Harmonized System
U.S. exports of Recorded Optical Media (HS 852349) totaled $54.4M in August 2026.
Importers of Recorded Optical Media paid $1.0M in duties in August 2026, an average duty rate of 2.41% — duty actually collected as a share of the imports that cleared customs, not the published tariff schedule. Recorded Optical Media imports of $34.7M in August 2026 ran 12% below the year-to-date monthly average of $39.5M.
Last updated: August 2026 dataPre-recorded optical discs — pressed CDs, DVDs, Blu-ray discs, and laser discs carrying audio, video, software, or data — are classified across five 10-digit lines that distinguish the type of content and intended use: sound-only reproduction (8523493000), instructions and data (8523494000), and residual laser disc formats (8523492010, 8523492020, 8523495000). Mexico and South Korea lead US supply, with Japan, Germany, and Austria also contributing, a mix that reflects both large-scale disc replication facilities and specialized content distribution operations. Importers of discs containing software or encrypted content should confirm that the recorded content does not trigger separate licensing or intellectual property compliance obligations under US law, which operate independently of the customs classification.
AI-written summary of the official U.S. Census Bureau trade figures on this page — verify before relying on it.
2.1K import shipments a month
The distinction turns on the nature of the recorded content. Discs pressed solely with audio content — such as commercial music CDs — fall under 8523493000. Discs containing software, data files, interactive content, or mixed-use content (e.g., CD-ROMs, data DVDs) are classified under 8523494000. Discs with both audio and non-audio content should be classified based on the content that gives the disc its essential character, which typically requires review of the disc's specifications and intended use.
Mexico hosts large-scale disc replication and packaging facilities that serve the North American entertainment and software distribution market, benefiting from geographic proximity to US distribution centers and integrated supply chains. This nearshore manufacturing model reduces lead times and logistics costs for US content distributors compared to sourcing from Asia.
Subheading 2 of 8 in heading 8523
Subheading 852349 · $54.4M of $2.3B
Trade Directory
List your company under HS 852349 — Recorded Optical Media, so the companies trading it can find you. Be the first supplier listed.
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 8523495000 | Discs for Laser Reading Systems, NESOI | $16.3M | 2.91% | 24.12% | $474K |
| 8523493000 | Recorded Optical Media, For Reproducing Sound Only | $6.8M | 0.93% | 7.97% | $64K |
| 8523494000 | Recorded Optical Media for Instructions, Data, Etc | $5.6M | 3.75% | 31.47% | $210K |
| 8523492020 | Laser Discs, Not for Reproducing Sound/Image, NESOI | $13.1M | 1.87% | 26.88% | $245K |
| 8523492010 | Laser Discs, Not for Reproducing Sound/Image, Retail | $1.7M | 3.30% | 37.23% | $56K |
HS10 export codes under this HS6 parent, each with its own page. Source: U.S. Schedule B export classification.
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
$34.7MYoY · free account
Exports
$54.4MYoY · free account
12-mo low · imports
Low · free accountOver the twelve months to August 2026, the U.S. imported $484.0M of Recorded Optical Media and exported $844.7M.
Through August 2026. Source: U.S. Census Bureau.
Exports · August 2026
destination
Canada and Mexico together take 51% of it.
customs district
origin
entry
rate provision · imports
71.3% enters free of duty; duty collected equals 2.41% of imports for consumption.