Standard International Trade Classification
U.S. imports of Numerically Controlled Metal Bending, Folding, Straightening & Flattening Machines (SITC 73312) totaled $47.0M in August 2026, imported from 26 countries.
Importers of Numerically Controlled Metal Bending, Folding, Straightening & Flattening Machines paid $5.6M in duties in August 2026, an average duty rate of 11.92% — duty actually collected as a share of the imports that cleared customs, not the published tariff schedule. Numerically Controlled Metal Bending, Folding, Straightening & Flattening Machines imports of $47.0M in August 2026 ran 31% above the year-to-date monthly average of $36.0M.
Last updated: August 2026 dataNumerically controlled press brakes, plate-bending rolls, and straightening machines under SITC 73312 represent the CNC tier of sheet and plate forming equipment, where programmable back-gauges and angle-measurement systems enable repeatable, high-precision bends across production runs in structural fabrication, HVAC, and enclosure manufacturing. The NC/CNC distinction is the primary classification boundary separating this heading from its non-numerically-controlled counterpart (SITC 73313), and importers must confirm the machine's control architecture—not merely the presence of a digital readout—to assign the correct code. Modern fiber-laser-integrated CNC press brakes and multi-axis bending cells are among the higher-value machines traded under this heading.
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170 import shipments a month
Not necessarily. A digital readout displays position but does not automatically control machine movement through a programmed sequence. True numerical control (NC or CNC) involves a controller that drives axes through stored programs. Customs classification should be based on whether the machine's back-gauge and ram are driven by a programmable NC controller, not merely monitored by a DRO.
The split reflects both technological capability and, in some tariff schedules, different duty treatment. CNC press brakes command significantly higher unit values and are more commonly sourced from specialized machine tool exporters. For importers, correctly identifying the control type avoids misclassification between 73312 and 73313, which can affect duty liability and trade statistics reporting.
Basic heading 235 of 642 in section 7
Basic heading 73312 · $47.0M of $172.0B
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Imports · August 2026
origin
Italy and New Zealand together supply 48% of it.
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
$47.0MYoY · free account
Exports
$1.7MYoY · free account
12-mo low · imports
Low · free accountOver the twelve months to August 2026, the U.S. imported $381.5M of Numerically Controlled Metal Bending, Folding, Straightening & Flattening Machines.
Through August 2026 · exports 10 of 12 months reported. Source: U.S. Census Bureau.