U.S. imports of Spectacle Lenses of Materials Other Than Glass (SITC 88417) totaled $114.9M in August 2026, imported from 30 countries.
Importers of Spectacle Lenses of Materials Other Than Glass paid $8.5M in duties in August 2026, an average duty rate of 7.41% — duty actually collected as a share of the imports that cleared customs, not the published tariff schedule.
Last updated: August 2026 dataPolymer and composite ophthalmic lenses—covering CR-39 resin, polycarbonate, Trivex, and high-index plastic substrates—dominate modern eyewear supply chains and fall under this heading when unmounted. Because these materials account for the vast majority of prescription lenses sold globally, this is one of the more actively traded optical headings in US import data. FDA medical device requirements may apply to finished corrective lenses, and importers should confirm product registration status prior to entry.
AI-written summary of the official U.S. Census Bureau trade figures on this page — verify before relying on it.
3.3K import shipments a month
Any unmounted spectacle lens made from a non-glass substrate—including CR-39 resin, polycarbonate, Trivex, or high-index plastic—belongs here. The glass heading is reserved strictly for lenses where the optical substrate is glass. Mixed or laminated constructions should be evaluated based on the essential character of the lens material.
Anti-reflective, UV, or scratch-resistant coatings applied to a plastic lens do not change its classification, provided the lens itself remains the essential article. The heading covers lenses in their finished or semi-finished state regardless of surface treatments, as long as they remain unmounted.
Basic heading 78 of 419 in section 8
Basic heading 88417 · $114.9M of $46.9B
Trade Directory
List your company and tag the 6-digit products you trade, so the companies trading them can find you. Be the first supplier listed.
Imports · August 2026
origin
Mexico and Thailand together supply 60% of it. China pays 21.9% duty; Mexico 1.1%.
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.
ImportsExports
Imports
$114.9MYoY · free account
Exports
$64.0MYoY · free account
12-mo low · imports
Low · free accountOver the twelve months to August 2026, the U.S. imported $1.4B of Spectacle Lenses of Materials Other Than Glass.
Through August 2026 · exports 11 of 12 months reported. Source: U.S. Census Bureau.