U.S. imports of Pen Nibs and Nib Points (HS 960891) totaled $1.1M in August 2026, imported from 13 countries.
Importers of Pen Nibs and Nib Points paid $113K in duties in August 2026, an average duty rate of 10.38% — duty actually collected as a share of the imports that cleared customs, not the published tariff schedule. Pen Nibs and Nib Points imports of $1.1M in August 2026 ran 23% below the year-to-date monthly average of $1.4M.
Last updated: August 2026 dataPen nibs and nib points — the precision-formed metal tips that control ink flow in fountain and dip pens — occupy their own dedicated tariff line (9608910000) within the pen parts hierarchy. Malaysia and Japan are the leading US suppliers, with Japan's nib manufacturing heritage tied to high-tolerance gold and stainless steel production for premium writing instruments. Nib geometry (tipping material, slit width, and flexibility) is a critical specification distinction for importers serving the luxury stationery and calligraphy markets.
AI-written summary of the official U.S. Census Bureau trade figures on this page — verify before relying on it.
69 import shipments a month
No — HTS 9608.91 covers pen nibs and nib points regardless of the metal used. The material (gold, stainless steel, iridium-tipped, etc.) does not change the classification, though it may affect valuation and, in the case of precious-metal content, potentially trigger additional documentation requirements.
If the nibs and pen bodies are presented as a complete, finished pen, the article is classified as a finished pen under the appropriate 9608.10 or 9608.40 subheading. Nibs imported separately as components for assembly or repair are classified under 9608.91. Proper separation of invoices and packing lists is essential to support the correct classification at entry.
Subheading 6 of 8 in heading 9608
Subheading 960891 · $1.1M of $80.6M
ImportsExports
Imports
$1.1MYoY · free account
Exports
$279KYoY · free account
12-mo low · imports
Low · free accountOver the twelve months to August 2026, the U.S. imported $16.1M of Pen Nibs and Nib Points and exported $2.5M.
Through August 2026. Source: U.S. Census Bureau.
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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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 9608910000 | Pen Nibs and Nib Points | $1.1M | 10.38% | 98.45% | $113K |
HS10 export codes under this HS6 parent, each with its own page. Source: U.S. Schedule B export classification.
| Code | Description | Export Value |
|---|---|---|
| 9608910000 | Pen Nibs and Nib Points | $279K |
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
Malaysia and India together supply 71% of it.
customs district
destination
entry
rate provision · imports
1.6% enters free of duty; duty collected equals 10.38% of imports for consumption.