U.S. imports of Pickup Cartridges for Sound Recording Apparatus (HS 852210) totaled $479K in August 2026, imported from 11 countries.
Importers of Pickup Cartridges for Sound Recording Apparatus paid $57K in duties in August 2026, an average duty rate of 11.94% — duty actually collected as a share of the imports that cleared customs, not the published tariff schedule.
Last updated: August 2026 dataPickup cartridges — the transducer assemblies that convert stylus movement into electrical signals — occupy a specialized niche in the professional audio and audiophile turntable market. Japan dominates US supply, with Denmark and Vietnam also contributing meaningfully, reflecting the concentration of precision audio manufacturing in those countries. All US imports enter under a single 10-digit line, 8522100000, making classification straightforward, though the high unit values typical of premium cartridges can attract scrutiny during customs valuation review. Importers should verify that country-of-origin marking complies with CBP requirements, particularly for cartridges assembled from components sourced across multiple countries.
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
CBP applies a substantial transformation test: the country where the cartridge undergoes the processing that gives it its essential character — typically final assembly and calibration — is generally considered the country of origin. Importers sourcing cartridges assembled in one country from parts made elsewhere should obtain a detailed bill of materials and a manufacturer's affidavit to support the origin declaration.
Japan has maintained a concentration of precision audio manufacturers — including producers of moving-coil and moving-magnet cartridges — that have built decades of expertise in the tight tolerances required for stylus and cantilever fabrication. This manufacturing heritage, combined with established quality reputations in the audiophile market, sustains Japan's leading supplier position.
ImportsExports
Imports
$479KYoY · free account
Exports
$144KYoY · free account
12-mo low · imports
Low · free accountOver the twelve months to August 2026, the U.S. imported $6.2M of Pickup Cartridges for Sound Recording Apparatus and exported $2.0M.
Fewer than 6 of the last 12 months reported trade, or the latest month was under $500K; the trend chart is not shown for thin series.
Through August 2026. Source: U.S. Census Bureau.
Trade Directory
List your company under HS 852210 — Pickup Cartridges for Sound Recording Apparatus, 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 8522100000 | Pickup Cartridges | $479K | 11.94% | 100.00% | $57K |
HS10 export codes under this HS6 parent, each with its own page. Source: U.S. Schedule B export classification.
| Code | Description | Export Value |
|---|---|---|
| 8522100000 | Pickup Cartridges | $144K |
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.
Subheading 2 of 2 in heading 8522
Subheading 852210 · $479K of $3.9M
Imports · August 2026
origin
Japan and Denmark together supply 82% of it.
customs district
destination
entry
rate provision · imports
duty collected equals 11.94% of imports for consumption.