Harmonized System
U.S. imports of Photogrammetrical Surveying Instruments and Appliances (HS 901540) totaled $3.1M in August 2026, imported from 23 countries.
Importers of Photogrammetrical Surveying Instruments and Appliances paid $224K in duties in August 2026, an average duty rate of 7.29% — duty actually collected as a share of the imports that cleared customs, not the published tariff schedule. Photogrammetrical Surveying Instruments and Appliances imports of $3.1M in August 2026 ran 26% below the year-to-date monthly average of $4.1M.
Last updated: August 2026 dataPhotogrammetry instruments — which derive measurements from aerial or terrestrial imagery — occupy a specialized niche in geospatial and mapping workflows, used extensively in cartography, construction site modeling, and infrastructure inspection. The US schedule breaks this heading into electrical photogrammetrical instruments (9015404000) and non-electrical or residual types (9015408000), a distinction that affects both classification and duty treatment. Austria and Germany are the leading sources for US imports under this heading, reflecting the concentration of precision optical and geospatial instrument manufacturing in Central Europe. Importers should confirm whether specific systems — particularly drone-integrated or LiDAR-hybrid units — are properly classified here versus adjacent headings covering optical or electronic measuring instruments.
AI-written summary of the official U.S. Census Bureau trade figures on this page — verify before relying on it.
58 import shipments a month
Under the US tariff schedule, electrical photogrammetrical surveying instruments fall under 9015404000, while non-electrical and residual types are classified under 9015408000. The key distinction is whether the instrument's core measurement or data-capture function relies on electrical operation. Drone-based or digitally integrated photogrammetry systems typically qualify as electrical; traditional analog stereoplotters may not. Consult a licensed customs broker when the instrument combines both modes.
Imports from certain origins may be subject to Section 301 tariffs depending on country of origin. Austria and Germany, the leading suppliers to the US market, are not currently subject to Section 301 measures, but importers should verify the applicable duty treatment at the time of entry, as trade-remedy exposure can change. A licensed customs broker can confirm current applicability.
Subheading 5 of 6 in heading 9015
Subheading 901540 · $3.1M of $120.4M
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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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 9015404000 | Electrical Photogrammetrical Surveying Inst& Appln | $2.1M | 7.59% | 74.96% | $163K |
| 9015408000 | Photogrammetrical Surveying Inst& Appln, NESOI | $924K | 6.60% | 56.24% | $61K |
HS10 export codes under this HS6 parent, each with its own page. Source: U.S. Schedule B export classification.
| Code | Description | Export Value |
|---|---|---|
| 9015400000 | Photogrammetrical Surveying Instruments & Applnces | $1.4M |
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.
ImportsExports
Imports
$3.1MYoY · free account
Exports
$1.4MYoY · free account
12-mo low · imports
Low · free accountOver the twelve months to August 2026, the U.S. imported $47.2M of Photogrammetrical Surveying Instruments and Appliances and exported $43.6M.
Through August 2026. Source: U.S. Census Bureau.
Imports · August 2026
origin
Germany and Australia together supply 67% of it.
customs district
destination
entry
rate provision · imports
30.7% enters free of duty; duty collected equals 7.29% of imports for consumption.