U.S. imports of Escalators & Moving Walkways (SITC 74485) totaled $2.1M in August 2026, imported from 11 countries.
Importers of Escalators & Moving Walkways paid $582K in duties in August 2026, an average duty rate of 28.10% — duty actually collected as a share of the imports that cleared customs, not the published tariff schedule. Escalators & Moving Walkways imports of $2.1M in August 2026 ran 38% below the year-to-date monthly average of $3.3M.
Last updated: August 2026 dataEscalators and moving walkways are high-capital, long-lifecycle installations central to airports, transit systems, shopping centers, and large public venues, where passenger throughput and reliability drive procurement decisions. A small number of global manufacturers dominate supply, and equipment is frequently imported as major subassemblies — truss sections, step chains, handrail systems — rather than as a single complete unit, which can complicate classification. SITC 74485 covers both inclined escalators and horizontal or low-angle moving walkways (travelators), and the distinction between the two affects both the applicable HTS subheading and the relevant ASME A17.1 safety code section.
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27 import shipments a month
When an escalator is shipped in major subassemblies (truss, step chain, drive unit, handrail system), each component may be classified under its own HTS heading unless the importer can demonstrate they constitute an incomplete or unassembled machine under GRI 2(a). Advance ruling requests or broker guidance are advisable for large transit or airport projects where the import value is significant.
Escalators are inclined step-type conveyors designed to transport passengers between floor levels, while moving walkways (travelators) operate on a horizontal or low-incline plane for lateral passenger movement. Both fall under SITC 74485, but they map to distinct HTS subheadings and are governed by different sections of ASME A17.1, so the technical specification must clearly identify the type.
Basic heading 74485 · $2.1M of $172.0B
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Imports · August 2026
origin
China and Austria together supply 83% of it. China pays 36.5% duty; Netherlands 10.0%.
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
$2.1MYoY · free account
Exports
$8KYoY · free account
12-mo low · imports
Low · free accountOver the twelve months to August 2026, the U.S. imported $39.4M of Escalators & Moving Walkways.
Through August 2026 · exports 9 of 12 months reported. Source: U.S. Census Bureau.