U.S. imports of Pen and Mechanical Pencil Parts (NESOI) (HS 960899) totaled $3.5M in August 2026, imported from 21 countries.
Importers of Pen and Mechanical Pencil Parts (NESOI) paid $381K in duties in August 2026, an average duty rate of 10.89% — duty actually collected as a share of the imports that cleared customs, not the published tariff schedule.
Last updated: August 2026 dataBeyond nibs and ball-point refills, the residual parts category for pens and mechanical pencils covers a wide range of components — from refill cartridges (9608992000) and precision balls for ball-point pens (9608993000) to barrel and clip assemblies (9608994000, 9608996000). Japan and Taiwan are the leading US suppliers, reflecting the concentration of precision component manufacturing in East Asia. Importers must take care to distinguish between refill cartridges (ink-only reservoirs without a ball tip) and complete ball-point refills under 9608.60, as misclassification is a common audit finding.
AI-written summary of the official U.S. Census Bureau trade figures on this page — verify before relying on it.
147 import shipments a month
Balls specifically designed for ball-point pens are classified under 9608993000 within the 9608.99 subheading. These are distinct from industrial bearing balls, which would fall under Chapter 84 or 73 depending on material and use.
Chinese-origin pen parts under 9608.99 are subject to Section 301 tariffs, which has prompted some importers to diversify sourcing toward Japan, Taiwan, and India. Because the parts category spans multiple 10-digit lines with potentially different list coverage, importers should verify each specific component's classification and Section 301 status with a licensed customs broker before committing to a supply arrangement.
Trade Directory
List your company under HS 960899 — Pen and Mechanical Pencil Parts (NESOI), so the companies trading it can find you. Be the first supplier listed.
Subheading 4 of 8 in heading 9608
Subheading 960899 · $3.5M of $80.6M
ImportsExports
Imports
$3.5MYoY · free account
Exports
$1.2MYoY · free account
12-mo low · imports
Low · free accountOver the twelve months to August 2026, the U.S. imported $39.4M of Pen and Mechanical Pencil Parts (NESOI) and exported $20.9M.
Through August 2026. Source: U.S. Census Bureau.
Imports · August 2026
origin
Japan and Taiwan together supply 59% of it. China pays 19.5% duty; Italy 7.9%.
customs district
destination
entry
rate provision · imports
11.3% enters free of duty; duty collected equals 10.89% of imports for consumption.
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 9608996000 | Parts of Pens, Etc, NESOI | $2.1M | 10.67% | 86.00% | $219K |
| 9608994000 | Parts of Art in 9608.10,9608.31,9608.39 | $1.4M | 11.33% | 92.39% | $159K |
| 9608992000 | Refill Cartridges | $44K | 6.67% | 100.00% | $3K |
| 9608993000 | Balls for Ball Point Pens | — | -- | -- | -- |
HS10 export codes under this HS6 parent, each with its own page. Source: U.S. Schedule B export classification.
| Code | Description | Export Value |
|---|---|---|
| 9608990000 | Parts of Pens, Etc, NESOI | $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.