U.S. imports of Lifting, Handling, Loading & Unloading Machinery, N.E.S. (SITC 74489) totaled $432.4M in August 2026, imported from 62 countries.
Importers of Lifting, Handling, Loading & Unloading Machinery, N.E.S. paid $59.5M in duties in August 2026, an average duty rate of 13.83% — duty actually collected as a share of the imports that cleared customs, not the published tariff schedule. Lifting, Handling, Loading & Unloading Machinery, N.E.S. imports of $432.4M in August 2026 ran 11% above the year-to-date monthly average of $388.3M.
Last updated: August 2026 dataRobotic palletizers, industrial manipulators, turntables, dock levelers, and other specialized material-handling machines that do not fit neatly into the more specific SITC lifting and conveying categories are captured here under the NES residual heading. The breadth of equipment types means that correct classification requires a careful exclusion analysis — ruling out cranes (SITC 7441), fork-lift trucks (SITC 7442), and the specific conveyor and hoist headings before arriving at 74489. Automated warehouse systems and goods-to-person robotic units have become increasingly common imports in this category as e-commerce fulfillment investment grows.
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9.1K import shipments a month
Industrial robots designed specifically for palletizing or depalletizing are generally classified as lifting and handling machinery rather than as general-purpose industrial robots, because their function is defined by the material-handling task. However, multi-axis robots with interchangeable end-effectors may fall under a different HTS heading. A binding ruling from CBP is the most reliable way to resolve ambiguous cases.
Lifting and handling machinery sourced from certain countries may be subject to Section 301 tariffs. Additionally, if the equipment contains significant steel or aluminum structural content, Section 232 considerations may apply to those materials. Importers should review the country of origin, the specific HTS subheading, and any applicable first-sale or assist valuation issues with a customs broker before finalizing sourcing.
Basic heading 49 of 642 in section 7
Basic heading 74489 · $432.4M of $172.0B
ImportsExports
Imports
$432.4MYoY · free account
Exports
$91.5MYoY · free account
12-mo low · imports
Low · free accountOver the twelve months to August 2026, the U.S. imported $4.6B of Lifting, Handling, Loading & Unloading Machinery, N.E.S..
Through August 2026 · exports 10 of 12 months reported. Source: U.S. Census Bureau.
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Imports · August 2026
origin
Mexico and Germany together supply 56% of it. China pays 37.6% duty; Canada 10.1%.
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.