U.S. imports of Paint, Distemper & Varnish Brushes; Paint Pads & Rollers (HS 960340) totaled $11.7M in August 2026, imported from 34 countries.
Importers of Paint, Distemper & Varnish Brushes; Paint Pads & Rollers paid $1.9M in duties in August 2026, an average duty rate of 15.84% — duty actually collected as a share of the imports that cleared customs, not the published tariff schedule.
Last updated: August 2026 dataBrushes for applying paint, distemper, varnish, and similar coatings — along with paint pads and rollers — are widely used in construction, maintenance, and manufacturing finishing operations, making this a volume-driven category closely tied to housing and industrial activity cycles. The US schedule distinguishes paint rollers (9603402000), paint pads (9603404020), natural-bristle brushes (9603404040), and synthetic or mixed-bristle brushes (9603404050 and 9603404060), with the natural-bristle line being particularly relevant for professional-grade applications. China is the leading supplier by a substantial margin, with Indonesia and Cambodia emerging as growing sources, especially for mid-range synthetic-bristle brushes subject to ongoing supply-chain diversification pressure.
AI-written summary of the official U.S. Census Bureau trade figures on this page — verify before relying on it.
1.1K import shipments a month
Natural-bristle paint brushes (typically hog or boar bristle) are specifically enumerated under 9603404040, while synthetic-bristle and other paint/varnish brushes not elsewhere specified fall under 9603404050 or 9603404060. The bristle material must be documented — usually via a material composition statement from the manufacturer — because the distinction affects both the applicable tariff line and, in some cases, the duty rate.
No. Within heading 9603.40, paint rollers have their own dedicated line (9603402000) and paint pads have a separate line (9603404020), distinct from the brush lines. Importers shipping mixed shipments of rollers, pads, and brushes should ensure each article type is separately itemized on the commercial invoice to avoid misclassification of the entire shipment.
Subheading 6 of 7 in heading 9603
Subheading 960340 · $11.7M of $156.1M
ImportsExports
Imports
$11.7MYoY · free account
Exports
$2.3MYoY · free account
12-mo low · imports
Low · free accountOver the twelve months to August 2026, the U.S. imported $132.1M of Paint, Distemper & Varnish Brushes; Paint Pads & Rollers and exported $29.5M.
Through August 2026. Source: U.S. Census Bureau.
Trade Directory
List your company under HS 960340 — Paint, Distemper & Varnish Brushes; Paint Pads & Rollers, 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 9603404060 | Paint, Distemper/Siml Brushes Exc Subhdg 960330, Nes | $5.9M | 15.62% | 98.98% | $929K |
| 9603402000 | Paint Rollers | $3.6M | 16.37% | 86.17% | $589K |
| 9603404040 | Natural Bristle Brushes, Exc Subhdg 9603.30 | $1.7M | 15.33% | 100.00% | $260K |
| 9603404020 | Paint Pads | $549K | 16.38% | 100.00% | $90K |
HS10 export codes under this HS6 parent, each with its own page. Source: U.S. Schedule B export classification.
| Code | Description | Export Value |
|---|---|---|
| 9603404050 | Paint, Distempr, Varnish or Similr Brushes, Ex 960330 | $1.6M |
| 9603402000 | Paint Rollers | $716K |
| 9603404020 | Paint Pads | $4K |
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
China and Cambodia together supply 77% of it.
customs district
destination
entry
rate provision · imports
4.8% enters free of duty; duty collected equals 15.84% of imports for consumption.