U.S. exports of Television Camera Tubes, Image Converters and Intensifiers, and Other Photocathode Tubes (HS 854020) totaled $11.8M in August 2026.
Importers of Television Camera Tubes, Image Converters and Intensifiers, and Other Photocathode Tubes paid $619K in duties in August 2026, an average duty rate of 11.98% — duty actually collected as a share of the imports that cleared customs, not the published tariff schedule. Television Camera Tubes, Image Converters and Intensifiers, and Other Photocathode Tubes imports of $5.2M in August 2026 ran 29% above the year-to-date monthly average of $4.0M.
Last updated: August 2026 dataImage intensifier and converter tubes under this heading are critical components in night-vision systems, scientific instrumentation, and high-speed imaging, placing them at the intersection of commercial electronics and defense-related export-control regimes. The US schedule covers color TV camera tubes (8540202040), non-color camera tubes (8540202080), and image intensifier and converter devices (8540204000), with classification turning on the tube's function rather than its end-use application. Japan and China lead US import supply, with the United Kingdom, Germany, and Austria also notable sources—a supplier mix that reflects both high-volume commercial production and specialized European precision manufacturing. Importers of image intensifier tubes should assess whether the specific device triggers Export Administration Regulations or ITAR controls, which can affect re-export and end-user documentation requirements.
AI-written summary of the official U.S. Census Bureau trade figures on this page — verify before relying on it.
55 import shipments a month
Certain image intensifier and converter tubes are controlled under the Export Administration Regulations (EAR) or the International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR) depending on their performance specifications. Importers and re-exporters should screen each device against the Commerce Control List and the US Munitions List before shipment, and consult a licensed customs broker or trade counsel to determine whether an import or export license is required.
TV camera tubes (8540202040 for color, 8540202080 for non-color) convert optical images into electronic signals for transmission or recording, while image intensifiers and converters (8540204000) amplify low-light optical images without necessarily producing an electronic output signal. The functional distinction—signal generation versus optical amplification—is the key classification criterion, and technical datasheets should be retained to support the chosen tariff line.
ImportsExports
Imports
$5.2MYoY · free account
Exports
$11.8MYoY · free account
12-mo low · imports
Low · free accountOver the twelve months to August 2026, the U.S. imported $50.5M of Television Camera Tubes, Image Converters and Intensifiers, and Other Photocathode Tubes and exported $170.0M.
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 8540204000 | Tv Camera, Image Intensifier & Converters, NESOI | $4.9M | 12.14% | 98.05% | $590K |
| 8540202080 | Tv Camera, Cathode Ray Tubes, Other Than Color | $297K | 9.68% | 33.58% | $29K |
| 8540202040 | Tv Camera, Cathode Ray Tubes, Color | $9K | 0.00% | 0.00% | -- |
HS10 export codes under this HS6 parent, each with its own page. Source: U.S. Schedule B export classification.
| Code | Description | Export Value |
|---|---|---|
| 8540204000 | Tv Camera, Image Intensifier & Converters, NESOI | $11.6M |
| 8540202000 | Cathode Ray Tv & Other Photocathode Tubes | $200K |
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
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Subheading 1 of 11 in heading 8540
Subheading 854020 · $11.8M of $42.4M
Exports · August 2026
destination
China and Greece together take 56% of it.
customs district
origin
entry
rate provision · imports
5.8% enters free of duty; duty collected equals 11.98% of imports for consumption.