U.S. imports of Footwear Outer Soles and Heels of Rubber or Plastics (HS 640620) totaled $1.9M in August 2026, imported from 38 countries.
Importers of Footwear Outer Soles and Heels of Rubber or Plastics paid $274K in duties in August 2026, an average duty rate of 14.41% — duty actually collected as a share of the imports that cleared customs, not the published tariff schedule. Footwear Outer Soles and Heels of Rubber or Plastics imports of $1.9M in August 2026 ran 26% below the year-to-date monthly average of $2.6M.
Last updated: August 2026 dataRubber and plastic outer soles and heels are a high-volume intermediate input for footwear manufacturers worldwide, and Vietnam leads US imports under this single-line heading (6406200000), followed by China and Mexico. Because the heading covers only outer soles and heels — not insoles, midsoles, or complete bottoms — correct classification depends on confirming that the component is designed to make ground contact in the finished shoe. Soles incorporating significant textile or leather content on the outer surface may shift classification to a different heading, so material composition of the ground-contact surface is the key technical question.
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652 import shipments a month
If the unit is designed so that the bottom layer makes ground contact and is composed of rubber or plastic, it generally classifies under 6406.20 as an outer sole, even if it incorporates a cushioning midsole layer. However, if the midsole and outsole are separately identifiable components sold together, CBP may require them to be classified individually. Importers should obtain a technical description from the manufacturer confirming which surface is intended as the ground-contact layer.
Chapter 64 Note 4(b) specifies that the constituent material of the outer sole is the material having the greatest surface area in contact with the ground. If a rubber or plastic sole has a textile or leather covering on its bottom surface that exceeds the rubber/plastic area, it may no longer qualify as a rubber or plastic outer sole under 6406.20. Manufacturers sometimes add fabric patches for grip or branding; importers should verify that rubber or plastic remains the dominant ground-contact material.
ImportsExports
Imports
$1.9MYoY · free account
Exports
$536KYoY · free account
12-mo low · imports
Low · free accountOver the twelve months to August 2026, the U.S. imported $30.1M of Footwear Outer Soles and Heels of Rubber or Plastics and exported $6.9M.
Through August 2026. Source: U.S. Census Bureau.
Trade Directory
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Subheading 3 of 3 in heading 6406
Subheading 640620 · $1.9M of $26.0M
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 6406200000 | Parts of Ftwear Out Sls & Hls of Rubber or Plastic | $1.9M | 14.41% | 88.99% | $274K |
HS10 export codes under this HS6 parent, each with its own page. Source: U.S. Schedule B export classification.
| Code | Description | Export Value |
|---|---|---|
| 6406200000 | Parts of Ftwear Out Sls & Hls of Rubber or Plastic | $536K |
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.
Imports · August 2026
origin
Vietnam and China together supply 80% of it. China pays 20.5% duty; Mexico 3.5%.
customs district
destination
entry
rate provision · imports
11.1% enters free of duty; duty collected equals 14.41% of imports for consumption.