U.S. imports of Sign Plates, Name Plates, Address Plates, Numbers, Letters and Symbols of Base Metal (Non-Illuminated) (HS 831000) totaled $12.6M in August 2026, imported from 53 countries.
Importers of Sign Plates, Name Plates, Address Plates, Numbers, Letters and Symbols of Base Metal (Non-Illuminated) paid $1.7M in duties in August 2026, an average duty rate of 13.78% — duty actually collected as a share of the imports that cleared customs, not the published tariff schedule. Sign Plates, Name Plates, Address Plates, Numbers, Letters and Symbols of Base Metal (Non-Illuminated) imports of $12.6M in August 2026 ran 11% above the year-to-date monthly average of $11.4M.
Last updated: August 2026 dataNon-illuminated identification hardware — including building address plates, machine name plates, directional signs, and individual letters, numbers, and symbols — is classified under a single 10-digit line (8310000000), provided the articles are not illuminated (which would shift them to heading 9405). The heading spans a wide range of base metals and surface finishes, from stamped steel industrial tags to cast brass architectural plaques. Classification hinges on the absence of a light source; any integrated lighting element moves the product out of Chapter 83 entirely.
AI-written summary of the official U.S. Census Bureau trade figures on this page — verify before relying on it.
1.1K import shipments a month
The critical distinction is illumination. Heading 8310 covers non-illuminated plates, letters, and symbols. If the article incorporates a light source — such as an LED-backlit channel letter or a lighted address plaque — it is classified under heading 9405 as a luminaire or lighting fitting. Importers of combination sign-and-light products should confirm the classification with a licensed customs broker.
No. Heading 8310 does not distinguish by manufacturing method — stamped, engraved, etched, cast, or laser-cut metal plates all fall under 8310000000 as long as they are non-illuminated and serve an identification or signage function. The material (steel, aluminum, brass, etc.) also does not subdivide the single 10-digit line.
Subheading 1 of 1 in heading 8310
Subheading 831000 · $12.6M of $12.6M
Trade Directory
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ImportsExports
Imports
$12.6MYoY · free account
Exports
$7.5MYoY · free account
12-mo low · imports
Low · free accountOver the twelve months to August 2026, the U.S. imported $135.8M of Sign Plates, Name Plates, Address Plates, Numbers, Letters and Symbols of Base Metal (Non-Illuminated) and exported $81.0M.
Through August 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 | Imports for consumption | Average duty rate | Dutiable Share | Duty Collected |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 8310000000 | Sgn Plts Nos A Smbls Et Bm Excpt of Hdg 9405 | $12.5M | 13.78% | 61.78% | $1.7M |
HS10 export codes under this HS6 parent, each with its own page. Source: U.S. Schedule B export classification.
| Code | Description | Export Value |
|---|---|---|
| 8310000000 | Sgn Plts Nos A Smbls Et Bm Excpt of Hdg 9405 | $7.5M |
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 · August 2026
origin
China and Mexico together supply 46% of it. China pays 35.9% duty; Mexico 0.5%.
customs district
destination
entry
rate provision · imports
37.4% enters free of duty; duty collected equals 13.78% of imports for consumption.