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HSChapter 85
U.S. exports of recorded optical media (HS 852349) totaled $49.8M in July 2026.
Importers of Recorded Optical Media paid $799K in duties in July 2026 — an effective duty rate of 10% on $7.8M in dutiable value, based on actual customs collections rather than the published tariff schedule. Recorded Optical Media imports of $35.3M in July 2026 ran 12% below the year-to-date monthly average of $40.2M.
Last updated: July 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 shipments/mo
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.
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ImportsExports
Imports
$35.3MYoY · Pro
Exports
$49.8MYoY · Pro
12-mo low · imports
YoY · ProThrough July 2026. Source: U.S. Census Bureau.
HS10 import codes under this HS6 parent, each with its own page. Source: U.S. Harmonized Tariff Schedule.
| Code | Description | Import Value | Effective Tariff % | Dutiable Share | Duty Collected |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 8523495000 | Discs for Laser Reading Systems, NESOI | $12.5M | 2.05% | 19.63% | $256K |
| 8523493000 | Recorded Optical Media, For Reproducing Sound Only | $12.5M | 0.44% | 4.05% | $55K |
| 8523494000 | Recorded Optical Media for Instructions, Data, Etc | $4.6M | 4.45% | 41.26% | $203K |
| 8523492020 | Laser Discs,not for Reproducing Sound/Image, NESOI | $4.1M | 4.53% | 45.12% | $184K |
| 8523492010 | Laser Discs,not for Reproducing Sound/Image,Retail | $1.7M | 5.99% | 65.73% | $100K |
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.
Exports · July 2026
destination
customs district
origin
entry
rate provision · imports
73.9% enters free of duty; the effective duty rate is 2.27%.