U.S. imports of Printed Books, Brochures, Leaflets & Similar Printed Matter (NESOI) (HS 490199) totaled $220.0M in August 2026, imported from 110 countries.
Importers of Printed Books, Brochures, Leaflets & Similar Printed Matter (NESOI) paid $6.9M in duties in August 2026, an average duty rate of 3.12% — duty actually collected as a share of the imports that cleared customs, not the published tariff schedule.
Last updated: August 2026 dataThe broadest printed-books subheading in the US schedule, 490199 encompasses textbooks (4901990010), technical and scientific books (4901990050), art and pictorial books at multiple value thresholds, hardbound books (4901990070), rack-size paperbacks (4901990075), religious texts (4901990040), directories (4901990030), and a range of printed matter lines differentiated by page count. China is the leading supplier — reflecting its dominant role in commercial book printing — followed by the United Kingdom, Canada, Italy, and Mexico. Correct line selection within this subheading depends on book type, binding style, and per-unit value, making it one of the more granular classification exercises in Chapter 49.
AI-written summary of the official U.S. Census Bureau trade figures on this page — verify before relying on it.
9.4K import shipments a month
The schedule separates art and pictorial books into three lines: a parent line for those not in single sheets (4901990055), a value-based line for copies valued under $5 each (4901990060), and a line for copies valued $5 or more each (4901990065). The per-unit transaction value on the commercial invoice determines which value-based line applies. Importers of art books should ensure invoice unit values are accurately stated, as misclassification between these lines is a common audit finding.
Technical, scientific, and professional books (4901990050) are distinguished by their specialized subject matter directed at professional or academic audiences — engineering manuals, medical references, and scientific monographs are typical examples. General-interest hardbound books that do not meet this standard fall under 4901990070. Importers should retain publisher catalogs, title descriptions, and intended-audience documentation to substantiate a technical/scientific classification if questioned by CBP.
ImportsExports
Imports
$220.0MYoY · free account
Exports
$132.8MYoY · free account
12-mo low · imports
Low · free accountOver the twelve months to August 2026, the U.S. imported $2.3B of Printed Books, Brochures, Leaflets & Similar Printed Matter (NESOI) and exported $1.6B.
Through August 2026. Source: U.S. Census Bureau.
Imports · August 2026
origin
China and United Kingdom together supply 58% of it.
customs district
destination
entry
rate provision · imports
61.7% enters free of duty; duty collected equals 3.12% of imports for consumption.
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4901990070 | Hardbound Books, NESOI | $81.0M | 4.50% | 56.92% | $3.6M |
| 4901990093 | Printed Matter NESOI 49 or More Pages Ea Ex Covers | $50.9M | 2.75% | 35.15% | $1.4M |
| 4901990010 | Textbooks | $30.2M | 1.68% | 20.97% | $506K |
| 4901990040 | Bibles/Testaments/Prayer Books Oth Religious Books | $28.9M | 0.24% | 2.42% | $71K |
| 4901990075 | Rack Size Paperbound Books, NESOI | $9.3M | 2.13% | 27.93% | $198K |
| 4901990092 | Printed Matter NESOI 5-48 Pages Each Excl Covers | $7.3M | 6.62% | 66.84% | $482K |
| 4901990050 | Technical, Scientific and Professional Books | $5.6M | 5.31% | 47.12% | $299K |
| 4901990060 | Art and Pictorial Books Valued Under $5 Each | $3.3M | 5.68% | 73.15% | $188K |
| 4901990065 | Art and Pictorial Books Valued $5 or More Each | $2.6M | 1.54% | 16.73% | $39K |
| 4901990091 | Printd Matter Nt Ov 4 Pages Each Excl Covers NESOI | $615K | 2.43% | 20.91% | $15K |
| 4901990030 | Directories | $361K | 1.33% | 87.65% | $5K |
| 4901990020 | Newspaper/Journals/Periodicals Bound Ex Paper, Set | $231K | 9.46% | 67.87% | $22K |
HS10 export codes under this HS6 parent, each with its own page. Source: U.S. Schedule B export classification.
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.
Trade Directory
List your company under HS 490199 — Printed Books, Brochures, Leaflets & Similar Printed Matter (NESOI), so the companies trading it can find you. Be the first supplier listed.
Subheading 1 of 3 in heading 4901
Subheading 490199 · $220.0M of $235.8M