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SITCSection 8
U.S. imports of pencils, crayons, pencil leads, pastels, drawing charcoals & chalks (SITC 89523) totaled $24.8M in April 2026, traded with 39 countries.
Importers of Pencils, Crayons, Pencil Leads, Pastels, Drawing Charcoals & Chalks paid $3.4M in duties in April 2026 — an effective duty rate of 16% on $22.1M in dutiable value, based on actual customs collections rather than the published tariff schedule.
Last updated: April 2026 dataSpanning a broad range of marking instruments — from graphite and colored pencil leads to artists' pastels, drawing charcoals, and tailors' chalks — this SITC heading captures both mass-market school supplies and professional-grade art materials. Classification turns on the core medium and intended use: a wax crayon, a compressed charcoal stick, and a chalk marker each follow distinct tariff paths under the HTS. Importers sourcing high-volume commodity items such as colored pencils should be aware that certain Chinese-origin goods in this space have faced antidumping proceedings, making origin documentation a key compliance step.
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The distinction generally rests on the marking core: pencils have a graphite or similar mineral/composite lead encased in wood or another holder, while crayons are typically solid sticks of wax or oil-bound pigment. Pastels and charcoals are further separated by their binder composition and intended artistic use. Because the boundary can be ambiguous for novelty or combination products, a binding ruling from CBP is advisable before large-volume importation.
Yes — certain pencil products, particularly those originating in China, have historically been subject to antidumping duty orders. Importers should verify the current scope of any active orders with CBP and the International Trade Administration before sourcing, as scope rulings can extend to products that appear distinct from the original petition.
Monthly import values over time
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