Heading · Chapter 85
8531: Electric sound or visual signalling apparatus (for example, bells, sirens, indicator panels, burglar or fire alarms), other than those of heading 8512 or 8530
4 subheadings make up heading 8531 in chapter 85 (electrical machinery and equipment and parts thereof).
Duty rates compared
UK Free – 2% Third-country duty 13 tariff lines · average 0.6% 
EU Free – 2.2% Third-country duty 8 tariff lines · average 0.8% 
Türkiye Free – 2.2% Third-country duty 11 tariff lines · average 1.2% 
USA Free – 1.3% General (MFN) 8 tariff lines · average 0.3% 
Canada Free – 6.5% General (MFN) 10 tariff lines · average 1.3% 
Mexico Free – 15% General (MFN) 13 tariff lines · average 6.2% 
Brazil 12.6% – 18% General (MFN) 5 tariff lines · average 15.8% 
Argentina Free – 18% General (MFN) 31 tariff lines · average 17.4% 
Peru Free General (MFN) 4 tariff lines 
New Zealand Free – 5% General (MFN) 34 tariff lines · average 0.9% 
Japan Free General (MFN) 4 tariff lines 
Taiwan Free General (MFN) 16 tariff lines 
GCC Free – 5% General (MFN) 10 tariff lines · average 2.5% 
Switzerland Free General (MFN) 4 tariff lines 
Norway Free General (MFN) 5 tariff lines 
North Macedonia Free – 15% General (MFN) 10 tariff lines · average 6.8% 
Nigeria 5% – 10% General (MFN) 4 tariff lines · average 7.5% Subheadings 4
- 8531.10Burglar or fire alarms and similar apparatusBurglar and fire alarms
- 8531.20Indicator panels incorporating liquid crystal devices (LCD) or light-emitting diodes (LED)LCD or LED indicator panels
- 8531.80Electric sound or visual signalling apparatus: other apparatusOther sound or visual signalling apparatus
- 8531.90Electric sound or visual signalling apparatus: partsParts of signalling apparatus
EU: imports by month
World trade in 2024
Trade value (US$) no reported trade < US$144kUS$144k+US$18m+US$236m+> US$700m
Exports: 204
- China: US$7bn
- United States: US$2bn
- Vietnam: US$1bn
- Mexico: US$1bn
- Germany: US$1bn
- United Kingdom: US$704m
- Taiwan: US$700m
- France: US$661m
- Netherlands: US$584m
- Italy: US$439m
- Malaysia: US$435m
- Ireland: US$390m
- Spain: US$370m
- Japan: US$332m
- Poland: US$298m
- Thailand: US$294m
- Sweden: US$284m
- Romania: US$265m
- Canada: US$241m
- Singapore: US$237m
- Israel: US$236m
- Hungary: US$178m
- Austria: US$174m
- Ukraine: US$170m
- South Korea: US$170m
- Hong Kong SAR China: US$165m
- Czechia: US$157m
- Indonesia: US$132m
- Switzerland: US$130m
- Belgium: US$113m
- Slovakia: US$97m
- India: US$92m
- Philippines: US$88m
- Portugal: US$74m
- Denmark: US$69m
- Australia: US$65m
- Finland: US$64m
- Türkiye: US$60m
- Bulgaria: US$59m
- Norway: US$58m
- Russia: US$43m
- South Africa: US$36m
- New Zealand: US$33m
- Slovenia: US$31m
- Dominican Republic: US$29m
- Brazil: US$27m
- United Arab Emirates: US$24m
- Croatia: US$23m
- Lithuania: US$23m
- Sri Lanka: US$23m
- Latvia: US$18m
- Tunisia: US$17m
- Serbia: US$13m
- Estonia: US$13m
- Greece: US$13m
- Peru: US$11m
- Pakistan: US$10m
- Kazakhstan: US$6m
- Cambodia: US$5m
- Chile: US$4m
Trade value (US$) no reported trade < US$4mUS$4m+US$41m+US$253m+> US$588m
Imports: 221
- United States: US$4bn
- Germany: US$1bn
- France: US$1bn
- Netherlands: US$1bn
- United Kingdom: US$980m
- Mexico: US$615m
- Spain: US$588m
- Canada: US$561m
- Italy: US$548m
- Vietnam: US$543m
- Thailand: US$538m
- Hong Kong SAR China: US$503m
- Japan: US$420m
- China: US$416m
- South Korea: US$405m
- Sweden: US$394m
- Singapore: US$388m
- Poland: US$377m
- Australia: US$360m
- Malaysia: US$294m
- India: US$275m
- Austria: US$273m
- United Arab Emirates: US$253m
- Czechia: US$236m
- Switzerland: US$230m
- Saudi Arabia: US$223m
- Taiwan: US$220m
- Belgium: US$219m
- Russia: US$218m
- Türkiye: US$199m
- Brazil: US$186m
- Romania: US$184m
- Norway: US$160m
- Portugal: US$150m
- Indonesia: US$146m
- Denmark: US$124m
- Ireland: US$105m
- Finland: US$100m
- Algeria: US$95m
- Hungary: US$89m
- South Africa: US$84m
- Philippines: US$78m
- Chile: US$75m
- Greece: US$74m
- Slovakia: US$70m
- Israel: US$68m
- Bangladesh: US$64m
- Egypt: US$58m
- New Zealand: US$57m
- Argentina: US$54m
- Kazakhstan: US$52m
- Tunisia: US$48m
- Slovenia: US$45m
- Qatar: US$42m
- Colombia: US$41m
- Serbia: US$41m
- Ukraine: US$38m
- Bulgaria: US$38m
- Peru: US$38m
- Morocco: US$38m
Top exporters
| Rank | Country | Value | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |  China | US$7bn | 31.2% |
| 2 | United States | US$2bn | 8.9% |
| 3 |  Vietnam | US$1bn | 6% |
| 4 | Mexico | US$1bn | 5.7% |
| 5 |  Germany | US$1bn | 5.4% |
| 6 | United Kingdom | US$704m | 3.3% |
| 7 | Taiwan | US$700m | 3.3% |
| 8 |  France | US$661m | 3.1% |
| 9 |  Netherlands | US$584m | 2.8% |
| 10 |  Italy | US$439m | 2.1% |
Top importers
| Rank | Country | Value | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | United States | US$4bn | 17.6% |
| 2 | Germany | US$1bn | 7.1% |
| 3 | France | US$1bn | 6.4% |
| 4 | Netherlands | US$1bn | 5% |
| 5 | United Kingdom | US$980m | 4.6% |
| 6 | Mexico | US$615m | 2.9% |
| 7 |  Spain | US$588m | 2.8% |
| 8 | Canada | US$561m | 2.7% |
| 9 | Italy | US$548m | 2.6% |
| 10 | Vietnam | US$543m | 2.6% |
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.
- Sanctions · Applies from:
CELEX 32026R0506 · Source: eur-lex.europa.eu
In the UK Global Tariff, heading 8531 covers 13 tariff lines and the duty is between 0% and 2%. 8 of them are duty-free.
The EU Combined Nomenclature divides heading 8531 into 8 tariff lines; the duty is between 0% and 2.2% (average 0.8%). 5 of them are duty-free.
In the Turkish Customs Tariff Schedule, heading 8531 covers 11 tariff lines and the duty is between 0% and 2.2%. 5 of them are duty-free.
The Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States divides heading 8531 into 8 tariff lines; the duty is between 0% and 1.3% (average 0.3%). 6 of them are duty-free.
In the Customs Tariff of Canada, heading 8531 covers 10 tariff lines and the duty is between 0% and 6.5%. 8 of them are duty-free.
The Mexican Tariff (TIGIE) divides heading 8531 into 13 tariff lines; the duty is between 0% and 15% (average 6.2%). 7 of them are duty-free.
In the Brazilian Tariff (NCM/TEC), heading 8531 covers 5 tariff lines and the duty is between 12.6% and 18%.
The Argentine Tariff (NCM-SIM) divides heading 8531 into 31 tariff lines; the duty is between 0% and 18% (average 17.4%). 1 of them is duty-free.
In the Customs Tariff of Peru, heading 8531 covers 4 tariff lines and the duty is duty-free.
The Working Tariff Document of New Zealand divides heading 8531 into 34 tariff lines; the duty is between 0% and 5% (average 0.9%). 28 of them are duty-free.
In the Customs Tariff Schedules of Japan, heading 8531 covers 4 tariff lines and the duty is duty-free.
The Customs Import Tariff of Taiwan divides heading 8531 into 16 tariff lines; the duty is duty-free.
In the GCC Common Customs Tariff, heading 8531 covers 10 tariff lines and the duty is between 0% and 5%. 5 of them are duty-free.
The Swiss Customs Tariff (Tares) divides heading 8531 into 4 tariff lines; the duty is duty-free.
In the Customs Tariff of Norway, heading 8531 covers 5 tariff lines and the duty is duty-free.
The Customs Tariff of North Macedonia divides heading 8531 into 10 tariff lines; the duty is between 0% and 15% (average 6.8%). 5 of them are duty-free.
In the ECOWAS Common External Tariff (Nigeria), heading 8531 covers 4 tariff lines and the duty is between 5% and 10%.
World trade in heading 8531 goods reached US$21bn in 2024, up 1% on 2023.
China was the largest exporter with 31.2% of the total, ahead of the United States.
The United States imported the most (US$4bn).
The United Kingdom ranked 6th among 204 exporters with US$704m.
The United Kingdom imported US$980m.
Products classified here
Questions and answers
What is the HS code for electric sound or visual signalling apparatus (for example, bells, sirens, indicator panels, burglar or fire alarms), other than those of heading 8512 or 8530?
Electric sound or visual signalling apparatus (for example, bells, sirens, indicator panels, burglar or fire alarms), other than those of heading 8512 or 8530 fall under HS heading 8531, part of chapter 85, in section XVI of the Harmonized System.
What is the import duty on electric sound or visual signalling apparatus in the UK?
Under the UK Global Tariff, imports under 8531 from countries without a preferential agreement are charged at 0% to 2%, depending on the line. Preferential rates, anti-dumping duties and VAT are not included.
What is the import duty on electric sound or visual signalling apparatus in the EU?
Under the EU Combined Nomenclature, imports under 8531 from countries without a preferential agreement are charged at 0% to 2.2%, depending on the line. Preferential rates, anti-dumping duties and VAT are not included.
Which country exports the most electric sound or visual signalling apparatus?
China, with US$7bn in 2024 (31.2% of world exports).