Heading · Chapter 96
9608: Ballpoint pens; felt-tipped and other porous-tipped pens and markers; fountain pens, stylograph pens and other pens; duplicating stylos; propelling or sliding pencils; pen-holders, pencil-holders and similar holders; parts (including caps and clips) of the foregoing articles, other than those of heading 9609
8 subheadings make up heading 9608 in chapter 96 (miscellaneous manufactured articles).
Duty rates compared
UK 2% Third-country duty 12 tariff lines 
EU 2.7% – 3.7% Third-country duty 10 tariff lines · average 3.4% 
Türkiye 2.7% – 3.7% Third-country duty 16 tariff lines · average 3.5% 
USA Free – 6.6% General (MFN) 12 tariff lines · average 1.8% · 6× specific or compound duty 
Canada Free – 7% General (MFN) 13 tariff lines · average 5.2% 
Mexico Free – 15% General (MFN) 21 tariff lines · average 7.1% 
Brazil 16.2% General (MFN) 10 tariff lines 
Argentina 18% – 35% General (MFN) 82 tariff lines · average 20.5% 
Peru Free – 6% General (MFN) 12 tariff lines · average 4.5% 
New Zealand Free – 5% General (MFN) 14 tariff lines · average 3.2% 
Japan Free – 5.4% General (MFN) 12 tariff lines · average 2.7% · 2× specific or compound duty 
Taiwan Free – 5% General (MFN) 13 tariff lines · average 3.2% 
GCC 5% General (MFN) 15 tariff lines 
Switzerland Free General (MFN) 8 tariff lines 
Norway Free General (MFN) 9 tariff lines 
North Macedonia 12% – 15% General (MFN) 10 tariff lines · average 13.8% 
Nigeria 5% – 20% General (MFN) 9 tariff lines · average 17.2% Subheadings 8
- 9608.10Ballpoint pens: ballpoint pensBallpoint pens
- 9608.20Felt-tipped and other porous-tipped pens and markersFelt-tip pens and markers
- 9608.30Fountain pens, stylograph pens and other pens
- 9608.40Propelling or sliding pencils
- 9608.50Sets of articles from two or more of the foregoing subheadings
- 9608.60Refills for ballpoint pens, comprising the ball point and ink-reservoir
- 9608.91Pen nibs and nib points
- 9608.99Ballpoint pens: other, other
EU: imports by month
World trade in 2024
Trade value (US$) no reported trade < US$117kUS$117k+US$4m+US$59m+> US$307m
Exports: 189
- China: US$2.6bn
- Japan: US$907m
- Germany: US$681m
- France: US$411m
- Mexico: US$324m
- United States: US$307m
- India: US$247m
- Italy: US$161m
- Czechia: US$126m
- Netherlands: US$97m
- Poland: US$92m
- Switzerland: US$90m
- Malaysia: US$88m
- Tunisia: US$76m
- Vietnam: US$66m
- South Korea: US$65m
- Spain: US$62m
- Slovakia: US$59m
- Taiwan: US$55m
- United Kingdom: US$43m
- Thailand: US$38m
- Hong Kong SAR China: US$26m
- Austria: US$25m
- Belgium: US$23m
- South Africa: US$19m
- Indonesia: US$18m
- Türkiye: US$16m
- Peru: US$16m
- Ireland: US$15m
- Kenya: US$14m
- Hungary: US$14m
- Singapore: US$14m
- Sweden: US$13m
- Denmark: US$12m
- Slovenia: US$10m
- Brazil: US$9m
- Canada: US$8m
- Romania: US$7m
- Russia: US$6m
- Latvia: US$6m
- Portugal: US$5m
- Greece: US$5m
- Dominican Republic: US$4m
- New Zealand: US$4m
- Colombia: US$4m
- Chile: US$3m
- United Arab Emirates: US$3m
- Israel: US$3m
- Estonia: US$3m
- Australia: US$3m
- Croatia: US$2m
- Bulgaria: US$2m
- Serbia: US$2m
- Lithuania: US$2m
- Egypt: US$2m
- Finland: US$2m
- Guatemala: US$1m
- Kazakhstan: US$1m
- Philippines: US$1m
- Panama: US$1m
Trade value (US$) no reported trade < US$4mUS$4m+US$18m+US$83m+> US$180m
Imports: 220
- United States: US$1.1bn
- France: US$442m
- Germany: US$414m
- Mexico: US$353m
- United Kingdom: US$248m
- China: US$217m
- Netherlands: US$180m
- Spain: US$179m
- Italy: US$173m
- Canada: US$166m
- Poland: US$164m
- Slovakia: US$146m
- Vietnam: US$141m
- Japan: US$133m
- South Korea: US$124m
- Czechia: US$118m
- Russia: US$116m
- United Arab Emirates: US$99m
- Australia: US$98m
- Austria: US$90m
- India: US$85m
- Brazil: US$83m
- Switzerland: US$82m
- Belgium: US$80m
- Türkiye: US$78m
- Philippines: US$76m
- Indonesia: US$75m
- Hong Kong SAR China: US$71m
- Thailand: US$71m
- Singapore: US$65m
- Taiwan: US$60m
- Saudi Arabia: US$60m
- Malaysia: US$50m
- Peru: US$46m
- Romania: US$46m
- Sweden: US$41m
- Colombia: US$39m
- Denmark: US$38m
- Greece: US$37m
- Chile: US$36m
- Israel: US$34m
- Kazakhstan: US$32m
- Kyrgyzstan: US$31m
- Portugal: US$30m
- Ireland: US$28m
- Algeria: US$28m
- South Africa: US$28m
- Iraq: US$28m
- Hungary: US$27m
- Guatemala: US$22m
- Finland: US$21m
- Argentina: US$20m
- Tunisia: US$19m
- Morocco: US$19m
- Ukraine: US$18m
- Ecuador: US$18m
- Egypt: US$18m
- New Zealand: US$17m
- Pakistan: US$16m
- Norway: US$16m
Top exporters
| Rank | Country | Value | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |  China | US$2.6bn | 37.7% |
| 2 | Japan | US$907m | 13.1% |
| 3 |  Germany | US$681m | 9.8% |
| 4 |  France | US$411m | 5.9% |
| 5 | Mexico | US$324m | 4.7% |
| 6 | United States | US$307m | 4.4% |
| 7 |  India | US$247m | 3.6% |
| 8 |  Italy | US$161m | 2.3% |
| 9 |  Czechia | US$126m | 1.8% |
| 10 |  Netherlands | US$97m | 1.4% |
Top importers
| Rank | Country | Value | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | United States | US$1.1bn | 16.5% |
| 2 | France | US$442m | 6.4% |
| 3 | Germany | US$414m | 6% |
| 4 | Mexico | US$353m | 5.1% |
| 5 | United Kingdom | US$248m | 3.6% |
| 6 | China | US$217m | 3.1% |
| 7 | Netherlands | US$180m | 2.6% |
| 8 |  Spain | US$179m | 2.6% |
| 9 | Italy | US$173m | 2.5% |
| 10 | Canada | US$166m | 2.4% |
In the UK Global Tariff, heading 9608 covers 12 tariff lines and the duty is 2%.
The EU Combined Nomenclature divides heading 9608 into 10 tariff lines; the duty is between 2.7% and 3.7% (average 3.4%).
In the Turkish Customs Tariff Schedule, heading 9608 covers 16 tariff lines and the duty is between 2.7% and 3.7%.
The Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States divides heading 9608 into 12 tariff lines; the duty is between 0% and 6.6% (average 1.8%). 4 of them are duty-free. 6 lines have a specific or compound duty.
In the Customs Tariff of Canada, heading 9608 covers 13 tariff lines and the duty is between 0% and 7%. 3 of them are duty-free.
The Mexican Tariff (TIGIE) divides heading 9608 into 21 tariff lines; the duty is between 0% and 15% (average 7.1%). 10 of them are duty-free.
In the Brazilian Tariff (NCM/TEC), heading 9608 covers 10 tariff lines and the duty is 16.2%.
The Argentine Tariff (NCM-SIM) divides heading 9608 into 82 tariff lines; the duty is between 18% and 35% (average 20.5%).
In the Customs Tariff of Peru, heading 9608 covers 12 tariff lines and the duty is between 0% and 6%. 3 of them are duty-free.
The Working Tariff Document of New Zealand divides heading 9608 into 14 tariff lines; the duty is between 0% and 5% (average 3.2%). 5 of them are duty-free.
In the Customs Tariff Schedules of Japan, heading 9608 covers 12 tariff lines and the duty is between 0% and 5.4%. 4 of them are duty-free. 2 lines have a specific or compound duty.
The Customs Import Tariff of Taiwan divides heading 9608 into 13 tariff lines; the duty is between 0% and 5% (average 3.2%). 1 of them is duty-free.
In the GCC Common Customs Tariff, heading 9608 covers 15 tariff lines and the duty is 5%.
The Swiss Customs Tariff (Tares) divides heading 9608 into 8 tariff lines; the duty is duty-free.
In the Customs Tariff of Norway, heading 9608 covers 9 tariff lines and the duty is duty-free.
The Customs Tariff of North Macedonia divides heading 9608 into 10 tariff lines; the duty is between 12% and 15% (average 13.8%).
In the ECOWAS Common External Tariff (Nigeria), heading 9608 covers 9 tariff lines and the duty is between 5% and 20%.
World trade in heading 9608 goods reached US$7bn in 2024, up 0.5% on 2023.
China was the largest exporter with 37.7% of the total, ahead of Japan.
The United States imported the most (US$1.1bn).
The United Kingdom ranked 20th among 189 exporters with US$43m.
The United Kingdom imported US$248m.
Products classified here
Questions and answers
What is the HS code for ballpoint pens; felt-tipped and other porous-tipped pens and markers; fountain pens, stylograph pens and other pens; duplicating stylos; propelling or sliding pencils; pen-holders, pencil-holders and similar holders; parts (including caps and clips) of the foregoing articles, other than those of heading 9609?
Ballpoint pens; felt-tipped and other porous-tipped pens and markers; fountain pens, stylograph pens and other pens; duplicating stylos; propelling or sliding pencils; pen-holders, pencil-holders and similar holders; parts (including caps and clips) of the foregoing articles, other than those of heading 9609 fall under HS heading 9608, part of chapter 96, in section XX of the Harmonized System.
What is the import duty on ballpoint pens in the UK?
Under the UK Global Tariff, imports under 9608 from countries without a preferential agreement are charged at 2%. Preferential rates, anti-dumping duties and VAT are not included.
What is the import duty on ballpoint pens in the EU?
Under the EU Combined Nomenclature, imports under 9608 from countries without a preferential agreement are charged at 2.7% to 3.7%, depending on the line. Preferential rates, anti-dumping duties and VAT are not included.
Which country exports the most ballpoint pens?
China, with US$2.6bn in 2024 (37.7% of world exports).