Harmonized System
U.S. imports of printing plates, cylinders, blocks & other prepared printing components (HS 844250) totaled $7.2M in August 2026, imported from 31 countries.
Importers of Printing Plates, Cylinders, Blocks & Other Prepared Printing Components paid $340K in duties in August 2026, an effective tariff rate of 4.75% of the $7.2M imported — duty actually collected as a share of that value, not the published tariff schedule. Printing Plates, Cylinders, Blocks & Other Prepared Printing Components imports of $7.2M in August 2026 ran 131% above the year-to-date monthly average of $3.1M.
Last updated: August 2026 dataPrepared printing plates, cylinders, and related components are subject to Section 301 tariffs when sourced from China, making origin a critical cost variable for commercial printers and packaging converters. The US schedule breaks this heading into four 10-digit lines: prepared printing plates (8442501000), plates and type prepared for engraving and impressing (8442505000), a residual NESOI line for type, plates, and cylinders (8442508000), and prepared blocks, cylinders, and other printing components (8442509000). Germany and Switzerland dominate supply, reflecting the concentration of precision platemaking technology in European graphic-arts manufacturing. Importers should confirm whether goods are classified as the prepared substrate itself or as a printing machine part, as the boundary affects both duty treatment and statistical reporting.
AI-written summary of the official U.S. Census Bureau trade figures on this page — verify before relying on it.
232 shipments/mo
A prepared printing plate (8442501000) is a flat substrate — typically photopolymer, aluminum, or similar material — that has been processed (exposed, developed, or otherwise made ready) to carry an image for direct use in a press. The residual line 8442509000 captures blocks, cylinders, and other three-dimensional or non-plate components that are similarly prepared for printing but do not fit the flat-plate description. When the article is a cylinder or a relief block rather than a flat plate, 8442509000 is generally the correct line. Classification is fact-specific; consult a licensed customs broker for borderline articles.
Yes. Prepared printing plates and related components imported from China are subject to Section 301 tariffs in addition to the base MFN duty rate. Importers should verify the current Section 301 list and applicable exclusions before finalizing sourcing decisions, as the scope and rates have been revised multiple times.
HSChapter 84
Trade Directory
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Subheading 1 of 3 in heading 8442
Subheading 844250 · $7.2M of $10.4M
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 8442509000 | Print Blocks,Cyl & Other Print Comp,Prep for Print | $6.1M | 4.48% | 93.97% | $273K |
| 8442501000 | Printing Plates, Prepared for Printing | $1.1M | 6.30% | 87.74% | $67K |
HS10 export codes under this HS6 parent, each with its own page. Source: U.S. Schedule B export classification.
| Code | Description | Export Value |
|---|---|---|
| 8442508000 | Printing Type, Plates, Cylinders, Etc, NESOI | $2.8M |
| 8442505000 | Printing Type,Plates Etc,Prepared F Engrvng & Impr | $854K |
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
$7.2MYoY · free account
Exports
$3.6MYoY · free account
12-mo low · imports
YoY · free accountOver the twelve months to August 2026, the U.S. imported $33.1M of Printing Plates, Cylinders, Blocks & Other Prepared Printing Components.
Through August 2026. Source: U.S. Census Bureau.
Imports · August 2026
origin
Italy and China together supply 68% of it. China pays 20.5% duty; Italy 0.1%.
customs district
destination
entry
rate provision · imports
6.7% enters free of duty; duty collected equals 4.75% of total import value.