U.S. imports of Fountain Pens, Stylograph Pens & Other Pens (HS 960830) totaled $2.9M in August 2026, imported from 34 countries.
Importers of Fountain Pens, Stylograph Pens & Other Pens paid $333K in duties in August 2026, an average duty rate of 11.55% — duty actually collected as a share of the imports that cleared customs, not the published tariff schedule. Fountain Pens, Stylograph Pens & Other Pens imports of $2.9M in August 2026 ran 16% below the year-to-date monthly average of $3.4M.
Last updated: August 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.
295 import shipments a month
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.
Subheading 5 of 8 in heading 9608
Subheading 960830 · $2.9M of $80.6M
Trade Directory
List your company under HS 960830 — Fountain Pens, Stylograph Pens & Other Pens, so the companies trading it can find you. Be the first supplier listed.
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 9608300039 | Fountain Pens, Stylograph Pens and Other Pens, NESOI | $2.7M | 11.70% | 99.45% | $314K |
| 9608300031 | India Ink Drawing Pens | $199K | 9.49% | 100.00% | $19K |
Fountain Pens, Stylograph Pens and Other Pens, NESOI
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 | $303K |
| 9608300031 | India Ink Drawing Pens | $81K |
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
$2.9MYoY · free account
Exports
$384KYoY · free account
12-mo low · imports
Low · free accountOver the twelve months to August 2026, the U.S. imported $40.7M of Fountain Pens, Stylograph Pens & Other Pens and exported $6.3M.
Through August 2026. Source: U.S. Census Bureau.
Imports · August 2026
origin
Japan and Germany together supply 48% of it. China pays 22.8% duty; Italy 7.7%.
customs district
destination
entry
rate provision · imports
0.5% enters free of duty; duty collected equals 11.55% of imports for consumption.