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HSChapter 85
U.S. imports of sound recording & reproducing apparatus using magnetic, optical, or semiconductor media (HS 851981) totaled $49.1M in April 2026, traded with 34 countries.
Importers of Sound Recording & Reproducing Apparatus Using Magnetic, Optical, or Semiconductor Media paid $4.5M in duties in April 2026 — an effective duty rate of 11% on $42.3M in dutiable value, based on actual customs collections rather than the published tariff schedule. Sound Recording & Reproducing Apparatus Using Magnetic, Optical, or Semiconductor Media imports of $49.1M in April 2026 ran 12% above the year-to-date monthly average of $43.7M.
Last updated: April 2026 dataVietnam leads US imports under this broad heading, which spans a wide range of recording and playback technologies — from cassette tape players for motor vehicles (8519812000) and digital audio tape recorders (8519813000) to optical disc players (8519813010), telephone answering machines (8519814105), and semiconductor-media sound apparatus (8519814150). The heading's ten tariff lines reflect decades of technology evolution, and importers must carefully match their product's recording medium and primary function to the correct line, as duty rates and Section 301 exposure can differ. China is the second-largest supplier, and goods of Chinese origin may carry Section 301 tariff liability, reinforcing Vietnam's growing role as a preferred manufacturing base for consumer audio electronics destined for the US market.
AI-written summary of the official U.S. Census Bureau trade figures on this page — verify before relying on it.
A portable digital voice recorder using flash (semiconductor) memory as its recording medium would generally fall under 8519814150, which covers sound recording apparatus using semiconductor media not elsewhere specified. Importers should confirm that the device's primary function is sound recording/reproduction and that it does not incorporate features — such as video recording or data processing — that would pull it into a different chapter 85 heading.
8519814105 covers standalone telephone answering machines as a physical apparatus. Modern VoIP-based or cloud voicemail systems that operate as software services rather than imported hardware articles do not generate an import entry under this line. However, a physical device sold as a dedicated answering machine — even one using digital semiconductor storage — would still classify here. Combination devices (e.g., a cordless phone with integrated answering machine) may require classification analysis under GRI 3 to determine the essential character.
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Monthly import values over time
HS10 import codes under this HS6 parent. Source: U.S. Harmonized Tariff Schedule.
| Code | Description | Import Value | Effective Tariff % | Duty Collected |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 8519814150 | SOUND RECORD APP MGNT/OPTCL/SEMICNDCTR MEDIA NESOI | $45.2M | 10.00% | $3.9M |
| 8519813020 | ELECTRIC SOUND REPRODUCING APPARATUS, NESOI | $2.3M | 18.28% | $416K |
| 8519814105 | TELEPHONE ANSWERING MACHINES | $648K | 10.00% | $65K |
| 8519813010 | OPTICAL DISC (INCLUIDING COMPACT DISC) PLAYERS | $546K | 17.36% | $77K |
| 8519814110 | CASSETTE TAPE RECORDER/PLAYERS, NESOI | $141K | 10.00% | $9K |
| 8519812500 | CASSETTE TAPE PLAYERS, NESOI | $117K | 10.00% | $12K |
| 8519812000 | CASSETTE TAPE PLAYERS FOR MOTOR VEHICLES | $31K | 20.68% | $6K |
| 8519814120 | OPTICAL DISC RECORDERS | $28K | 10.00% | $3K |
| 8519811000 | TRANSCRIBING MACHINES | $8K | 15.37% | $1K |
SOUND RECORD APP MGNT/OPTCL/SEMICNDCTR MEDIA NESOI
ELECTRIC SOUND REPRODUCING APPARATUS, NESOI
TELEPHONE ANSWERING MACHINES
OPTICAL DISC (INCLUIDING COMPACT DISC) PLAYERS
CASSETTE TAPE RECORDER/PLAYERS, NESOI
CASSETTE TAPE PLAYERS, NESOI
CASSETTE TAPE PLAYERS FOR MOTOR VEHICLES
OPTICAL DISC RECORDERS
TRANSCRIBING MACHINES
HS10 export codes under this HS6 parent. Source: U.S. Schedule B export classification.
| Code | Description | Export Value |
|---|---|---|
| 8519814150 | SOUND RECORD APP MGNT/OPTCL/SEMICNDCTR MEDIA NESOI | $7.4M |
| 8519813000 | MAGNET TAPE RECORDER/REPRODUCERS,DIGITAL AUDIO TYP | $1.4M |
| 8519812500 | CASSETTE TAPE PLAYERS, NESOI | $289K |
| 8519811000 | TRANSCRIBING MACHINES | $123K |
| 8519814120 | OPTICAL DISC RECORDERS | $51K |
| 8519814105 | TELEPHONE ANSWERING MACHINES | $30K |
| 8519812000 | CASSETTE TAPE PLAYERS FOR MOTOR VEHICLES | $23K |
| 8519814110 | CASSETTE TAPE RECORDER/PLAYERS, NESOI | $10K |
SOUND RECORD APP MGNT/OPTCL/SEMICNDCTR MEDIA NESOI
31.6K no
MAGNET TAPE RECORDER/REPRODUCERS,DIGITAL AUDIO TYP
1.2K no
CASSETTE TAPE PLAYERS, NESOI
4.3K no
TRANSCRIBING MACHINES
578 no
OPTICAL DISC RECORDERS
135 no
TELEPHONE ANSWERING MACHINES
329 no
CASSETTE TAPE PLAYERS FOR MOTOR VEHICLES
122 no
CASSETTE TAPE RECORDER/PLAYERS, NESOI
100 no
STATIC CONVERTERS; ADP POWER SUPPLIES
HS 850440
| State | Imports | Exports | Balance |
|---|---|---|---|
| California | $21.9M | $3.7M | -$18.2M |
| Kentucky | $9.8M | $27K | -$9.8M |
| Texas | $6.2M | -- | -$6.2M |
| Port | Imports | Exports | Balance |
|---|---|---|---|
| LOS ANGELES, CA | $26.1M | -- | -$26.1M |
| LONG BEACH, CA | $5.7M | -- | -$5.7M |
| NORFOLK-NEWPORT NEWS, VA | $4.7M | $153K | -$4.6M |