U.S. imports of Hand Sharpening or Polishing Stones (HS 680430) totaled $2.2M in August 2026, imported from 34 countries.
Importers of Hand Sharpening or Polishing Stones paid $329K in duties in August 2026, an average duty rate of 15.13% — duty actually collected as a share of the imports that cleared customs, not the published tariff schedule. Hand Sharpening or Polishing Stones imports of $2.2M in August 2026 ran 19% above the year-to-date monthly average of $1.8M.
Last updated: August 2026 dataWhetstones, honing rods, and bench stones used for manual edge maintenance on knives, chisels, and precision tools are classified here, covering both natural and manufactured abrasive compositions in handheld form. Germany leads US imports under this heading — reflecting the country's long-standing precision-tool manufacturing tradition — with China and Vietnam also significant sources. The key classification boundary is between these hand-operated articles and powered grinding wheels (heading 6804), which turns on whether the stone is designed for manual use without a machine drive. All imports enter under a single tariff line, 6804300000.
AI-written summary of the official U.S. Census Bureau trade figures on this page — verify before relying on it.
120 import shipments a month
The critical factor is whether the article is designed for manual, hand-held use rather than mounting on a powered machine. Hand sharpening stones typically lack arbor holes, flanges, or other machine-mounting features. If a stone can be used both ways, CBP will generally look to the article's essential character and primary design intent, supported by product literature.
Yes. Both water stones (typically Japanese-style synthetic or natural stones used wet) and oil stones (such as Arkansas novaculite or aluminum oxide benchstones used with honing oil) are classified here based on their function as hand sharpening or polishing articles, not their specific mineral or bonding composition.
Subheading 3 of 5 in heading 6804
Subheading 680430 · $2.2M of $46.4M
ImportsExports
Imports
$2.2MYoY · free account
Exports
$1.4MYoY · free account
12-mo low · imports
Low · free accountOver the twelve months to August 2026, the U.S. imported $21.3M of Hand Sharpening or Polishing Stones and exported $18.4M.
Through August 2026. Source: U.S. Census Bureau.
Imports · August 2026
origin
Germany and China together supply 65% of it. China pays 37.3% duty; Germany 8.1%.
customs district
destination
entry
rate provision · imports
2.2% enters free of duty; duty collected equals 15.13% of imports for consumption.
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 6804300000 | Hand Sharpening or Polishing Stones | $2.2M | 15.13% | 97.85% | $329K |
HS10 export codes under this HS6 parent, each with its own page. Source: U.S. Schedule B export classification.
| Code | Description | Export Value |
|---|---|---|
| 6804300000 | Hand Sharpening or Polishing Stones | $1.4M |
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.
Trade Directory
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