Subheading · Chapter 96 · Heading 9608

9608.40

9608.40: Propelling or sliding pencils

9608.40 is a six-digit subheading of heading 9608, ballpoint pens, chapter 96.

What you pay

Importing into UK

Customs duty 2% standard rate depends on the country of origin
Additional duties and charges 1 additional measure Import requirements: 2
VAT 20.00 % import VAT
Duty calculatorCalculate duty and taxes →

Rates by national line · UK Global Tariff

UK lines →
  1. 9608 40 00 00 Propelling or sliding pencils 2%p/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. 598
    Documents
    • 9014

Import requirements 2

  • Import controlRestriction on entry into free circulation
    Applies to goods from
    Ukraine
    Legal act
    S.I. 2022/395
    Documents
    • 9009
    • 9010
    • 9017
  • Import controlImport control - CITES
    Applies to goods from
    all countries
    Legal act
    2021 No. 54
    Documents
    • C400 Presentation of the required "CITES" certificate
    • Y900 Declared goods do not belong to the Washington Convention (CITES)

Preferential rates by country

Agreement or schemeCountriesRate
standard rate (no agreement)—2%
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£4.5m+30% · previous 12 months
Average import price£17.09 per kg
Jan 2024: £140kFeb 2024: £179kMar 2024: £181kApr 2024: £161kMay 2024: £167kJun 2024: £220kJul 2024: £140kAug 2024: £269kSept 2024: £215kOct 2024: £219kNov 2024: £238kDec 2024: £223kJan 2025: £260kFeb 2025: £376kMar 2025: £327kApr 2025: £392kMay 2025: £206kJun 2025: £378kJul 2025: £361kAug 2025: £255kSept 2025: £314kOct 2025: £261kNov 2025: £342kDec 2025: £310kJan 2026: £214kFeb 2026: £323kMar 2026: £417kApr 2026: £268kMay 2026: £442kJun 2026: £536kJul 2026: £428kAug 2026: £631k 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
China £2.7m 59.8% +42.9%
Japan £506k 11.3% +34.5%
Germany £398k 8.9% +4.2%
United States £300k 6.7% +39.3%
India £172k 3.8% +225.6%
France £109k 2.4% -38.8%
Romania £98k 2.2% -17.2%
Czechia £54k 1.2% +22.7%

Same subheading in other tariffs

World trade in 2024

9608.40 · US$287m

Trade value (US$) no reported trade < US$31kUS$31k+US$437k+US$3m+> US$36m

Exports: 100
  1. China: US$87m
  2. Japan: US$54m
  3. Mexico: US$36m
  4. France: US$29m
  5. Germany: US$24m
  6. United States: US$16m
  7. Vietnam: US$7m
  8. India: US$4m
  9. Dominican Republic: US$4m
  10. Slovakia: US$3m
  11. Taiwan: US$3m
  12. Czechia: US$3m
  13. Romania: US$2m
  14. Thailand: US$2m
  15. South Korea: US$2m
  16. Sweden: US$1m
  17. Switzerland: US$1m
  18. Poland: US$1m
  19. Netherlands: US$862k
  20. Spain: US$823k
  21. Austria: US$782k
  22. Hong Kong SAR China: US$713k
  23. Türkiye: US$595k
  24. United Kingdom: US$437k
  25. Italy: US$414k
  26. Malaysia: US$297k
  27. South Africa: US$285k
  28. Belgium: US$270k
  29. Denmark: US$236k
  30. Hungary: US$172k
  31. Norway: US$156k
  32. Latvia: US$146k
  33. Lithuania: US$140k
  34. Philippines: US$134k
  35. Indonesia: US$129k
  36. Croatia: US$122k
  37. Canada: US$111k
  38. Brazil: US$109k
  39. Slovenia: US$107k
  40. Singapore: US$90k
  41. Serbia: US$77k
  42. Greece: US$65k
  43. Jordan: US$63k
  44. United Arab Emirates: US$60k
  45. Bulgaria: US$53k
  46. Russia: US$48k
  47. Portugal: US$33k
  48. Estonia: US$31k
  49. Ireland: US$30k
  50. Panama: US$25k
  51. Saudi Arabia: US$24k
  52. Finland: US$22k
  53. Bosnia & Herzegovina: US$13k
  54. Chile: US$10k
  55. El Salvador: US$10k
  56. Peru: US$10k
  57. Afghanistan: US$9k
  58. Moldova: US$7k
  59. Luxembourg: US$6k
  60. Curaçao: US$5k

Top exporters

RankCountryValueShare
1 China US$87m 30.2%
2 Japan US$54m 19%
3 Mexico US$36m 12.5%
4 France US$29m 10.2%
5 Germany US$24m 8.3%
6 United States US$16m 5.7%
7 Vietnam US$7m 2.5%
8 India US$4m 1.4%
9 Dominican Republic US$4m 1.4%
10 Slovakia US$3m 1.2%

Top importers

RankCountryValueShare
1 United States US$88m 30.7%
2 Mexico US$30m 10.3%
3 Türkiye US$14m 4.9%
4 South Korea US$13m 4.5%
5 China US$12m 4.3%
6 Germany US$11m 4%
7 France US$9m 3%
8 Japan US$9m 3%
9 Canada US$6m 2.1%
10 Brazil US$6m 2.1%

Import duty on this product around the world 164

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.

  • 10%median duty
  • 33number of duty-free countries (MFN)
  • 45%highest: Bahamas, Egypt, Algeria

164

Importing countryMFN dutylines from – todata year
Afghanistan 2.5% 2018 · HS 2012
Albania 15% 2023
Algeria 30% 2023
Angola 2% 2023 · HS 2017
Anguilla 15% 2021 · HS 2017
Antigua & Barbuda 20% 2021 · HS 2007
Argentina 18% 2023 · HS 2017
Armenia 10% 2023
Aruba 12% 2021 · HS 2012
Australia 5% 2023
Azerbaijan 15% 2023 · HS 2017
Bahamas 45% 2022
Bahrain 5% 2023
Bangladesh 25% 2023 · HS 2017
Barbados 20% 2022 · HS 2017
Belarus 10% 2021 · HS 2017
Belize 20% 2023
Benin 20% 2023
Bermuda 25% 2023
Bhutan 0% 2022
Bolivia 10% 2023 · HS 2017
Bosnia & Herzegovina 10% 2022
Botswana 0% 2023
Brazil 18% 2023 · HS 2017
Brunei 0% 2023 · HS 2017
Burkina Faso 20% 2023
Burundi 25% 2023
Cambodia 0% 2023 · HS 2017
Cameroon 30% 2023
Canada 7% 2023
Cape Verde 5% 2023 · HS 2017
Cayman Islands 22% 2021 · HS 2002
Central African Republic 30% 2023
Chad 30% 2023
Chile 6% 2023 · HS 2017
China 12% 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 20% 2023 · HS 2017
Dominican Republic 20% 2023
Ecuador 30% 2023 · HS 2017
Egypt 40% 2019 · HS 2017
El Salvador 0% 2022
Equatorial Guinea 30% 2023
Eswatini 0% 2023
Ethiopia 30% 2021 · HS 2017
European Union (27 countries) 3.7% 2023
Fiji 5% 2023
Gabon 30% 2023
Gambia 20% 2023
Georgia 0% 2022 · HS 2017
Ghana 20% 2023
Gibraltar 0% 2023 · HS 2017
Grenada 20% 2023 · HS 2012
Guatemala 0% 2023
Guinea 20% 2023
Guinea-Bissau 20% 2023
Guyana 20% 2023 · HS 2017
Haiti 0% 2020 · HS 2017
Honduras 0% 2023
Hong Kong SAR China 0% 2023
Iceland 0% 2023
India 10% 2023
Indonesia 10% 2023
Iran 15% 2020 · HS 2017
Israel 12% 2022 · HS 2017
Jamaica 20% 2023
Japan 2.7% 0% – 5.4% 2023
Jordan 5% 2023
Kazakhstan 10% 2023
Kenya 25% 2023
Kiribati 10% 2023 · HS 2002
Kuwait 5% 2023
Kyrgyzstan 10% 2021 · HS 2017
Laos 5% 2023 · HS 2017
Lebanon 5% 2020 · HS 2017
Lesotho 0% 2023
Liberia 20% 2023
Libya 0% 2021 · HS 2017
Liechtenstein 9.8%* 4.2% – 15% 2021 · HS 2017
Macao SAR China 0% 2023
Madagascar 10% 2023
Malawi 25% 2021 · HS 2017
Malaysia 15% 2023
Maldives 0% 2023
Mali 20% 2023
Mauritania 20% 2023 · HS 2017
Mauritius 0% 2023
Mexico 13% 10% – 15% 2023 · HS 2017
Micronesia 4% 2021 · HS 2017
Moldova 10% 2023 · HS 2017
Mongolia 5% 2023
Montserrat 0% 2023 · HS 2017
Morocco 21% 2.5% – 40% 2023
Mozambique 20% 2023
Myanmar (Burma) 3% 2023 · HS 2017
Namibia 0% 2023
Nauru 10% 2021 · HS 2017
Nepal 5% 2023
New Zealand 0% 2023
Nicaragua 0% 2023
Niger 20% 2023
Nigeria 20% 2023
North Macedonia 12% 2023
Norway 0% 2023
Oman 5% 2023
Pakistan 20% 2023
Palau 3% 2023 · HS 2012
Palestinian Territories 12%* 2017 · HS 2017
Panama 0% 2023
Papua New Guinea 0% 2023
Paraguay 18% 2023 · HS 2017
Peru 6% 2023 · HS 2017
Philippines 3% 2023
Qatar 5% 2023
Russia 10% 2021 · HS 2017
Rwanda 25% 2023
Samoa 20% 2020 · HS 2017
São Tomé & Príncipe 5% 2019 · HS 2017
Saudi Arabia 5% 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 8% 2023
Sri Lanka 20% 2023
St Kitts & Nevis 20% 2023
St Lucia 20% 2023 · HS 2012
St Pierre & Miquelon 8% 2021 · HS 2017
St Vincent & the Grenadines 20% 2023
Sudan 10% 2021 · HS 2017
Suriname 20% 2023 · HS 2007
Switzerland 6.5%* 2.8% – 10% 2023
Syria 10% 2020 · HS 2012
Tajikistan 15% 2021 · HS 2012
Tanzania 25% 2023
Thailand 5% 2023
Togo 20% 2023
Tonga 0% 2023 · HS 2017
Trinidad & Tobago 20% 2023 · HS 2012
Türkiye 26% 2023
Tuvalu 0% 2017 · HS 2017
Uganda 25% 2023
Ukraine 10% 2023 · HS 2017
United Arab Emirates 5% 2023
United Kingdom 2% 2023
United States 3.3% 0% – 6.6% 2023
Uruguay 18% 2023 · HS 2017
Uzbekistan 10% 2021 · HS 2017
Vanuatu 0% 2023
Venezuela 18% 2023 · HS 2017
Vietnam 25% 2023
Wallis & Futuna 6% 2021 · HS 2012
Yemen 5% 2017 · HS 2017
Zambia 15% 2023
Zimbabwe 0.2% 2023

Tariff data years 2017–2023; rates may have changed since. * ad valorem equivalent of specific duties (UNCTAD estimate) · 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
89521 Ball-point pens; felt-tipped/other porous-tipped pens & markers; fountain-pens, stylograph pens & other pens; duplicating stylos; propelling/sliding pencils; penholders, pencil-holders & similar holders; parts (including caps & clips) of the
End use (BEC Rev. 5)
Consumption goods · BEC 713202
CPC 2.1 product
38911 Pens, duplicating stylos, pencils, pen-holders, pencil-holders and similar holders, and parts thereof; crayons, pencil leads, pastels, drawing charcoals and chalks
ISIC Rev. 4 activity
3290 Other manufacturing n.e.c.

Earlier HS editions

HSCode
20179608.40unchanged
20129608.40unchanged
20079608.40unchanged
20029608.40unchanged
19969608.40unchanged
19929608.40unchanged

Correspondence tables of the United Nations Statistics Division (UNSD)

Binding rulings for similar goods 5

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.

  • N351130 U.S. CBP 17 July 2025 · 9608.40.80.00

    The tariff classification of a graphite pencil set from China

  • N329177 U.S. CBP 29 November 2022 · 9608.40.80.00

    The tariff classification of a watercolor pencil set and graphite pencils from China.

  • N311043 U.S. CBP 24 April 2020 · 9608.40.80.00

    The tariff classification of mechanical pencils from China

  • N306035 U.S. CBP 24 September 2019 · 9608.40.80.00

    The tariff classification of LEGO minifigure toys and LEGO writing instruments from China

  • H293295 U.S. CBP 19 February 2019 · 9608.40.80

    Revocation of NY R00817; classification of twistable colored pencils

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. TR Anti-dumping

    İthalatta Haksız Rekabetin Önlenmesine İlişkin Tebliğ (No: 2026/26)

    RG 04.07.2026 sayı 33300 · Tebliğ 2026/26 · Source: resmigazete.gov.tr

Rule changes →

Subheading 9608.40 is a single line in the UK Global Tariff, where the duty is 2%.

The EU Combined Nomenclature has one tariff line for subheading 9608.40; the duty is 3.7%.

Goods from 174 countries can enter the UK at a preferential rate instead of the standard 2%; 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 £4.5m (up 30% on the year before), at an average of £17.09 per kg; China supplied 60%, followed by Japan.

World trade in these goods reached US$287m in 2024, up 9.3% on 2023.

China was the largest exporter with 30.2% of the total, ahead of Japan.

Questions and answers

What is the HS code for propelling or sliding pencils?

Propelling or sliding pencils fall under HS subheading 9608.40, part of heading 9608, in section XX of the Harmonized System.

What is the import duty on propelling or sliding pencils in the UK?

Under the UK Global Tariff, imports under 9608.40 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 propelling or sliding pencils in the EU?

Under the EU Combined Nomenclature, imports under 9608.40 from countries without a preferential agreement are charged at 3.7%. Preferential rates, anti-dumping duties and VAT are not included.

Which country exports the most propelling or sliding pencils?

China, with US$87m in 2024 (30.2% 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 2% 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 China (60%), Japan (11%) and Germany (9%), out of total imports of £4.5m.

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