Subheading · Chapter 85 · Heading 8523

8523.41

8523.41: Discs, tapes, solid-state non-volatile storage devices: optical media, unrecorded

Official description Unrecorded

8523.41 is a six-digit subheading of heading 8523, discs, tapes, solid-state non-volatile storage devices, ‘smart cards’ and other…, chapter 85.

What you pay

Importing into UK

Customs duty Free standard rate · across 3 national lines depends on the country of origin
Additional duties and charges 1 additional measure Import requirements: 3
VAT 20.00 % import VAT
Duty calculatorCalculate duty and taxes →

Rates by national line · UK Global Tariff

UK lines →
  1. 8523 41 00 00 Unrecorded
  2. 8523 41 10 00 Discs for laser reading systems of a recording capacity not exceeding 900 megabytes, other than erasable Freep/st
  3. 8523 41 30 00 Discs for laser reading systems of a recording capacity exceeding 900 megabytes but not exceeding 18 gigabytes, other than erasable Freep/st
  4. 8523 41 90 00 Other Free

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 1

  • Additional dutyAdditional duties 35%
    Applies to goods from
    Belarus, Russia
    Legal act
    2022 No. 376
    Documents
    • 9008

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£2.3m-19.5% · previous 12 months
Average import price£10.29 per kg
Jan 2024: £174kFeb 2024: £315kMar 2024: £525kApr 2024: £230kMay 2024: £955kJun 2024: £221kJul 2024: £263kAug 2024: £302kSept 2024: £279kOct 2024: £278kNov 2024: £311kDec 2024: £215kJan 2025: £253kFeb 2025: £256kMar 2025: £157kApr 2025: £271kMay 2025: £151kJun 2025: £190kJul 2025: £312kAug 2025: £236kSept 2025: £137kOct 2025: £144kNov 2025: £323kDec 2025: £210kJan 2026: £163kFeb 2026: £206kMar 2026: £256kApr 2026: £208kMay 2026: £131kJun 2026: £180kJul 2026: £299kAug 2026: £82k 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
Taiwan £1m 44.5% +12.1%
China £252k 10.7% -24%
Vietnam £220k 9.4% +14.3%
Japan £197k 8.4% -43.4%
Germany £137k 5.9% +7.3%
Italy £135k 5.8% -8.1%
Slovakia £100k 4.3% —
Austria £53k 2.3% +1.8%

Same subheading in other tariffs

World trade in 2024

8523.41 · US$448m

Trade value (US$) no reported trade < US$111kUS$111k+US$1m+US$14m+> US$31m

Exports: 107
  1. Taiwan: US$114m
  2. South Korea: US$80m
  3. Vietnam: US$31m
  4. China: US$25m
  5. United States: US$23m
  6. Israel: US$22m
  7. Germany: US$19m
  8. Japan: US$17m
  9. Ireland: US$15m
  10. Malaysia: US$14m
  11. Austria: US$11m
  12. United Arab Emirates: US$10m
  13. United Kingdom: US$9m
  14. Netherlands: US$9m
  15. Thailand: US$9m
  16. Italy: US$6m
  17. France: US$5m
  18. Spain: US$5m
  19. Singapore: US$3m
  20. Denmark: US$2m
  21. Belgium: US$2m
  22. India: US$2m
  23. Czechia: US$1m
  24. Estonia: US$1m
  25. Poland: US$1m
  26. Switzerland: US$1m
  27. Hungary: US$1m
  28. Slovakia: US$1m
  29. Hong Kong SAR China: US$1m
  30. Sweden: US$947k
  31. Cyprus: US$912k
  32. Australia: US$622k
  33. Türkiye: US$566k
  34. Portugal: US$489k
  35. Croatia: US$450k
  36. Philippines: US$449k
  37. Chile: US$422k
  38. Canada: US$383k
  39. Indonesia: US$364k
  40. Colombia: US$299k
  41. Greece: US$245k
  42. Luxembourg: US$239k
  43. Slovenia: US$213k
  44. Finland: US$204k
  45. Bulgaria: US$177k
  46. Lithuania: US$171k
  47. Mexico: US$155k
  48. Malta: US$111k
  49. Brazil: US$71k
  50. South Africa: US$68k
  51. Norway: US$55k
  52. Kuwait: US$47k
  53. Romania: US$46k
  54. Latvia: US$45k
  55. New Zealand: US$35k
  56. Greenland: US$30k
  57. Zambia: US$19k
  58. Armenia: US$17k
  59. Serbia: US$16k
  60. Bangladesh: US$16k

Top exporters

RankCountryValueShare
1 Taiwan US$114m 25.4%
2 South Korea US$80m 17.8%
3 Vietnam US$31m 6.9%
4 China US$25m 5.6%
5 United States US$23m 5%
6 Israel US$22m 4.8%
7 Germany US$19m 4.2%
8 Japan US$17m 3.8%
9 Ireland US$15m 3.3%
10 Malaysia US$14m 3.2%

Top importers

RankCountryValueShare
1 Japan US$136m 30.3%
2 United States US$41m 9.2%
3 China US$35m 7.9%
4 France US$21m 4.8%
5 Taiwan US$19m 4.2%
6 Mexico US$18m 4%
7 Germany US$17m 3.8%
8 Singapore US$12m 2.6%
9 South Korea US$11m 2.5%
10 Poland US$11m 2.4%

Import duty on this product around the world 160

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.

  • 5%median duty
  • 69number of duty-free countries (MFN)
  • 55%highest: Iran, Belize, Algeria

160

Importing countryMFN dutylines from – todata year
Afghanistan 5% 2018 · HS 2012
Albania 0% 2023
Algeria 30% 2023
Angola 2% 2023 · HS 2017
Anguilla 20% 2021 · HS 2017
Argentina 21% 16% – 26% 2023 · HS 2017
Armenia 0% 2023
Aruba 12% 2021 · HS 2012
Australia 0% 2023
Azerbaijan 15% 2023 · HS 2017
Bahamas 10% 2022
Bahrain 0% 2023
Bangladesh 15% 2023 · HS 2017
Barbados 18% 5% – 45% 2022 · HS 2017
Belarus 0% 2021 · HS 2017
Belize 45% 2023
Benin 20% 2023
Bermuda 25% 2023
Bhutan 10% 2022
Bolivia 10% 2023 · HS 2017
Bosnia & Herzegovina 5% 2022
Botswana 0% 2023
Brazil 16% 2023 · HS 2017
Brunei 0% 2023 · HS 2017
Burkina Faso 20% 2023
Burundi 10% 2023
Cambodia 11% 7% – 15% 2023 · HS 2017
Cameroon 30% 2023
Canada 0% 2023
Cape Verde 18% 5% – 30% 2023 · HS 2017
Central African Republic 30% 2023
Chad 30% 2023
Chile 6% 2023 · HS 2017
China 0% 2023
Colombia 15% 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 15% 2023 · HS 2017
Dominica 5% 2023 · HS 2017
Dominican Republic 14% 2023
Ecuador 25% 2023 · HS 2017
Egypt 0% 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 15% 2023
French Polynesia 13% 2023
Gabon 30% 2023
Gambia 20% 2023
Georgia 0% 2022 · HS 2017
Ghana 20% 2023
Gibraltar 4% 0% – 12% 2023 · HS 2017
Grenada 15% 5% – 35% 2023 · HS 2012
Guatemala 0% 2023
Guinea 20% 2023
Guinea-Bissau 20% 2023
Guyana 18% 5% – 45% 2023 · HS 2017
Haiti 0% 2020 · HS 2017
Honduras 0% 2023
Hong Kong SAR China 0% 2023
Iceland 0% 2023
India 10% 2023
Indonesia 0% 2023
Iran 55% 2020 · HS 2017
Israel 0% 2022 · HS 2017
Jamaica 0% 2023
Japan 0% 2023
Jordan 0% 2023
Kazakhstan 0% 2023
Kenya 10% 2023
Kuwait 0% 2023
Kyrgyzstan 0% 2021 · HS 2017
Laos 10% 2023 · HS 2017
Lebanon 0% 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 5% 2023
Malawi 0% 2021 · HS 2017
Malaysia 0% 2023
Maldives 0% 2023
Mali 20% 2023
Mauritania 20% 2023 · HS 2017
Mauritius 0% 2023
Mexico 5% 0% – 10% 2023 · HS 2017
Micronesia 4% 2021 · HS 2017
Moldova 0% 2023 · HS 2017
Mongolia 5% 2023
Montserrat 20% 2023 · HS 2017
Morocco 2.5% 2023
Mozambique 7.5% 2023
Myanmar (Burma) 3% 2023 · HS 2017
Namibia 0% 2023
Nauru 10% 2021 · HS 2017
Nepal 0% 2023
New Zealand 0% 2023
Nicaragua 0% 2023
Niger 20% 2023
Nigeria 20% 2023
North Macedonia 0% 2023
Norway 0% 2023
Oman 0% 2023
Pakistan 11% 2023
Palau 3% 2023 · HS 2012
Palestinian Territories 0% 2017 · HS 2017
Panama 0% 2023
Papua New Guinea 0% 2023
Paraguay 16% 2023 · HS 2017
Peru 0% 2023 · HS 2017
Philippines 0% 2023
Qatar 0% 2023
Russia 0% 2021 · HS 2017
Rwanda 10% 2023
Samoa 20% 2020 · HS 2017
Saudi Arabia 0% 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 0% 2023
St Kitts & Nevis 5% 2023
St Lucia 8.3% 0% – 25% 2023 · HS 2012
St Pierre & Miquelon 10% 2021 · HS 2017
St Vincent & the Grenadines 12% 5% – 25% 2023
Sudan 12% 0% – 25% 2021 · HS 2017
Switzerland 0% 2023
Syria 20% 2020 · HS 2012
Tajikistan 0% 2021 · HS 2012
Tanzania 10% 2023
Thailand 0% 2023
Togo 20% 2023
Tonga 0% 2023 · HS 2017
Trinidad & Tobago 0% 2023 · HS 2012
Türkiye 0% 2023
Tuvalu 15% 2017 · HS 2017
Uganda 10% 2023
Ukraine 0% 2023 · HS 2017
United Arab Emirates 0% 2023
United Kingdom 0% 2023
United States 0% 2023
Uruguay 16% 2023 · HS 2017
Uzbekistan 10% 2021 · HS 2017
Vanuatu 15% 2023
Venezuela 16% 2023 · HS 2017
Vietnam 0% 2023
Wallis & Futuna 10% 2021 · HS 2012
Yemen 5% 2017 · HS 2017
Zambia 25% 2023
Zimbabwe 0.2% 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
89844 Optical media for the recording of sound/of other phenomena
End use (BEC Rev. 5)
Consumption goods · BEC 613202
CPC 2.1 product
47540 Optical media, not recorded
ISIC Rev. 4 activity
2680 Manufacture of magnetic and optical media

Earlier HS editions

HSCode
20178523.41changed
20128523.41changed
20078523.40changed
20028523.90, 8524.31, 8524.32, 8524.39, 8524.91, 8524.99changed
19968523.90, 8524.31, 8524.32, 8524.39, 8524.91, 8524.99changed
19928523.90, 8524.90changed

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. GB Tariff change

    UK Trade Tariff: measure changes on 433 commodity codes

    Trade Tariff changes 2026-07-22 · Source: trade-tariff.service.gov.uk

  2. EU Sanctions · Applies from:

    Council Regulation (EU) 2026/506 of 23 April 2026 amending Regulation (EU) No 833/2014 concerning restrictive measures in view of Russia’s actions destabilising the situation in Ukraine

    CELEX 32026R0506 · Source: eur-lex.europa.eu

Rule changes →

In the UK Global Tariff, subheading 8523.41 covers 3 tariff lines and the duty is duty-free.

The EU Combined Nomenclature divides subheading 8523.41 into 3 tariff lines; 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 £2.3m (down 19% on the year before), at an average of £10.29 per kg; Taiwan supplied 45%, followed by China.

World trade in these goods reached US$448m in 2024, down 3% on 2023.

Taiwan was the largest exporter with 25.4% of the total, ahead of South Korea.

Products classified here

Questions and answers

What is the HS code for discs, tapes, solid-state non-volatile storage devices: optical media, unrecorded?

Discs, tapes, solid-state non-volatile storage devices: optical media, unrecorded fall under HS subheading 8523.41, part of heading 8523, in section XVI of the Harmonized System.

What is the import duty on discs, tapes, solid-state non-volatile storage… in the UK?

Under the UK Global Tariff, imports under 8523.41 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 discs, tapes, solid-state non-volatile storage… in the EU?

Under the EU Combined Nomenclature, imports under 8523.41 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 discs, tapes, solid-state non-volatile storage…?

Taiwan, with US$114m in 2024 (25.4% 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 Taiwan (45%), China (11%) and Vietnam (9%), out of total imports of £2.3m.

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Typical products

Everyday names, not part of the legal text.