U.S. imports of Lifts & Skip Hoists (SITC 74481) totaled $33.4M in August 2026, imported from 34 countries.
Importers of Lifts & Skip Hoists paid $2.0M in duties in August 2026, an average duty rate of 6.13% — duty actually collected as a share of the imports that cleared customs, not the published tariff schedule. Lifts & Skip Hoists imports of $33.4M in August 2026 ran 15% above the year-to-date monthly average of $29.0M.
Last updated: August 2026 dataSkip hoists are heavy-duty vertical lifting devices used to charge blast furnaces, feed mine shafts, and supply aggregate to concrete batching plants — applications where a conventional elevator would be impractical due to load weight or material abrasiveness. Passenger and goods lifts (elevators) in commercial and industrial buildings also fall under SITC 74481, though their design standards, safety codes (ASME A17.1 in the US), and end-use markets differ substantially from skip hoists. Importers of complete lift systems should verify whether the equipment arrives as a fully assembled unit or as components, as the classification and duty treatment can differ.
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1.0K import shipments a month
A skip hoist typically uses a single large container (skip) that travels vertically on guides and is tipped or bottom-discharged at the top, whereas a bucket elevator uses multiple cups on a continuous loop. The skip hoist's non-continuous, reciprocating action places it in SITC 74481 rather than the continuous-action conveyor headings.
Yes. While customs clearance addresses tariff classification and admissibility, commercial passenger and freight lifts must comply with ASME A17.1 (Safety Code for Elevators and Escalators) and are subject to state and local inspection and permitting requirements before being placed in service. Importers should coordinate with the installing contractor and local authority having jurisdiction well in advance.
Basic heading 276 of 642 in section 7
Basic heading 74481 · $33.4M of $172.0B
Imports · August 2026
origin
Canada and Italy together supply 57% of it. China pays 17.4% duty; Mexico 0.0%.
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.
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ImportsExports
Imports
$33.4MYoY · free account
Exports
$24.7MYoY · free account
12-mo low · imports
Low · free accountOver the twelve months to August 2026, the U.S. imported $340.9M of Lifts & Skip Hoists.
Through August 2026 · exports 10 of 12 months reported. Source: U.S. Census Bureau.