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HSChapter 96
U.S. imports of felt-tipped & other porous-tipped pens and markers (HS 960820) totaled $31.4M in July 2026, traded with 39 countries.
Importers of Felt-Tipped & Other Porous-Tipped Pens and Markers paid $3.5M in duties in July 2026 — an effective duty rate of 17% on $20.5M in dutiable value, based on actual customs collections rather than the published tariff schedule. Felt-Tipped & Other Porous-Tipped Pens and Markers imports of $31.4M in July 2026 ran 14% below the year-to-date monthly average of $36.5M.
Last updated: July 2026 dataFelt-tip and porous-tip markers — including permanent markers, dry-erase markers, highlighters, and art markers — are captured under a single US tariff line (9608200000) defined by their porous nib rather than by ink color or end use. China and Mexico are the leading suppliers, with Mexico's proximity enabling efficient replenishment for US retail and office-supply chains. The breadth of this heading means that a fine-point art marker and a broad-tip industrial paint marker may share the same classification, making accurate product description on commercial invoices important for CBP review.
AI-written summary of the official U.S. Census Bureau trade figures on this page — verify before relying on it.
3.1K shipments/mo
Generally yes, if the delivery mechanism is a porous or felt tip — the heading covers porous-tipped instruments regardless of whether the medium is dye-based ink, pigment ink, or paint. However, if a 'paint marker' is essentially a pressurized paint applicator with a valve-action tip rather than a porous nib, it may be more appropriately classified elsewhere. The physical construction of the tip is the determining factor.
CBP expects commercial invoices to itemize distinct product lines separately, with unit prices reflecting the actual transaction value for each SKU. For mixed shipments, a packing list that correlates item numbers to invoice lines — along with catalog or specification sheets showing the grade distinction — reduces the risk of a single blended value being applied across products with very different market prices.
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Subheading 1 of 8 in heading 9608
Subheading 960820 · $31.4M of $80.1M
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 9608200000 | Felt Tipped & Other Porous-Tipped Pens & Markers | $31.4M | 11.26% | 65.12% | $3.5M |
HS10 export codes under this HS6 parent, each with its own page. Source: U.S. Schedule B export classification.
| Code | Description | Export Value |
|---|---|---|
| 9608200000 | Felt Tipped & Other Porous-Tipped Pens & Markers | $18.1M |
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
$31.4MYoY · Pro
Exports
$18.1MYoY · Pro
12-mo low · imports
YoY · ProThrough July 2026. Source: U.S. Census Bureau.
Imports · July 2026
origin
China and Mexico together supply 73% of it.
customs district
destination
entry
rate provision · imports
33.7% enters free of duty; the effective duty rate is 11.26%.