Harmonized System
U.S. imports of machinery for manufacturing or finishing felt or nonwovens, and hat-blocking machines (HS 844900) totaled $4.6M in August 2026, imported from 29 countries.
Importers of Machinery for Manufacturing or Finishing Felt or Nonwovens, and Hat-Blocking Machines paid $471K in duties in August 2026, an effective tariff rate of 10.24% of the $4.6M imported — duty actually collected as a share of that value, not the published tariff schedule. Machinery for Manufacturing or Finishing Felt or Nonwovens, and Hat-Blocking Machines imports of $4.6M in August 2026 ran 32% below the year-to-date monthly average of $6.8M.
Last updated: August 2026 dataFelt-making, nonwoven finishing, and hat-blocking machinery occupies a specialized niche within textile capital equipment, serving industries from automotive filtration and geotextiles to millinery. Italy and Germany lead US imports under this heading, consistent with their dominance in high-end textile machinery manufacturing. The US schedule includes finishing machinery and parts for felt (8449001000) alongside broader manufacturing machinery for felt including hat-making equipment (8449005000), with a general provision at 8449000000. Because these machines are often custom-engineered for specific fiber types and bonding processes, importers should ensure technical documentation clearly identifies the machine's primary function to support correct classification.
AI-written summary of the official U.S. Census Bureau trade figures on this page — verify before relying on it.
75 shipments/mo
Heading 8449 specifically covers machinery that produces or finishes felt or nonwovens — materials formed by bonding or interlocking fibers through mechanical, thermal, or chemical means rather than weaving or knitting. Machines that weave or knit fabric fall under headings 8446 or 8447. The classification turns on the fabric-formation method: if the output is a nonwoven or felt product, the producing machine belongs here.
Parts that are specifically designed for and principally used with machinery of heading 8449 are classified within this heading itself, as the heading explicitly includes 'parts thereof.' However, general-purpose parts that could serve multiple machine types may be classified under heading 8448 or another applicable parts heading. Detailed technical documentation linking the part to a specific 8449 machine is essential to support the classification.
HSChapter 84
Trade Directory
List your company under HS 844900 — Machinery for Manufacturing or Finishing Felt or Nonwovens, and Hat-Blocking Machines, so the companies trading it can find you. Be the first supplier listed.
Subheading 1 of 1 in heading 8449
Subheading 844900 · $4.6M of $4.6M
ImportsExports
Imports
$4.6MYoY · free account
Exports
$171KYoY · free account
12-mo low · imports
YoY · free accountOver the twelve months to August 2026, the U.S. imported $83.9M of Machinery for Manufacturing or Finishing Felt or Nonwovens, and Hat-Blocking Machines.
Through August 2026. Source: U.S. Census Bureau.
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 8449005000 | Mac Fr Mfg of Felt,Inc Mac for Hat Make,Pts | $4.0M | 10.13% | 99.75% | $403K |
| 8449001000 | Finishing Machinery and Parts Thereof for Felt | $617K | 10.92% | 98.86% | $67K |
HS10 export codes under this HS6 parent, each with its own page. Source: U.S. Schedule B export classification.
| Code | Description | Export Value |
|---|---|---|
| 8449000000 | Mach F Manuf or Finish Nonwovens;hat Blocks; Parts | $171K |
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
Germany and France together supply 60% of it.
customs district
destination
entry
rate provision · imports
0.4% enters free of duty; duty collected equals 10.24% of total import value.