U.S. exports of Mechanical Seals (HS 848420) totaled $53.7M in August 2026.
Importers of Mechanical Seals paid $2.9M in duties in August 2026, an average duty rate of 8.54% — duty actually collected as a share of the imports that cleared customs, not the published tariff schedule.
Last updated: August 2026 dataMechanical seals — precision face-seal assemblies used to prevent fluid leakage along rotating shafts in pumps, compressors, and mixers — are a specialized industrial product where performance specifications (pressure rating, face material, temperature range) drive sourcing decisions as much as price. Mexico and Germany are the leading US import sources, reflecting both nearshore automotive and industrial supply chains and European engineering expertise. All imports under this heading enter under a single 10-digit line (8484200000), making the classification boundary with lip seals (which are generally elastomeric and classified elsewhere) a recurring customs question. Sweden and the United Kingdom are also notable suppliers, consistent with the heading's concentration among high-precision engineering exporters.
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2.7K import shipments a month
A mechanical seal (8484200000) operates through two precision-lapped flat faces — one rotating, one stationary — held in contact by a spring, creating a fluid-tight barrier along a rotating shaft. A lip seal, by contrast, uses a flexible elastomeric lip pressed against the shaft and is generally classified outside heading 8484.20. The key distinction is the face-contact sealing mechanism versus a radial-lip contact mechanism.
Importers should secure technical datasheets from the manufacturer describing the sealing mechanism, face materials (e.g., silicon carbide, carbon), and operating parameters. This documentation helps demonstrate that the article meets the mechanical-seal definition and is not a simple gasket or elastomeric seal, which would be classified under different headings. A licensed customs broker can assist in evaluating whether the technical specifications align with the 8484.20 heading.
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Subheading 1 of 3 in heading 8484
Subheading 848420 · $53.7M of $119.0M
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 8484200000 | Mechanical Seals | $34.0M | 8.54% | 58.69% | $2.9M |
HS10 export codes under this HS6 parent, each with its own page. Source: U.S. Schedule B export classification.
| Code | Description | Export Value |
|---|---|---|
| 8484200000 | Mechanical Seals | $53.7M |
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
$34.0MYoY · free account
Exports
$53.7MYoY · free account
12-mo low · imports
Low · free accountOver the twelve months to August 2026, the U.S. imported $371.1M of Mechanical Seals and exported $638.5M.
Through August 2026. Source: U.S. Census Bureau.
Exports · August 2026
destination
customs district
origin
entry
rate provision · imports
40.6% enters free of duty; duty collected equals 8.54% of imports for consumption.