U.S. imports of Non-Optical Microscopes & Diffraction Apparatus (HS 901210) totaled $22.5M in August 2026, imported from 21 countries.
Importers of Non-Optical Microscopes & Diffraction Apparatus paid $1.7M in duties in August 2026, an average duty rate of 7.73% — duty actually collected as a share of the imports that cleared customs, not the published tariff schedule. Non-Optical Microscopes & Diffraction Apparatus imports of $22.5M in August 2026 ran 23% above the year-to-date monthly average of $18.3M.
Last updated: August 2026 dataElectron microscopes, ion microscopes, scanning probe microscopes, and X-ray diffraction apparatus — instruments that form images or analyze structure without relying on visible light — are classified together under a single 10-digit line (9012100000). Czech Republic leads US import supply, followed by Japan and Germany, a distribution that reflects the global footprint of major electron microscopy manufacturers. These instruments are critical capital equipment for semiconductor fabrication, nanotechnology research, and advanced materials characterization, and individual units frequently carry very high declared values. Because no subdivision exists within the US tariff line, classification disputes in this heading typically center on whether an instrument qualifies as a microscope or diffraction apparatus versus a related analytical instrument in another Chapter 90 heading.
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74 import shipments a month
The distinction often turns on whether the instrument's primary function is to produce a magnified image of a specimen (microscope) versus to measure or analyze physical or chemical properties (analytical instrument). For example, a scanning electron microscope used primarily for imaging classifies under 9012.10, while an energy-dispersive X-ray spectrometer used primarily for elemental analysis may fall under a different heading. When an instrument performs both functions, the principal use and design intent guide classification.
The Czech Republic hosts major manufacturing operations for leading global electron microscopy companies, particularly in the Brno region, which has developed into a recognized center for high-end electron and ion beam instrument production. This geographic concentration of manufacturing explains the country's prominence in US import data for this technically demanding product category.
ImportsExports
Imports
$22.5MYoY · free account
Exports
$6.2MYoY · free account
12-mo low · imports
Low · free accountOver the twelve months to August 2026, the U.S. imported $206.2M of Non-Optical Microscopes & Diffraction Apparatus and exported $75.1M.
Through August 2026. Source: U.S. Census Bureau.
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Subheading 1 of 2 in heading 9012
Subheading 901210 · $22.5M of $33.0M
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 9012100000 | Microscopes, Exc Optical; Diffraction Apparatus | $22.0M | 7.73% | 99.83% | $1.7M |
HS10 export codes under this HS6 parent, each with its own page. Source: U.S. Schedule B export classification.
| Code | Description | Export Value |
|---|---|---|
| 9012100000 | Microscopes, Exc Optical; Diffraction Apparatus | $6.2M |
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
Czech Republic and Japan together supply 70% of it.
customs district
destination
entry
rate provision · imports
0.2% enters free of duty; duty collected equals 7.73% of imports for consumption.