U.S. imports of High-Speed Steel Bars and Rods (SITC 67641) totaled $5.5M in August 2026, imported from 15 countries.
Importers of High-Speed Steel Bars and Rods paid $2.8M in duties in August 2026, an average duty rate of 51.27% — duty actually collected as a share of the imports that cleared customs, not the published tariff schedule.
Last updated: August 2026 dataDefined by their ability to retain hardness at elevated cutting temperatures, high-speed steel (HSS) bars and rods are the primary raw form from which drill bits, milling cutters, taps, and other metal-cutting tools are manufactured. The alloy chemistry — typically featuring significant tungsten, molybdenum, cobalt, or vanadium additions — is what separates HSS from other alloy steels and justifies its dedicated SITC classification. Trade professionals should note that HSS is subject to Section 232 steel tariffs, and the specialty nature of the grade means supply is concentrated among a limited number of global producers with certified tool-steel capabilities.
AI-written summary of the official U.S. Census Bureau trade figures on this page — verify before relying on it.
219 import shipments a month
Classification as high-speed steel depends on the alloy meeting specific compositional thresholds — typically defined in the HTS schedule by minimum percentages of tungsten, molybdenum, and vanadium, combined with a minimum carbon content. The mill test certificate must show the full chemistry; without it, CBP may reclassify the product as general alloy steel bar, which carries different duty treatment.
Domestic tool manufacturers — producing cutting tools, dies, and precision instruments — are the primary consumers. Aerospace and defense machining operations also source HSS bar for specialized tooling. Because domestic HSS production capacity is limited, imports remain an important supply channel for US tool manufacturers.
Basic heading 401 of 766 in section 6
Basic heading 67641 · $5.5M of $27.0B
Imports · August 2026
origin
China and Austria together supply 62% of it. China pays 58.5% duty; Austria 41.8%.
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
$5.5MYoY · free account
Exports
$1.6MYoY · free account
12-mo low · imports
Low · free accountOver the twelve months to August 2026, the U.S. imported $80.6M of High-Speed Steel Bars and Rods and exported $22.6M.
Through August 2026. Source: U.S. Census Bureau.
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