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HSChapter 96
U.S. imports of fountain pens, stylograph pens & other pens (HS 960830) totaled $4.2M in July 2026, traded with 33 countries.
Importers of Fountain Pens, Stylograph Pens & Other Pens paid $429K in duties in July 2026 — an effective duty rate of 10% on $4.1M in dutiable value, based on actual customs collections rather than the published tariff schedule. Fountain Pens, Stylograph Pens & Other Pens imports of $4.2M in July 2026 ran 19% above the year-to-date monthly average of $3.5M.
Last updated: July 2026 dataFountain pens, stylograph (technical drawing) pens, and India ink drawing pens occupy a distinct segment of the writing instrument market, serving professional designers, architects, calligraphers, and collectors. The US schedule separates India ink drawing pens (9608300031) — precision instruments used in technical illustration — from all other fountain and stylograph pens (9608300039). Germany and Japan lead US import supply, reflecting the concentration of premium pen manufacturing in those countries. The relatively high unit values typical of this heading make accurate transaction-value documentation and country-of-origin marking particularly important.
AI-written summary of the official U.S. Census Bureau trade figures on this page — verify before relying on it.
314 shipments/mo
India ink drawing pens — such as technical pens used in drafting and illustration — are designed specifically to deliver India ink (a carbon-black pigment suspension) through a precision tubular nib at a consistent line width. They differ from fountain pens in nib construction and ink compatibility. The classification distinction matters because the two lines carry separate statistical reporting, and misclassification between them, while within the same heading, can affect trade data accuracy.
Retail sets containing a pen and its normal accessories (cartridges, converter, case) are generally classified as a set under the heading of the principal article — the pen itself — provided the components are put up for retail sale together and the pen gives the set its essential character. The accessories do not need to be separately classified if they are clearly ancillary. Importers should confirm the set composition on the commercial invoice to support this treatment.
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 9608300039 | Fountain Pens,Stylograph Pens and Other Pens,NESOI | $4.1M | 10.35% | 98.80% | $426K |
| 9608300031 | India Ink Drawing Pens | $66K | 4.92% | 37.51% | $3K |
HS10 export codes under this HS6 parent, each with its own page. Source: U.S. Schedule B export classification.
| Code | Description | Export Value |
|---|---|---|
| 9608300039 | Fountain Pens,Stylograph Pens and Other Pens,NESOI | $520K |
| 9608300031 | India Ink Drawing Pens | $137K |
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.
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ImportsExports
Imports
$4.2MYoY · Pro
Exports
$657KYoY · Pro
12-mo low · imports
YoY · ProThrough July 2026. Source: U.S. Census Bureau.
Imports · July 2026
origin
Germany and Japan together supply 66% of it.
customs district
destination
entry
rate provision · imports
1.8% enters free of duty; the effective duty rate is 10.26%.