U.S. imports of Objective Lenses for Cameras, Projectors, and Photographic Enlargers (SITC 88431) totaled $72.7M in August 2026, imported from 57 countries.
Importers of Objective Lenses for Cameras, Projectors, and Photographic Enlargers paid $10.1M in duties in August 2026, an average duty rate of 14.56% — duty actually collected as a share of the imports that cleared customs, not the published tariff schedule.
Last updated: August 2026 dataMounted objective lenses designed specifically for cameras, film or digital projectors, and photographic enlargers or reducers occupy a specialized segment of the optical trade, serving professional photography, cinema, and reprographics industries. The heading's scope is defined by the intended instrument: a lens assembly engineered and marketed for camera or projector use belongs here, while general-purpose mounted objectives for microscopes or telescopes fall elsewhere. High-end cinema and broadcast lenses from precision optical manufacturers represent the premium tier of this trade.
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2.4K import shipments a month
The classification turns on the specific instrument the lens is designed for. Objective lenses engineered with the mechanical and optical specifications for cameras, projectors, or photographic enlargers—including appropriate mount interfaces and focal length ranges for those applications—belong here. Lenses designed for microscopes, telescopes, or other scientific instruments are classified under separate headings for mounted optical elements.
Yes, provided the zoom lens assembly is designed and presented as an objective lens for a camera. The heading covers both fixed-focal-length and variable-focal-length (zoom) objective lenses intended for camera use. The key is that the assembly functions as the primary image-forming element for the camera, not as an accessory or filter.
Basic heading 126 of 419 in section 8
Basic heading 88431 · $72.7M of $46.9B
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Imports · August 2026
origin
Japan and Thailand together supply 61% of it. China pays 38.1% duty; Malaysia 12.3%.
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
$72.7MYoY · free account
Exports
$15.4MYoY · free account
12-mo low · imports
Low · free accountOver the twelve months to August 2026, the U.S. imported $796.7M of Objective Lenses for Cameras, Projectors, and Photographic Enlargers.
Through August 2026 · exports 11 of 12 months reported. Source: U.S. Census Bureau.