U.S. imports of Machinery and Equipment for Preparing or Making Printing Blocks, Plates, Cylinders, or Other Printing Components (NESOI) (HS 844230) totaled $1.9M in August 2026, imported from 25 countries.
Importers of Machinery and Equipment for Preparing or Making Printing Blocks, Plates, Cylinders, or Other Printing Components (NESOI) paid $294K in duties in August 2026, an average duty rate of 13.85% — duty actually collected as a share of the imports that cleared customs, not the published tariff schedule. Machinery and Equipment for Preparing or Making Printing Blocks, Plates, Cylinders, or Other Printing Components (NESOI) imports of $1.9M in August 2026 ran 27% below the year-to-date monthly average of $2.6M.
Last updated: August 2026 dataPrepress equipment — computer-to-plate (CTP) systems, laser imagesetters, photopolymer plate processors, and cylinder engravers — used to prepare printing formes falls under this heading, with Germany and the Netherlands the leading US suppliers. The heading is subdivided at the US level into phototypesetting and composing machines (8442300110) and all other qualifying equipment (8442300150), a distinction that matters for older analog systems still in service at specialty printers. China is a growing source, and goods of Chinese origin in this category may be subject to Section 301 tariffs; importers should verify current applicability at the time of entry.
AI-written summary of the official U.S. Census Bureau trade figures on this page — verify before relying on it.
31 import shipments a month
Phototypesetting and composing machines — equipment that assembles type or image elements into a composed form, including older laser typesetters — fall under 8442300110. Modern CTP systems that directly image a printing plate or cylinder from digital data, without an intermediate composed-type stage, are generally classified under the residual line 8442300150 as machinery for making printing plates not elsewhere specified. The distinction can be subtle for hybrid systems; CBP's published rulings on specific CTP models are a useful reference.
Yes — machinery classified under HTS 8442 and originating in China may be subject to Section 301 tariffs. The applicable list and rate should be confirmed against the current USTR Section 301 schedule at the time of entry, as coverage and rates have been modified through successive review proceedings. Importers should also verify whether any exclusions granted for specific equipment types remain in effect.
Subheading 2 of 3 in heading 8442
Subheading 844230 · $1.9M of $10.4M
ImportsExports
Imports
$1.9MYoY · free account
Exports
$1.9MYoY · free account
12-mo low · imports
Low · free accountOver the twelve months to August 2026, the U.S. imported $29.0M of Machinery and Equipment for Preparing or Making Printing Blocks, Plates, Cylinders, or Other Printing Components (NESOI) and exported $12.4M.
Through August 2026. Source: U.S. Census Bureau.
Imports · August 2026
origin
Germany and Netherlands together supply 66% of it. China pays 36.3% duty; Canada 0.0%.
customs district
destination
entry
rate provision · imports
8.0% enters free of duty; duty collected equals 13.85% 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 8442300150 | Mach & Equip, NESOI, F Making Print Blocks, Plates | $1.2M | 16.27% | 87.82% | $203K |
| 8442300110 | Phototypesetting and Composing Machines | $880K | 10.43% | 99.76% | $92K |
HS10 export codes under this HS6 parent, each with its own page. Source: U.S. Schedule B export classification.
| Code | Description | Export Value |
|---|---|---|
| 8442300150 | Mach & Equip, NESOI, F Making Print Blocks, Plates | $978K |
| 8442300110 | Phototypesetting and Composing Machines | $964K |
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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