Subheading · Chapter 85 · Heading 8518

8518.50

8518.50: Electric sound amplifier sets

8518.50 is a six-digit subheading of heading 8518, microphones and stands therefor, chapter 85.

What you pay

Importing into UK

Customs duty Free standard rate · across 2 national lines depends on the country of origin
Additional duties and charges 3 additional measures Import requirements: 3
VAT 20.00 % import VAT
Duty calculatorCalculate duty and taxes →

Rates by national line · UK Global Tariff

UK lines →
  1. 8518 50 00 00 Electric sound amplifier sets p/st
  2. 8518 50 00 10 For use in civil aircraft Freep/st
  3. 8518 50 00 90 Other Freep/st

Additional duties and import rules

Charges on top of the customs duty, and rules the goods must meet at the border.

Additional duties and charges 3

  • Additional dutyAdditional duties 35%
    Applies to goods from
    Belarus, Russia
    Legal act
    2022 No. 376
    Documents
    • 9008
  • Duty suspensionAirworthiness tariff suspension Free
    Applies to goods from
    all countries
    Legal act
    S.I. 2018/1249
    Documents
    • C119 Authorised Release Certificate — EASA Form 1 (Appendix I to Annex I to Regulation (EU) No 748/2012), or equivalent certificate
  • Duty suspensionSuspension - goods for certain categories of ships, boats and other vessels and for drilling or production platforms Free
    Applies to goods from
    all countries
    Legal act
    2020 No. 1431
    Documents
    • C990 End use authorisation ships and platforms (Column 8c, Annex A of Delegated Regulation (EU) 2015/2446)
    Tariff lines
    on 1 of 2 lines

Import requirements 3

  • Prohibition or restrictionImport prohibition
    Applies to goods from
    North Korea
    Legal act
    S.I. 2019/411
  • Import controlRestriction on entry into free circulation
    Applies to goods from
    Belarus, Russia, Syria, Ukraine
    Legal act
    2022 No. 748, S.I. 2019/792, S.I. 2022/395
    Documents
    • 9024
    • 9032
    • 9025
    • 9009
    • 9010
    • 9017
  • Import controlImport control on restricted goods and technologies
    Applies to goods from
    Iran, Libya, Russia
    Legal act
    S.I. 2019/461, 2020 No. 1665, S.I. 2019/855
    Documents
    • Y966 Goods other than those described in the MG footnotes linked to the measure (Missile Technology Control Regime list - Annex III of Reg. (EU) 267/2012)
    • Y920 Goods other than those described in the footnotes linked to the measure

Preferential rates by country

Agreement or schemeCountriesRate
standard rate (no agreement)—Free
DCTS Comprehensive
Afghanistan, Angola, Bangladesh, Benin and 38 more

Afghanistan, Angola, Bangladesh, Benin, Bhutan, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cambodia, Central African Republic, Chad, Comoros, Congo - Kinshasa, Djibouti, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Gambia, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Haiti, Kiribati, Laos, Liberia, Malawi, Mali, Mauritania, Myanmar (Burma), Nepal, Niger, Rwanda, São Tomé & Príncipe, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Somalia, South Sudan, Sudan, Tanzania, Timor-Leste, Togo, Tuvalu, Uganda, Yemen, Zambia

Free
European Union (including code " EU")
Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia and 23 more

Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czechia, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden

Free
DCTS Enhanced
Algeria, Bolivia, Cape Verde, Congo - Brazzaville and 13 more

Algeria, Bolivia, Cape Verde, Congo - Brazzaville, Cook Islands, Kyrgyzstan, Micronesia, Mongolia, Nigeria, Niue, Pakistan, Philippines, Sri Lanka, Syria, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, Vanuatu

Free
CARIFORUM
Antigua & Barbuda, Bahamas, Barbados, Belize and 10 more

Antigua & Barbuda, Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Grenada, Guyana, Jamaica, St Kitts & Nevis, St Lucia, St Vincent & the Grenadines, Suriname, Trinidad & Tobago

Free
OCTs (Overseas Countries and Territories)
Anguilla, Bermuda, British Indian Ocean Territory, British Virgin Islands and 7 more

Anguilla, Bermuda, British Indian Ocean Territory, British Virgin Islands, Cayman Islands, Falkland Islands, Montserrat, Pitcairn Islands, South Georgia & South Sandwich Islands, St Helena, Turks & Caicos Islands

Free
Central America Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua, Panama Free
SADC EPA Botswana, Eswatini, Lesotho, Mozambique, Namibia Free
Eastern and Southern Africa States Madagascar, Mauritius, Seychelles, Zimbabwe Free
CPTPP Brunei, Malaysia Free
UK–Andorra agreement Andorra Free
UK–Albania agreement Albania Free
UK–Australia agreement Australia Free
UK–Canada agreement Canada Free
UK–Switzerland agreement Switzerland Free
UK–Côte d’Ivoire agreement Côte d’Ivoire Free
UK–Chile agreement Chile Free
UK–Cameroon agreement Cameroon Free
UK–Colombia agreement Colombia Free
UK–Ceuta & Melilla agreement Ceuta & Melilla Free
UK–Ecuador agreement Ecuador Free
UK–Egypt agreement Egypt Free
UK–Fiji agreement Fiji Free
UK–Faroe Islands agreement Faroe Islands Free
UK–Georgia agreement Georgia Free
UK–Ghana agreement Ghana Free
DCTS Standard Indonesia Free
UK–Israel agreement Israel Free
UK–India agreement India Free
UK–Iceland agreement Iceland Free
UK–Jordan agreement Jordan Free
UK–Japan agreement Japan Free
UK–Kenya agreement Kenya Free
UK–South Korea agreement South Korea Free
UK–Lebanon agreement Lebanon Free
UK–Liechtenstein agreement Liechtenstein Free
UK–Morocco agreement Morocco Free
UK–Moldova agreement Moldova Free
UK–North Macedonia agreement North Macedonia Free
UK–Mexico agreement Mexico Free
UK–Norway agreement Norway Free
UK–New Zealand agreement New Zealand Free
UK–Peru agreement Peru Free
UK–Papua New Guinea agreement Papua New Guinea Free
UK–Palestinian Territories agreement Palestinian Territories Free
UK–Serbia agreement Serbia Free
UK–Solomon Islands agreement Solomon Islands Free
UK–Singapore agreement Singapore Free
UK–San Marino agreement San Marino Free
UK–Tunisia agreement Tunisia Free
UK–Türkiye agreement Türkiye Free
UK–Ukraine agreement Ukraine Free
UK–Vietnam agreement Vietnam Free
UK–Samoa agreement Samoa Free
UK–Kosovo agreement Kosovo Free
UK–South Africa agreement South Africa Free

UK: imports by month

last 12 months£37m+14.3% · previous 12 months
Average import price£32.23 per kg
Jan 2024: £2.6mFeb 2024: £2.6mMar 2024: £2.8mApr 2024: £3.4mMay 2024: £3.6mJun 2024: £3.8mJul 2024: £2.6mAug 2024: £2.3mSept 2024: £2.2mOct 2024: £3mNov 2024: £2.7mDec 2024: £3.3mJan 2025: £1.7mFeb 2025: £3mMar 2025: £3.1mApr 2025: £2.9mMay 2025: £2.6mJun 2025: £3.3mJul 2025: £2.2mAug 2025: £2.3mSept 2025: £2.3mOct 2025: £2.8mNov 2025: £3.7mDec 2025: £5mJan 2026: £2.3mFeb 2026: £2.5mMar 2026: £2.9mApr 2026: £2.9mMay 2026: £3.2mJun 2026: £3.8mJul 2026: £2.9mAug 2026: £2.7m 202420252026
Data up to August 2026 (provisional) · Monthly data: Eurostat Comext (CC BY 4.0), HMRC (OGL v3.0)

Main suppliers, last 12 months

CountryValueShareChange
China £10.7m 29% +1.6%
United States £9.1m 24.5% +62.5%
Italy £5.6m 15.2% +10.4%
Germany £3.9m 10.6% +97.7%
Vietnam £1.5m 3.9% -32.2%
United Kingdom £719k 1.9% +12.8%
France £640k 1.7% -45.3%
Japan £566k 1.5% +145.6%

Same subheading in other tariffs

World trade in 2024

8518.50 · US$1bn

Trade value (US$) no reported trade < US$27kUS$27k+US$2m+US$18m+> US$54m

Exports: 153
  1. China: US$398m
  2. Italy: US$146m
  3. United States: US$90m
  4. Germany: US$56m
  5. Netherlands: US$54m
  6. France: US$48m
  7. United Kingdom: US$44m
  8. Japan: US$38m
  9. Vietnam: US$38m
  10. Malaysia: US$25m
  11. Mexico: US$25m
  12. Denmark: US$20m
  13. Indonesia: US$20m
  14. Canada: US$19m
  15. Spain: US$18m
  16. Poland: US$16m
  17. Taiwan: US$16m
  18. Belgium: US$16m
  19. Thailand: US$15m
  20. Switzerland: US$14m
  21. Costa Rica: US$12m
  22. Hong Kong SAR China: US$9m
  23. Singapore: US$9m
  24. Austria: US$9m
  25. South Korea: US$7m
  26. Czechia: US$7m
  27. Slovakia: US$7m
  28. Hungary: US$6m
  29. Chile: US$6m
  30. Sweden: US$6m
  31. Portugal: US$3m
  32. Bulgaria: US$3m
  33. Romania: US$2m
  34. Greece: US$2m
  35. South Africa: US$2m
  36. India: US$2m
  37. Australia: US$2m
  38. Russia: US$2m
  39. Norway: US$2m
  40. Israel: US$1m
  41. Panama: US$1m
  42. United Arab Emirates: US$1m
  43. Latvia: US$1m
  44. Saudi Arabia: US$1m
  45. Colombia: US$1m
  46. Estonia: US$1m
  47. Philippines: US$1m
  48. Finland: US$948k
  49. Türkiye: US$934k
  50. Serbia: US$746k
  51. Ireland: US$682k
  52. Cyprus: US$605k
  53. Slovenia: US$562k
  54. New Zealand: US$505k
  55. Croatia: US$503k
  56. Brazil: US$412k
  57. Kazakhstan: US$405k
  58. Morocco: US$350k
  59. Lithuania: US$331k
  60. Moldova: US$317k

Top exporters

RankCountryValueShare
1 China US$398m 32.3%
2 Italy US$146m 11.9%
3 United States US$90m 7.3%
4 Germany US$56m 4.5%
5 Netherlands US$54m 4.4%
6 France US$48m 3.9%
7 United Kingdom US$44m 3.6%
8 Japan US$38m 3.1%
9 Vietnam US$38m 3.1%
10 Malaysia US$25m 2.1%

Top importers

RankCountryValueShare
1 United States US$117m 9.5%
2 Germany US$88m 7.1%
3 Netherlands US$59m 4.8%
4 Brazil US$57m 4.6%
5 Canada US$50m 4.1%
6 India US$47m 3.8%
7 France US$43m 3.5%
8 United Kingdom US$42m 3.4%
9 China US$38m 3.1%
10 Italy US$38m 3.1%

Import duty on this product around the world 165

The most-favoured-nation (MFN) duty each country applies to goods of this HS subheading: the average over its national tariff lines, with the lowest and highest line where they differ. Goods from countries with a trade agreement often pay less.

  • 10%median duty
  • 41number of duty-free countries (MFN)
  • 50%highest: Kiribati, Bahamas, Montserrat

165

Importing countryMFN dutylines from – todata year
Afghanistan 10% 2018 · HS 2012
Albania 0% 2023
Algeria 30% 2023
Angola 10% 2023 · HS 2017
Anguilla 20% 2021 · HS 2017
Antigua & Barbuda 20% 2021 · HS 2007
Argentina 20% 2023 · HS 2017
Armenia 5% 2023
Aruba 12% 2021 · HS 2012
Australia 0% 2023
Azerbaijan 15% 2023 · HS 2017
Bahamas 45% 2022
Bahrain 5% 2023
Bangladesh 25% 2023 · HS 2017
Barbados 20% 2022 · HS 2017
Belarus 5% 2021 · HS 2017
Belize 20% 2023
Benin 20% 2023
Bermuda 25% 2023
Bhutan 10% 2022
Bolivia 10% 2023 · HS 2017
Bosnia & Herzegovina 5% 0% – 10% 2022
Botswana 0% 2023
Brazil 20% 2023 · HS 2017
Brunei 0% 2023 · HS 2017
Burkina Faso 20% 2023
Burundi 25% 2023
Cambodia 15% 2023 · HS 2017
Cameroon 30% 2023
Canada 0% 2023
Cape Verde 15% 0% – 30% 2023 · HS 2017
Cayman Islands 22% 2021 · HS 2002
Central African Republic 30% 2023
Chad 30% 2023
Chile 6% 2023 · HS 2017
China 0% 2023
Colombia 10% 2023 · HS 2017
Comoros 20% 2021 · HS 2017
Congo - Brazzaville 30% 2023
Cook Islands 0% 2022 · HS 2017
Costa Rica 0% 2023
Côte d’Ivoire 20% 2023 · HS 2017
Cuba 10% 2023 · HS 2017
Dominica 20% 2023 · HS 2017
Dominican Republic 14% 2023
Ecuador 5% 2023 · HS 2017
Egypt 5% 2019 · HS 2017
El Salvador 0% 2022
Equatorial Guinea 30% 2023
Eswatini 0% 2023
Ethiopia 20% 2021 · HS 2017
European Union (27 countries) 0% 2023
Fiji 0% 2023
French Polynesia 6% 2023
Gabon 30% 2023
Gambia 20% 2023
Georgia 0% 2022 · HS 2017
Ghana 20% 2023
Gibraltar 0% 2023 · HS 2017
Grenada 20% 2023 · HS 2012
Guatemala 0% 2023
Guinea 20% 2023
Guinea-Bissau 20% 2023
Guyana 20% 2023 · HS 2017
Haiti 5% 2020 · HS 2017
Honduras 0% 2023
Hong Kong SAR China 0% 2023
Iceland 0% 2023
India 10% 2023
Indonesia 15% 2023
Iran 10% 2020 · HS 2017
Israel 2.4% 0% – 12% 2022 · HS 2017
Jamaica 20% 2023
Japan 0% 2023
Jordan 5% 2023
Kazakhstan 0% 2023
Kenya 25% 2023
Kiribati 50% 2023 · HS 2002
Kuwait 5% 2023
Kyrgyzstan 5% 2021 · HS 2017
Laos 10% 2023 · HS 2017
Lebanon 5% 2020 · HS 2017
Lesotho 0% 2023
Liberia 20% 2023
Libya 5% 2021 · HS 2017
Liechtenstein 0% 2021 · HS 2017
Macao SAR China 0% 2023
Madagascar 20% 2023
Malawi 25% 2021 · HS 2017
Malaysia 0% 2023
Maldives 5% 2023
Mali 20% 2023
Mauritania 20% 2023 · HS 2017
Mauritius 0% 2023
Mexico 15% 2023 · HS 2017
Micronesia 4% 2021 · HS 2017
Moldova 8% 2023 · HS 2017
Mongolia 5% 2023
Montserrat 40% 2023 · HS 2017
Morocco 2.5% 2023
Mozambique 20% 2023
Myanmar (Burma) 20% 2023 · HS 2017
Namibia 0% 2023
Nauru 10% 2021 · HS 2017
Nepal 5% 2023
New Zealand 0% 2023
Nicaragua 0% 2023
Niger 20% 2023
Nigeria 20% 2023
North Macedonia 8% 2023
Norway 0% 2023
Oman 5% 2023
Pakistan 20% 2023
Palau 3% 2023 · HS 2012
Palestinian Territories 2.4% 0% – 12% 2017 · HS 2017
Panama 13% 10% – 15% 2023
Papua New Guinea 0% 2023
Paraguay 6% 2023 · HS 2017
Peru 0% 2023 · HS 2017
Philippines 0% 2023
Qatar 5% 2023
Russia 5% 2021 · HS 2017
Rwanda 25% 2023
Samoa 20% 2020 · HS 2017
São Tomé & Príncipe 10% 2019 · HS 2017
Saudi Arabia 5% 2023
Senegal 20% 2023
Seychelles 0% 2023
Sierra Leone 20% 2023
Singapore 0% 2023 · HS 2017
Solomon Islands 10% 2023 · HS 2017
Somalia 25% 2023 · HS 2017
South Africa 0% 2023
South Korea 0% 2023
Sri Lanka 15% 2023
St Kitts & Nevis 25% 2023
St Lucia 20% 2023 · HS 2012
St Pierre & Miquelon 7% 2021 · HS 2017
St Vincent & the Grenadines 20% 2023
Sudan 25% 2021 · HS 2017
Suriname 20% 2023 · HS 2007
Switzerland 0% 2023
Syria 20% 2020 · HS 2012
Tajikistan 0% 2021 · HS 2012
Tanzania 25% 2023
Thailand 10% 2023
Togo 20% 2023
Tonga 3% 2023 · HS 2017
Trinidad & Tobago 20% 2023 · HS 2012
Türkiye 2% 2023
Tuvalu 15% 2017 · HS 2017
Uganda 25% 2023
Ukraine 0.1% 0% – 0.1% 2023 · HS 2017
United Arab Emirates 5% 2023
United Kingdom 0% 2023
United States 0% 2023
Uruguay 20% 2023 · HS 2017
Uzbekistan 10% 2021 · HS 2017
Vanuatu 15% 2023
Venezuela 20% 2023 · HS 2017
Vietnam 13% 10% – 20% 2023
Wallis & Futuna 10% 2021 · HS 2012
Yemen 5% 2017 · HS 2017
Zambia 0% 2023
Zimbabwe 0.4% 2023

Tariff data years 2017–2023; rates may have changed since. · UNCTAD TRAINS, accessed via WITS (World Bank)

Classifications and correspondences

Where this HS subheading sits in the United Nations' statistical classifications, and which codes it had in earlier editions of the Harmonized System.

SITC Rev. 4
76426 Electric sound amplifier sets
End use (BEC Rev. 5)
Capital goods · BEC 612020
CPC 2.1 product
47330 Microphones and stands therefor; loudspeakers; headphones, earphones and combined microphone/speaker sets; audio-frequency electric amplifiers; electric sound amplifier sets
ISIC Rev. 4 activity
2640 Manufacture of consumer electronics

Earlier HS editions

HSCode
20178518.50changed
20128518.50changed
20078518.50changed
20028518.50changed
19968518.50changed
19928518.50changed

Correspondence tables of the United Nations Statistics Division (UNSD)

Recent rule changes mentioning this code

Acts whose text cites this code or its heading. Check the act itself: a code can be cited for reasons other than a change of its duty.

  1. US Import and export controls

    Notice of Action: Brazil's Acts, Policies, and Practices Related to Digital Trade and Electronic Payment Services; Unfair, Preferential Tariffs; Anti-Corruption Enforcement; Intellectual Property Protection; Ethanol Market Access; and Illegal Deforestation

    FR Doc. 2026-14542 · 91 FR 45516 · Source: federalregister.gov

  2. US Tariff change

    Notice of Determination and Request for Comments Concerning Action Pursuant to Section 301: Brazil's Acts, Policies, and Practices Related to Digital Trade and Electronic Payment Services; Unfair, Preferential Tariffs; Anti-Corruption Enforcement; Intellectual Property Protection; Ethanol Market Access; and Illegal Deforestation

    FR Doc. 2026-11158 · 91 FR 33854 · Source: federalregister.gov

Rule changes →

In the UK Global Tariff, subheading 8518.50 covers 2 tariff lines and the duty is duty-free.

The EU Combined Nomenclature has one tariff line for subheading 8518.50; the duty is duty-free.

Goods from 174 countries can enter the UK at a preferential rate instead of the standard Free; 174 of them pay no duty at all, for example under DCTS Comprehensive or European Union.

In the UK, additional duty of 35% applies on top of the customs duty to goods from Belarus and Russia.

In the 12 months to August 2026, the UK imported these goods worth £37m (up 14% on the year before), at an average of £32.23 per kg; China supplied 29%, followed by United States.

World trade in these goods reached US$1bn in 2024, down 6.3% on 2023.

China was the largest exporter with 32.3% of the total, ahead of Italy.

Products classified here

Questions and answers

What is the HS code for electric sound amplifier sets?

Electric sound amplifier sets fall under HS subheading 8518.50, part of heading 8518, in section XVI of the Harmonized System.

What is the import duty on electric sound amplifier sets in the UK?

Under the UK Global Tariff, imports under 8518.50 from countries without a preferential agreement are free of duty. Preferential rates, anti-dumping duties and VAT are not included.

What is the import duty on electric sound amplifier sets in the EU?

Under the EU Combined Nomenclature, imports under 8518.50 from countries without a preferential agreement are free of duty. Preferential rates, anti-dumping duties and VAT are not included.

Which country exports the most electric sound amplifier sets?

China, with US$398m in 2024 (32.3% of world exports).

Which countries can export these goods to the UK duty-free?

174 countries pay no duty under a trade agreement or preference scheme, among them partners under DCTS Comprehensive, European Union, DCTS Enhanced. The goods must meet the agreement’s rules of origin and the importer needs proof of origin; otherwise the standard rate of Free applies. Pick a country above to see its rate.

Is there anti-dumping duty on these goods?

The UK charges additional duty of 35% on goods from Belarus and Russia. Lower rates apply to the named exporters listed in the measure.

Where does the UK import these goods from?

In the 12 months to August 2026, the largest suppliers were China (29%), United States (25%) and Italy (15%), out of total imports of £37m.

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Typical products

Everyday names, not part of the legal text.