Subheading · Chapter 85 · Heading 8523
8523.49: Discs, tapes, solid-state non-volatile storage devices: optical media, other
Other optical media (recorded discs)
Official description Other
8523.49 is the HS subheading for other optical media (recorded discs), under heading 8523 in chapter 85.
What you pay
Importing into UK
Rates by national line · UK Global Tariff
UK lines →- 8523 49 00 00 Other p/st
- Discs for laser reading systems p/st
- 8523 49 10 00 Digital versatile discs (dvd) Freep/st
- 8523 49 20 00 Other Freep/st
- 8523 49 90 00 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 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, North Korea, Russia
- Legal act
- S.I. 2019/461, S.I. 2019/411, 2020 No. 1665, S.I. 2019/855
Preferential rates by country
| Agreement or scheme | Countries | Rate |
|---|---|---|
| standard rate (no agreement) | — | Free |
| DCTS Comprehensive | Afghanistan, Angola, Bangladesh, Benin and 38 moreAfghanistan, 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") | Free | |
| DCTS Enhanced | Algeria, Bolivia, Cape Verde, Congo - Brazzaville and 13 moreAlgeria, 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 moreAntigua & 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 moreAnguilla, 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
Main suppliers, last 12 months
| Country | Value | Share | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
 Austria | £92.3m | 42.6% | +1% |
 Germany | £29.4m | 13.6% | +3.4% |
 Poland | £25.4m | 11.7% | -16.3% |
 United States | £20.2m | 9.3% | -11.2% |
 Vietnam | £10.8m | 5% | +441,377.2% |
 Czechia | £9.6m | 4.4% | +43.5% |
 South Korea | £4.6m | 2.1% | +111.3% |
 Japan | £3.7m | 1.7% | +3.6% |
Same subheading in other tariffs
EU Free Third-country duty 3 tariff lines 
Türkiye 3.5% Third-country duty 3 tariff lines USA Free General (MFN) 4 tariff lines 
Canada Free General (MFN) 5 tariff lines 
Mexico Free General (MFN) 2 tariff lines 
Brazil 14.4% General (MFN) 3 tariff lines 
Argentina 16% General (MFN) 5 tariff lines 
Peru Free General (MFN) 3 tariff lines 
New Zealand Free General (MFN) 8 tariff lines Japan Free General (MFN) 1 tariff line 
Taiwan Free General (MFN) 4 tariff lines 
GCC Free General (MFN) 2 tariff lines 
Switzerland Free General (MFN) 1 tariff line 
Norway Free General (MFN) 4 tariff lines 
North Macedonia Free – 8% General (MFN) 6 tariff lines · average 4% 
Nigeria 20% General (MFN) 1 tariff line World trade in 2024
Trade value (US$) no reported trade < US$82kUS$82k+US$6m+US$101m+> US$496m
Exports: 185
- United States: US$879m
- Ireland: US$835m
- Germany: US$775m
- Austria: US$655m
- Japan: US$503m
- South Korea: US$496m
- Czechia: US$397m
- Netherlands: US$344m
- France: US$333m
- China: US$331m
- Mexico: US$298m
- Poland: US$291m
- United Kingdom: US$260m
- Hong Kong SAR China: US$254m
- Singapore: US$235m
- Taiwan: US$149m
- Sweden: US$102m
- Russia: US$101m
- Israel: US$75m
- Italy: US$70m
- Denmark: US$61m
- Canada: US$61m
- Malaysia: US$56m
- Finland: US$53m
- Spain: US$50m
- Belgium: US$46m
- Switzerland: US$37m
- Greece: US$32m
- Estonia: US$29m
- Hungary: US$27m
- Australia: US$23m
- Slovakia: US$19m
- Romania: US$15m
- Slovenia: US$14m
- Bulgaria: US$13m
- Bahrain: US$12m
- United Arab Emirates: US$10m
- Portugal: US$10m
- Norway: US$9m
- South Africa: US$7m
- Costa Rica: US$7m
- India: US$6m
- Brazil: US$6m
- Guatemala: US$6m
- Vietnam: US$6m
- Thailand: US$6m
- Croatia: US$5m
- Serbia: US$5m
- Cyprus: US$4m
- Lithuania: US$4m
- Philippines: US$3m
- Latvia: US$3m
- Luxembourg: US$2m
- Türkiye: US$2m
- Sri Lanka: US$2m
- Panama: US$2m
- Belarus: US$1m
- New Zealand: US$992k
- Kazakhstan: US$929k
- Bolivia: US$863k
Trade value (US$) no reported trade < US$1mUS$1m+US$16m+US$87m+> US$254m
Imports: 211
- China: US$1.8bn
- Germany: US$627m
- United States: US$567m
- France: US$383m
- Canada: US$377m
- United Kingdom: US$287m
- Japan: US$254m
- Taiwan: US$232m
- Netherlands: US$231m
- Czechia: US$231m
- Hong Kong SAR China: US$202m
- Spain: US$191m
- Poland: US$185m
- Austria: US$182m
- South Korea: US$178m
- Italy: US$170m
- United Arab Emirates: US$160m
- Indonesia: US$124m
- Mexico: US$116m
- Egypt: US$102m
- Denmark: US$87m
- Belgium: US$82m
- Sweden: US$78m
- Switzerland: US$74m
- Singapore: US$70m
- Pakistan: US$55m
- Ireland: US$55m
- Portugal: US$55m
- Thailand: US$48m
- Bangladesh: US$47m
- Australia: US$38m
- Greece: US$35m
- India: US$30m
- Romania: US$29m
- Hungary: US$27m
- Saudi Arabia: US$26m
- Finland: US$26m
- Israel: US$26m
- Slovakia: US$26m
- Norway: US$25m
- Bulgaria: US$25m
- Nicaragua: US$24m
- Kuwait: US$24m
- Estonia: US$23m
- Qatar: US$21m
- Türkiye: US$19m
- Chile: US$19m
- Vietnam: US$18m
- Oman: US$18m
- South Africa: US$17m
- Croatia: US$17m
- Slovenia: US$17m
- Malaysia: US$16m
- Guatemala: US$15m
- Luxembourg: US$15m
- New Zealand: US$14m
- Serbia: US$14m
- Kazakhstan: US$13m
- Colombia: US$12m
- Philippines: US$11m
Top exporters
| Rank | Country | Value | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | United States | US$879m | 10.9% |
| 2 |  Ireland | US$835m | 10.4% |
| 3 | Germany | US$775m | 9.6% |
| 4 | Austria | US$655m | 8.1% |
| 5 | Japan | US$503m | 6.2% |
| 6 | South Korea | US$496m | 6.2% |
| 7 | Czechia | US$397m | 4.9% |
| 8 |  Netherlands | US$344m | 4.3% |
| 9 |  France | US$333m | 4.1% |
| 10 |  China | US$331m | 4.1% |
Top importers
| Rank | Country | Value | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | China | US$1.8bn | 21.8% |
| 2 | Germany | US$627m | 7.8% |
| 3 | United States | US$567m | 7% |
| 4 | France | US$383m | 4.8% |
| 5 | Canada | US$377m | 4.7% |
| 6 | United Kingdom | US$287m | 3.6% |
| 7 | Japan | US$254m | 3.2% |
| 8 | Taiwan | US$232m | 2.9% |
| 9 | Netherlands | US$231m | 2.9% |
| 10 | Czechia | US$231m | 2.9% |
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.
- 6.2%median duty
- 48number of duty-free countries (MFN)
- 30%highest: Algeria, Cameroon, Central African Republic
160
| Importing country | MFN duty | lines from – to | data year |
|---|---|---|---|
 Afghanistan | 5% | 2018 · HS 2012 | |
 Albania | 0% | 2023 | |
 Algeria | 30% | 2023 | |
 Angola | 2% | 2023 · HS 2017 | |
 Anguilla | 20% | 2021 · HS 2017 | |
| Argentina | 16% | 2023 · HS 2017 | |
 Armenia | 4% | 0% – 10% | 2023 |
 Aruba | 12% | 2021 · HS 2012 | |
 Australia | 0% | 2023 | |
 Azerbaijan | 15% | 2023 · HS 2017 | |
 Bahamas | 18% | 0% – 45% | 2022 |
 Bahrain | 0% | 2023 | |
 Bangladesh | 18% | 5% – 25% | 2023 · HS 2017 |
 Barbados | 26% | 20% – 45% | 2022 · HS 2017 |
 Belarus | 4% | 0% – 10% | 2021 · HS 2017 |
 Belize | 16% | 0% – 40% | 2023 |
 Benin | 20% | 2023 | |
 Bermuda | 13% | 0% – 25% | 2023 |
 Bhutan | 10% | 2022 | |
 Bolivia | 10% | 2023 · HS 2017 | |
 Bosnia & Herzegovina | 5% | 2022 | |
 Botswana | 0% | 2023 | |
| Brazil | 16% | 2023 · HS 2017 | |
 Brunei | 2.7% | 0% – 5% | 2023 · HS 2017 |
 Burkina Faso | 20% | 2023 | |
 Burundi | 25% | 2023 | |
 Cambodia | 11% | 7% – 15% | 2023 · HS 2017 |
 Cameroon | 30% | 2023 | |
| Canada | 0% | 2023 | |
 Cape Verde | 8.8% | 5% – 20% | 2023 · HS 2017 |
 Central African Republic | 30% | 2023 | |
 Chad | 30% | 2023 | |
 Chile | 6% | 2023 · HS 2017 | |
| China | 0% | 2023 | |
 Colombia | 6.7% | 0% – 15% | 2023 · HS 2017 |
 Comoros | 20% | 2021 · HS 2017 | |
 Congo - Brazzaville | 30% | 2023 | |
 Cook Islands | 0% | 2022 · HS 2017 | |
 Costa Rica | 1.1% | 0% – 9% | 2023 |
 Côte d’Ivoire | 20% | 2023 · HS 2017 | |
 Cuba | 15% | 2023 · HS 2017 | |
 Dominica | 28% | 5% – 35% | 2023 · HS 2017 |
 Dominican Republic | 6.7% | 0% – 20% | 2023 |
 Ecuador | 25% | 2023 · HS 2017 | |
 Egypt | 0% | 2019 · HS 2017 | |
 El Salvador | 2% | 0% – 10% | 2022 |
 Equatorial Guinea | 30% | 2023 | |
 Eswatini | 0% | 2023 | |
 Ethiopia | 20% | 2021 · HS 2017 | |
| European Union (27 countries) | 0% | 2023 | |
 Fiji | 5% | 2023 | |
 French Polynesia | 13% | 2023 | |
 Gabon | 30% | 2023 | |
 Gambia | 20% | 2023 | |
 Georgia | 0% | 2022 · HS 2017 | |
 Ghana | 20% | 2023 | |
 Gibraltar | 8% | 0% – 12% | 2023 · HS 2017 |
 Grenada | 25% | 20% – 35% | 2023 · HS 2012 |
 Guatemala | 2% | 0% – 10% | 2023 |
 Guinea | 20% | 2023 | |
 Guinea-Bissau | 20% | 2023 | |
 Guyana | 26% | 20% – 45% | 2023 · HS 2017 |
 Haiti | 0% | 2020 · HS 2017 | |
 Honduras | 2% | 0% – 10% | 2023 |
 Hong Kong SAR China | 0% | 2023 | |
 Iceland | 0% | 2023 | |
 India | 10% | 2023 | |
 Indonesia | 6% | 0% – 10% | 2023 |
 Iran | 5% | 2020 · HS 2017 | |
 Israel | 2.5% | 0% – 5% | 2022 · HS 2017 |
 Jamaica | 20% | 2023 | |
| Japan | 0% | 2023 | |
 Jordan | 0% | 2023 | |
 Kazakhstan | 1% | 0% – 5% | 2023 |
 Kenya | 25% | 2023 | |
 Kuwait | 0% | 2023 | |
 Kyrgyzstan | 4% | 0% – 10% | 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 | 20% | 2023 | |
 Malawi | 0% | 2021 · HS 2017 | |
 Malaysia | 0% | 2023 | |
 Maldives | 0% | 2023 | |
 Mali | 20% | 2023 | |
 Mauritania | 20% | 2023 · HS 2017 | |
 Mauritius | 0% | 2023 | |
| Mexico | 0% | 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 | 20% | 2023 | |
 Myanmar (Burma) | 3% | 2023 · HS 2017 | |
 Namibia | 0% | 2023 | |
 Nauru | 10% | 2021 · HS 2017 | |
 Nepal | 0% | 2023 | |
| New Zealand | 0% | 2023 | |
 Nicaragua | 1.7% | 0% – 10% | 2023 |
 Niger | 20% | 2023 | |
| Nigeria | 20% | 2023 | |
| North Macedonia | 4% | 0% – 8% | 2023 |
| Norway | 0% | 2023 | |
 Oman | 0% | 2023 | |
 Pakistan | 11% | 2023 | |
 Palau | 3% | 2023 · HS 2012 | |
 Palestinian Territories | 2.5% | 0% – 5% | 2017 · HS 2017 |
 Panama | 5.8% | 0% – 15% | 2023 |
 Papua New Guinea | 0% | 2023 | |
 Paraguay | 8.7% | 6% – 14% | 2023 · HS 2017 |
| Peru | 0% | 2023 · HS 2017 | |
 Philippines | 0% | 2023 | |
 Qatar | 0% | 2023 | |
 Russia | 4% | 0% – 10% | 2021 · HS 2017 |
 Rwanda | 25% | 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 | 25% | 2023 | |
 St Lucia | 22% | 20% – 25% | 2023 · HS 2012 |
 St Pierre & Miquelon | 10% | 2021 · HS 2017 | |
 St Vincent & the Grenadines | 21% | 20% – 25% | 2023 |
 Sudan | 12% | 0% – 25% | 2021 · HS 2017 |
| Switzerland | 0% | 2023 | |
 Syria | 20% | 2020 · HS 2012 | |
 Tajikistan | 0% | 2021 · HS 2012 | |
 Tanzania | 25% | 2023 | |
 Thailand | 6.4% | 0% – 10% | 2023 |
 Togo | 20% | 2023 | |
 Tonga | 0% | 2023 · HS 2017 | |
 Trinidad & Tobago | 18% | 10% – 20% | 2023 · HS 2012 |
| Türkiye | 3.5% | 2023 | |
 Tuvalu | 15% | 2017 · HS 2017 | |
 Uganda | 25% | 2023 | |
 Ukraine | 3.2% | 0% – 10% | 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 | 8.2% | 0% – 15% | 2023 |
 Wallis & Futuna | 10% | 2021 · HS 2012 | |
 Yemen | 5% | 2017 · HS 2017 | |
 Zambia | 25% | 2023 | |
 Zimbabwe | 0.1% | 0% – 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
- 47610 Musical audio disks, tapes or other physical media47620 Films and other video content on disks, tape or other physical media47691 Audio books on disk, tape or other physical media47692 Text-based disks, tapes or other physical media
- ISIC Rev. 4 activity
- 5920 Sound recording and music publishing activities5911 Motion picture, video and television programme production activities5811 Book publishing5812 Publishing of directories and mailing lists
Earlier HS editions
| HS | Code | |
|---|---|---|
| 2017 | 8523.49 | changed |
| 2012 | 8523.49 | changed |
| 2007 | 8523.40 | changed |
| 2002 | 8523.90, 8524.31, 8524.32, 8524.39, 8524.91, 8524.99 | changed |
| 1996 | 8523.90, 8524.31, 8524.32, 8524.39, 8524.91, 8524.99 | changed |
| 1992 | 8523.90, 8524.90 | changed |
Correspondence tables of the United Nations Statistics Division (UNSD)
Binding rulings for similar goods 3
Decisions of U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CROSS) and HMRC (Advance Tariff Rulings) on goods classified here. A ruling binds only its holder, but shows how the authorities classify similar goods. The descriptions are the authorities’ own, in English.
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.
- Tariff change
UK Trade Tariff: measure changes on 433 commodity codes
Trade Tariff changes 2026-07-22 · Source: trade-tariff.service.gov.uk
- Sanctions · Applies from:
CELEX 32026R0506 · Source: eur-lex.europa.eu
In the UK Global Tariff, subheading 8523.49 covers 3 tariff lines and the duty is duty-free.
The EU Combined Nomenclature divides subheading 8523.49 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 other optical media (recorded discs) worth £216.6m (up 4% on the year before), at an average of £37.39 per kg; Austria supplied 43%, followed by Germany.
World trade in other optical media (recorded discs) reached US$8bn in 2024, down 8.7% on 2023.
The United States was the largest exporter with 10.9% of the total, ahead of Ireland.
Products classified here
Questions and answers
What is the HS code for discs, tapes, solid-state non-volatile storage devices: optical media, other?
Discs, tapes, solid-state non-volatile storage devices: optical media, other fall under HS subheading 8523.49, 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 8523.49 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 8523.49 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…?
The United States, with US$879m in 2024 (10.9% of world exports).
Which countries can export other optical media (recorded discs) 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 other optical media (recorded discs)?
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 other optical media (recorded discs) from?
In the 12 months to August 2026, the largest suppliers were Austria (43%), Germany (14%) and Poland (12%), out of total imports of £216.6m.
Typical products
- audio cd
- cd's
- compact discs, music
- computer games, optical media
- dvds
- music cds
- video games, optical media
Everyday names, not part of the legal text.