U.S. exports of Writing & Drawing Ink and Other Non-Printing Inks (SITC 89591) totaled $9.2M in August 2026.
Importers of Writing & Drawing Ink and Other Non-Printing Inks paid $729K in duties in August 2026, an average duty rate of 11.41% — duty actually collected as a share of the imports that cleared customs, not the published tariff schedule.
Last updated: August 2026 dataFormulated for pens, technical drawing instruments, and specialty marking applications, writing and drawing inks are classified separately from printing inks — a distinction that hinges on end-use and delivery mechanism rather than chemical composition alone. The heading covers both liquid and solid or concentrated forms, including India ink, calligraphy ink, and fountain-pen ink. Importers should note that ink formulations containing regulated solvents or pigments may require review under EPA or TSCA frameworks depending on chemical content.
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261 import shipments a month
The key factor is the intended application method: writing and drawing inks are designed for manual instruments such as pens, brushes, or technical drawing tools, while printing inks are formulated for mechanical transfer processes (offset, flexographic, gravure, etc.). A product marketed for both uses may require a binding CBP ruling to confirm the correct heading.
Yes, the heading explicitly covers inks 'whether or not concentrated or solid,' so compressed ink sticks used in calligraphy and pre-filled pen cartridges intended for writing or drawing are included, provided they are not printing inks. The physical state at import does not change the classification.
Basic heading 173 of 419 in section 8
Basic heading 89591 · $9.2M of $18.4B
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Exports · August 2026
destination
customs district
Census does not publish district detail for this classification system.
origin
Census does not publish state detail for this classification system.
entry
Census does not publish port detail for this classification system.
ImportsExports
Imports
$6.4MYoY · free account
Exports
$9.2MYoY · free account
12-mo low · imports
Low · free accountOver the twelve months to August 2026, the U.S. imported $72.2M of Writing & Drawing Ink and Other Non-Printing Inks.
Through August 2026 · exports 11 of 12 months reported. Source: U.S. Census Bureau.