of the imports that cleared customs, not the published tariff schedule. Direction Finding Compasses imports of $2.6M in August 2026 ran 17% below the year-to-date monthly average of $3.1M.
Last updated: August 2026 dataDirection finding compasses — optical, gyroscopic, and electrical variants — are split across multiple US tariff lines that distinguish both operating principle and end-use platform, with separate provisions for civil aircraft applications versus all other uses. Gyroscopic electrical compasses (9014107030) and other electrical types (9014107060) reflect the heading's relevance to marine, aviation, and defense navigation systems. France and Germany are the leading US import sources, consistent with their established aerospace and marine instrument industries.
AI-written summary of the official U.S. Census Bureau trade figures on this page — verify before relying on it.
147 import shipments a month
Civil aircraft instruments often qualify for duty-free or reduced-duty treatment under the Civil Aircraft Agreement administered through the WTO. Importers must provide documentation — typically an FAA or manufacturer certification — confirming the article is for use in civil aircraft to claim this treatment. Misclassifying a non-aviation compass into a civil-aircraft line is a common compliance risk.
A gyroscopic compass (heading 9014.10) provides directional reference using gyroscopic principles but does not compute position. An inertial navigation system integrates gyroscopes and accelerometers to derive position, velocity, and attitude, and is typically classified under heading 9014.20 as an aeronautical or space navigation instrument. The distinction turns on whether the device outputs heading only or full navigation data.
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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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 9014109000 | Direction Finding Compasses, Except Electrical | $1.1M | 9.56% | 86.26% | $102K |
| 9014107030 | Gyroscopic Electrical Direction Finding Compasses | $705K | 8.27% | 79.46% | $58K |
| 9014107060 | Other Electrical Direction Finding Compasses | $684K | 6.94% | 64.60% | $47K |
| 9014101000 | Optical Direction Finding Compasses | $103K | 10.45% | 86.31% | $11K |
| 9014106000 | Gyroscopic Compasses, Other Than Electrical | $3K | 9.99% | 100.00% | $317 |
HS10 export codes under this HS6 parent, each with its own page. Source: U.S. Schedule B export classification.
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.
Subheading 4 of 4 in heading 9014
Subheading 901410 · $2.6M of $184.6M
ImportsExports
Imports
$2.6MYoY · free account
Exports
$2.7MYoY · free account
12-mo low · imports
Low · free accountOver the twelve months to August 2026, the U.S. imported $36.6M of Direction Finding Compasses and exported $33.0M.
Through August 2026. Source: U.S. Census Bureau.
Imports · August 2026
origin
United Kingdom and Germany together supply 56% of it. Switzerland pays 12.5% duty; Canada 1.4%.
customs district
destination
entry
rate provision · imports
21.1% enters free of duty; duty collected equals 8.54% of imports for consumption.