U.S. exports of Typewriter and Printer Ribbons (HS 961210) totaled $5.4M in August 2026.
Importers of Typewriter and Printer Ribbons paid $434K in duties in August 2026, an average duty rate of 11.99% — duty actually collected as a share of the imports that cleared customs, not the published tariff schedule. Typewriter and Printer Ribbons imports of $3.6M in August 2026 ran 24% above the year-to-date monthly average of $2.9M.
Last updated: August 2026 dataInked ribbons for typewriters and similar impact-printing devices span a range of constructions — from narrow woven fabric ribbons in plastic or metal cartridges (9612101010, 9612101020) to wide thermal transfer ribbons coated on polyester film (9612109030), which remain commercially active in barcode label printing and industrial marking applications. Japan leads US supply under this heading, with France and South Korea also significant sources, reflecting the continued demand for thermal transfer ribbons in logistics and retail labeling. The width threshold of 30 mm is the primary classification dividing line within the heading.
AI-written summary of the official U.S. Census Bureau trade figures on this page — verify before relying on it.
244 import shipments a month
The US tariff schedule subdivides 9612.10 based on ribbon width: ribbons less than 30 mm wide in plastic or metal cartridges fall under 9612101010 or 9612101020, while ribbons 30 mm or wider — including most thermal transfer ribbons used in industrial label printers — fall under the 9612109000 series. Measuring ribbon width accurately before entry is essential, as misclassification between these lines is a known audit trigger.
Thermal transfer ribbons (classified under 9612109030 when coated on polyester film and 30 mm or wider) remain a high-volume, commercially active import category. They are the consumable medium for thermal transfer barcode and label printers widely used in logistics, retail, healthcare, and manufacturing. The 'typewriter ribbon' heading name is somewhat misleading — the bulk of current trade volume consists of these industrial thermal transfer products rather than traditional typewriter ribbons.
Subheading 1 of 2 in heading 9612
Subheading 961210 · $5.4M of $5.6M
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ImportsExports
Imports
$3.6MYoY · free account
Exports
$5.4MYoY · free account
12-mo low · imports
Low · free accountOver the twelve months to August 2026, the U.S. imported $32.3M of Typewriter and Printer Ribbons and exported $78.1M.
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 9612101020 | Typewriter Ribbons Lt 30mm, Plts/Mtl Cartg, NESOI | $1.7M | 10.32% | 98.05% | $172K |
| 9612109030 | Thermal Transfer Ribbons, Coated PET, Film, Gt=30mm W | $737K | 15.79% | 98.26% | $116K |
| 9612109090 | Typewriter Ribbons, Gt= 30mm Wide, NESOI | $723K | 12.23% | 90.77% | $88K |
| 9612101010 | Typewriter Ribbons Lt 30mm Woven, Man-Made Fibers | $482K | 11.68% | 87.80% | $56K |
| 9612109010 | Typewriter Ribbons Woven, of Man-Made Fibers | $19K | 9.02% | 64.88% | $2K |
HS10 export codes under this HS6 parent, each with its own page. Source: U.S. Schedule B export classification.
| Code | Description | Export Value |
|---|---|---|
| 9612109000 | Typewriter or Similar Ribbons, NESOI | $4.2M |
| 9612101000 | Ribbons Lt 30mm in Plst/Mtl Crtrdges for Typewritr | $1.2M |
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.
Exports · August 2026
destination
Mexico and Canada together take 62% of it.
customs district
entry
rate provision · imports
4.9% enters free of duty; duty collected equals 11.99% of imports for consumption.