U.S. imports of Mold Bases (HS 848020) totaled $2.0M in August 2026, imported from 18 countries.
Importers of Mold Bases paid $372K in duties in August 2026, an average duty rate of 18.58% — duty actually collected as a share of the imports that cleared customs, not the published tariff schedule. Mold Bases imports of $2.0M in August 2026 ran 21% above the year-to-date monthly average of $1.7M.
Last updated: August 2026 dataMold bases are the precision-machined steel plate assemblies that provide the structural foundation for injection and compression mold tooling, and they are a foundational input for plastics, rubber, and die-casting production across automotive, consumer goods, and electronics manufacturing. South Korea leads US imports under this heading, followed by China — a supply concentration that creates Section 301 tariff exposure for Chinese-origin bases and makes Korean sourcing strategically attractive for cost management. Classification under 8480200000 is generally clean, but importers should ensure that complete mold assemblies (base plus cavity inserts) are not inadvertently entered as mold bases when the appropriate classification may be a more specific mold heading.
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79 import shipments a month
A complete mold assembly — base plus cavity inserts — is typically classified according to the material being molded (e.g., 8480.71 for injection molds for rubber or plastics) rather than as a mold base under 8480.20. The mold base provision applies to the structural plate assembly alone. Importers should review the invoice carefully and classify each component or the complete assembly based on its condition at time of importation.
South Korea is a US free-trade-agreement partner under KORUS, and mold bases originating in South Korea that meet KORUS rules-of-origin requirements may qualify for preferential tariff treatment. Importers should obtain a valid certificate or certification of origin and confirm the applicable staging category under the agreement.
Subheading 8 of 9 in heading 8480
Subheading 848020 · $2.0M of $222.8M
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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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 8480200000 | Mold Bases | $2.0M | 18.58% | 71.72% | $372K |
HS10 export codes under this HS6 parent, each with its own page. Source: U.S. Schedule B export classification.
| Code | Description | Export Value |
|---|---|---|
| 8480200000 | Mold Bases | $1.2M |
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.
ImportsExports
Imports
$2.0MYoY · free account
Exports
$1.2MYoY · free account
12-mo low · imports
Low · free accountOver the twelve months to August 2026, the U.S. imported $18.4M of Mold Bases and exported $10.5M.
Through August 2026. Source: U.S. Census Bureau.
Imports · August 2026
origin
China and South Korea together supply 64% of it. China pays 40.4% duty; Canada 0.0%.
customs district
destination
entry
rate provision · imports
28.3% enters free of duty; duty collected equals 18.58% of imports for consumption.