U.S. exports of Instruments & Apparatus for Measuring or Checking Electrical Quantities (NES) (SITC 87478) totaled $182.0M in August 2026.
Importers of Instruments & Apparatus for Measuring or Checking Electrical Quantities (NES) paid $7.3M in duties in August 2026, an average duty rate of 6.67% — duty actually collected as a share of the imports that cleared customs, not the published tariff schedule. Instruments & Apparatus for Measuring or Checking Electrical Quantities (NES) imports of $109.5M in August 2026 ran 13% below the year-to-date monthly average of $125.4M.
Last updated: August 2026 dataServing as the residual catch-all for electrical quantity measurement, SITC 87478 captures instruments that measure parameters beyond voltage, current, resistance, and power — such as frequency meters, power factor meters, phase angle meters, and impedance analyzers — as well as recording-capable variants of instruments that would otherwise fall under 87475. This heading is widely used in power generation, semiconductor fabrication, and industrial automation quality control. The breadth of the NES designation means careful HTS classification review is essential, as specific instrument types may have more precise tariff line homes.
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3.2K import shipments a month
Because 87478 is a residual 'not elsewhere specified' category, the corresponding HTS schedule contains multiple specific subheadings for particular instrument types. Misclassifying a product into the NES basket when a more specific tariff line exists can result in incorrect duty assessment and potential customs penalties. A licensed customs broker with electronics expertise should review the technical specifications before entry.
Under the SITC structure, instruments that include a built-in recording device are distinguished from those without one. A multimeter or power meter with data-logging output may shift classification from 87475 (non-recording voltage/current instruments) into 87478 or another heading, depending on the primary function and design intent of the recording feature.
Basic heading 19 of 419 in section 8
Basic heading 87478 · $182.0M of $18.4B
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Exports · August 2026
destination
customs district
Census does not publish district detail for this classification system.
origin
Census does not publish state detail for this classification system.
entry
Census does not publish port detail for this classification system.
ImportsExports
Imports
$109.5MYoY · free account
Exports
$182.0MYoY · free account
12-mo low · imports
Low · free accountOver the twelve months to August 2026, the U.S. imported $1.5B of Instruments & Apparatus for Measuring or Checking Electrical Quantities (NES).
Through August 2026 · exports 11 of 12 months reported. Source: U.S. Census Bureau.