U.S. imports of Ballasts for Discharge Lamps or Tubes (SITC 77123) totaled $5.7M in August 2026, imported from 43 countries.
Importers of Ballasts for Discharge Lamps or Tubes paid $610K in duties in August 2026, an average duty rate of 10.90% — duty actually collected as a share of the imports that cleared customs, not the published tariff schedule.
Last updated: August 2026 dataElectromagnetic and electronic ballasts regulate current flow in fluorescent, high-intensity discharge (HID), and other gas-discharge lighting systems, serving as a distinct product category from the lamps themselves. Electronic ballasts — which use solid-state circuitry to operate lamps at high frequency — have largely displaced magnetic ballasts in commercial and industrial lighting, and this technology shift affects both the applicable HTS subheading and Section 301 exposure for China-origin goods. Importers supplying lighting OEMs or the retrofit market should confirm whether a ballast is designed for fluorescent tubes, HID lamps, or LED drivers, as these distinctions can affect classification.
AI-written summary of the official U.S. Census Bureau trade figures on this page — verify before relying on it.
466 import shipments a month
LED drivers are generally classified as static converters or power supplies rather than as ballasts for discharge lamps, because LEDs are not gas-discharge devices. Importers should not assume that a device marketed as a 'driver' or 'ballast' for LED lighting falls under the discharge lamp ballast heading — the underlying technology and circuit function govern classification. A CBP binding ruling is advisable for products that combine LED driver and ballast functions in a single unit.
Not necessarily — the HTS schedule may distinguish between magnetic (electromagnetic) and electronic ballasts, and the applicable subheading can differ by lamp type and ballast technology. Since duty rates and Section 301 applicability can vary by subheading, importers should identify the ballast's operating principle and target lamp type from manufacturer specifications before filing entry.
Basic heading 469 of 642 in section 7
Basic heading 77123 · $5.7M of $172.0B
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Imports · August 2026
origin
Mexico and China together supply 54% of it. China pays 22.3% duty; Mexico 0.7%.
customs district
Census does not publish district detail for this classification system.
destination
Census does not publish state detail for this classification system.
entry
Census does not publish port detail for this classification system.
ImportsExports
Imports
$5.7MYoY · free account
Exports
$4.0MYoY · free account
12-mo low · imports
Low · free accountOver the twelve months to August 2026, the U.S. imported $67.5M of Ballasts for Discharge Lamps or Tubes.
Through August 2026 · exports 10 of 12 months reported. Source: U.S. Census Bureau.