U.S. imports of Medical, Surgical, or Laboratory Sterilizers (HS 841920) totaled $24.4M in August 2026, imported from 31 countries.
Importers of Medical, Surgical, or Laboratory Sterilizers paid $686K in duties in August 2026, an average duty rate of 2.81% — duty actually collected as a share of the imports that cleared customs, not the published tariff schedule. Medical, Surgical, or Laboratory Sterilizers imports of $24.4M in August 2026 ran 15% above the year-to-date monthly average of $21.3M.
Last updated: August 2026 dataAutoclaves and other sterilization equipment used in clinical, surgical, and laboratory settings are split at the US 10-digit level between medical/surgical sterilizers (8419200010) and laboratory sterilizers (8419200020). The end-use designation — healthcare facility versus research or analytical lab — drives subheading selection and may also affect FDA device registration requirements for units marketed as medical devices. Importers should confirm whether a unit meets FDA's definition of a medical device, which would trigger 510(k) clearance or equivalent premarket review independent of customs classification.
AI-written summary of the official U.S. Census Bureau trade figures on this page — verify before relying on it.
352 import shipments a month
If the sterilizer is intended for use in human medical or surgical applications and meets FDA's definition of a medical device, it is subject to FDA premarket review (e.g., 510(k) clearance) before commercial distribution in the US. Laboratory sterilizers used solely for research purposes may fall outside device regulation, but the intended use must be clearly documented. Consult a regulatory affairs specialist alongside your customs broker.
Product specifications, marketing materials, and the manufacturer's intended-use statement are the primary evidence. Units sold to hospitals and surgical centers with clinical sterilization claims point to 8419200010, while units marketed to research institutions for culture media or instrument decontamination support 8419200020. Ambiguous dual-use products may warrant a CBP binding ruling.
Subheading 9 of 14 in heading 8419
Subheading 841920 · $24.4M of $1.2B
Trade Directory
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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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 8419200020 | Laboratory Sterilizers | $14.0M | 2.86% | 79.97% | $398K |
| 8419200010 | Medical or Surgical Sterilizers | $10.4M | 2.76% | 27.19% | $288K |
HS10 export codes under this HS6 parent, each with its own page. Source: U.S. Schedule B export classification.
| Code | Description | Export Value |
|---|---|---|
| 8419200000 | Medical, Surgical or Laboratory Sterilizers | $7.5M |
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
$24.4MYoY · free account
Exports
$7.5MYoY · free account
12-mo low · imports
Low · free accountOver the twelve months to August 2026, the U.S. imported $254.3M of Medical, Surgical, or Laboratory Sterilizers and exported $95.4M.
Through August 2026. Source: U.S. Census Bureau.
Imports · August 2026
origin
Mexico and Finland together supply 72% of it. Australia pays 12.5% duty; Canada <0.1%.
customs district
destination
entry
rate provision · imports
42.6% enters free of duty; duty collected equals 2.81% of imports for consumption.