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Harmonized System
U.S. imports of pen nibs and nib points (HS 960891) totaled $1.6M in July 2026, traded with 13 countries.
Importers of Pen Nibs and Nib Points paid $165K in duties in July 2026 — an effective duty rate of 11% on $1.4M in dutiable value, based on actual customs collections rather than the published tariff schedule. Pen Nibs and Nib Points imports of $1.6M in July 2026 ran 10% above the year-to-date monthly average of $1.5M.
Last updated: July 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.
78 shipments/mo
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.
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Subheading 6 of 8 in heading 9608
Subheading 960891 · $1.6M of $80.1M
ImportsExports
Imports
$1.6MYoY · Pro
Exports
$92KYoY · 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 9608910000 | Pen Nibs and Nib Points | $1.6M | 10.21% | 89.38% | $165K |
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 | $92K |
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 · July 2026
origin
India and Japan together supply 56% of it.
customs district
destination
entry
rate provision · imports
10.6% enters free of duty; the effective duty rate is 10.21%.