Heading · Chapter 85

8531

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

Subheadings 4

EU: imports by month

last 12 months€3.1bn-4.9% · previous 12 months
Average import price€70.44 per kg
Jan 2024: €241.8mFeb 2024: €250.5mMar 2024: €271.9mApr 2024: €254.9mMay 2024: €265.6mJun 2024: €256.6mJul 2024: €263mAug 2024: €269.6mSept 2024: €287.6mOct 2024: €282.9mNov 2024: €288.3mDec 2024: €270mJan 2025: €298.4mFeb 2025: €252.4mMar 2025: €279.9mApr 2025: €243.2mMay 2025: €262.7mJun 2025: €268.2mJul 2025: €268.1mAug 2025: €238.7mSept 2025: €243mOct 2025: €237.3mNov 2025: €260.1mDec 2025: €252.7mJan 2026: €233.6mFeb 2026: €240.6mMar 2026: €270.6mApr 2026: €250.9mMay 2026: €243.8mJun 2026: €293.5mJul 2026: €281.9mAug 2026: €272.5m 202420252026
Data up to August 2026 (provisional) · Monthly data: Eurostat Comext (CC BY 4.0), HMRC (OGL v3.0)

World trade in 2024

8531 · US$21.1bn

Trade value (US$) no reported trade < US$143.5kUS$143.5k+US$18m+US$236m+> US$699.8m

Exports: 204
  1. China: US$6.6bn
  2. United States: US$1.9bn
  3. Vietnam: US$1.3bn
  4. Mexico: US$1.2bn
  5. Germany: US$1.1bn
  6. United Kingdom: US$703.7m
  7. Taiwan: US$699.8m
  8. France: US$660.9m
  9. Netherlands: US$583.6m
  10. Italy: US$439.3m
  11. Malaysia: US$434.8m
  12. Ireland: US$389.7m
  13. Spain: US$370m
  14. Japan: US$331.6m
  15. Poland: US$298.3m
  16. Thailand: US$294.5m
  17. Sweden: US$284m
  18. Romania: US$265.2m
  19. Canada: US$241.2m
  20. Singapore: US$237.4m
  21. Israel: US$236m
  22. Hungary: US$178m
  23. Austria: US$173.8m
  24. Ukraine: US$170.2m
  25. South Korea: US$170m
  26. Hong Kong SAR China: US$165m
  27. Czechia: US$157.3m
  28. Indonesia: US$132.3m
  29. Switzerland: US$129.8m
  30. Belgium: US$113m
  31. Slovakia: US$97.3m
  32. India: US$92.3m
  33. Philippines: US$88.1m
  34. Portugal: US$73.6m
  35. Denmark: US$69.3m
  36. Australia: US$64.9m
  37. Finland: US$64.2m
  38. Türkiye: US$59.6m
  39. Bulgaria: US$59.2m
  40. Norway: US$58m
  41. Russia: US$42.7m
  42. South Africa: US$36.5m
  43. New Zealand: US$33.1m
  44. Slovenia: US$31.2m
  45. Dominican Republic: US$29m
  46. Brazil: US$26.7m
  47. United Arab Emirates: US$24m
  48. Croatia: US$22.9m
  49. Lithuania: US$22.7m
  50. Sri Lanka: US$22.7m
  51. Latvia: US$18m
  52. Tunisia: US$16.6m
  53. Serbia: US$13m
  54. Estonia: US$12.9m
  55. Greece: US$12.6m
  56. Peru: US$11.5m
  57. Pakistan: US$10.3m
  58. Kazakhstan: US$5.9m
  59. Cambodia: US$4.7m
  60. Chile: US$4.3m

Top exporters

RankCountryValueShare
1 China US$6.6bn 31.2%
2 United States US$1.9bn 8.9%
3 Vietnam US$1.3bn 6%
4 Mexico US$1.2bn 5.7%
5 Germany US$1.1bn 5.4%
6 United Kingdom US$703.7m 3.3%
7 Taiwan US$699.8m 3.3%
8 France US$660.9m 3.1%
9 Netherlands US$583.6m 2.8%
10 Italy US$439.3m 2.1%

Top importers

RankCountryValueShare
1 United States US$3.7bn 17.6%
2 Germany US$1.5bn 7.1%
3 France US$1.4bn 6.4%
4 Netherlands US$1.1bn 5%
5 United Kingdom US$979.9m 4.6%
6 Mexico US$614.5m 2.9%
7 Spain US$587.9m 2.8%
8 Canada US$560.8m 2.7%
9 Italy US$548.3m 2.6%
10 Vietnam US$543.4m 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.

  1. 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, 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.

World trade in heading 8531 goods reached US$21.1bn 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$3.7bn).

The United Kingdom ranked 6th among 204 exporters with US$703.7m.

The United Kingdom imported US$979.9m.

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$6.6bn in 2024 (31.2% of world exports).