U.S. imports of electric discharge lamps, not elsewhere specified (excluding uv, fluorescent hot-cathode) (HS 853939) totaled $2.9M in August 2026, imported from 30 countries.
Importers of Electric Discharge Lamps, Not Elsewhere Specified (Excluding UV, Fluorescent Hot-Cathode) paid $481K in duties in August 2026, an effective tariff rate of 16.31% of the $2.9M imported — duty actually collected as a share of that value, not the published tariff schedule. Electric Discharge Lamps, Not Elsewhere Specified (Excluding UV, Fluorescent Hot-Cathode) imports of $2.9M in August 2026 ran 14% above the year-to-date monthly average of $2.6M.
Last updated: August 2026 dataGermany leads US imports of these residual discharge lamps — a technically heterogeneous group that excludes ultraviolet, fluorescent hot-cathode, mercury vapor, sodium vapor, and metal halide types — followed by China, Japan, Czech Republic, and South Korea. A commercially significant subset is cold-cathode fluorescent lamps (CCFLs) for flat-panel displays (8539391000), which were widely used as LCD backlights before LED backlighting became dominant; residual demand persists in display repair and legacy industrial panel markets. The broad residual line (8539399000) captures specialty discharge sources used in scientific instruments, phototherapy equipment, and niche industrial processes. Germany and Japan's prominence reflects their strength in precision specialty lamp manufacturing for these demanding applications.
AI-written summary of the official U.S. Census Bureau trade figures on this page — verify before relying on it.
167 shipments/mo
CCFLs specifically designed for flat-panel display backlighting are classified under 8539391000, a dedicated line within this heading. General-purpose cold-cathode lamps not designed for flat-panel displays, and other non-UV, non-fluorescent discharge lamps, fall under the residual line 8539399000. The intended application and lamp construction — particularly electrode type and envelope geometry — are the key classification determinants.
Beyond flat-panel display CCFLs, the residual category covers discharge lamps used in phototherapy (dermatology and neonatal care), plasma display panels, scientific spectroscopy instruments, and certain industrial curing and exposure systems. These applications require precise spectral output and lamp geometry, which is why precision manufacturers in Germany and Japan remain prominent suppliers despite overall market contraction.
HSChapter 85
ImportsExports
Imports
$2.9MYoY · free account
Exports
$1.5MYoY · free account
12-mo low · imports
YoY · free accountOver the twelve months to August 2026, the U.S. imported $28.7M of Electric Discharge Lamps, Not Elsewhere Specified (Excluding UV, Fluorescent Hot-Cathode).
Through August 2026. Source: U.S. Census Bureau.
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Subheading 9 of 12 in heading 8539
Subheading 853939 · $2.9M of $184.8M
Imports · August 2026
origin
Germany and China together supply 77% of it. China pays 36.2% duty; Germany 10.0%.
customs district
destination
entry
rate provision · imports
0.1% enters free of duty; duty collected equals 16.31% of total import value.
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 8539399000 | Discharge Lamps, Not Ultraviolet Lamps, NESOI | $2.7M | 16.95% | 99.84% | $453K |
| 8539391000 | Cold-Cathode Fluorescent Lamps for Flat Panel Disp | $274K | 10.05% | 100.00% | $28K |
HS10 export codes under this HS6 parent, each with its own page. Source: U.S. Schedule B export classification.
| Code | Description | Export Value |
|---|---|---|
| 8539390000 | Discharge Lamps, (Not Ultraviolet), NESOI | $1.5M |
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.