Subheading · Chapter 96 · Heading 9608
9608.91: Pen nibs and nib points
9608.91 is a six-digit subheading of heading 9608, ballpoint pens, chapter 96.
What you pay
Importing into UK
Rates by national line · UK Global Tariff
UK lines →- 9608 91 00 00 Pen nibs and nib points 2%
- 9608 91 00 10 Non-fibrous plastic pen-tips with an internal canal 2%
- 9608 91 00 20 Felt tips and other porous-tips for markers, without internal canal 2%
- 9608 91 00 90 Other 2%
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 2
- Additional dutyAdditional duties 35%
- Applies to goods from
- Belarus, Russia
- Legal act
- 2022 No. 598
- Documents
- 9014
- Duty suspensionAutonomous tariff suspension Free
- Applies to goods from
- all countries
- In force
- until 31 December 2028
- Legal act
- 2020 No. 1435
- Tariff lines
- on 2 of 3 lines
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
Preferential rates by country
| Agreement or scheme | Countries | Rate |
|---|---|---|
| standard rate (no agreement) | — | 2% |
| 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
 China | £154k | 34.6% | -6.9% |
 Germany | £109k | 24.7% | +32.5% |
 Japan | £109k | 24.6% | +210.8% |
 India | £32k | 7.1% | -62.2% |
 United States | £17k | 3.8% | -54.5% |
 Taiwan | £8k | 1.9% | +544.2% |
 Netherlands | £8k | 1.8% | +413% |
 South Korea | £2k | 0.5% | — |
Same subheading in other tariffs
EU 2.7% Third-country duty 1 tariff line 
Türkiye 2.7% Third-country duty 1 tariff line USA Free General (MFN) 1 tariff line 
Canada Free – 5% General (MFN) 2 tariff lines · average 2.5% 
Mexico Free General (MFN) 1 tariff line 
Brazil 16.2% General (MFN) 1 tariff line 
Argentina 18% General (MFN) 1 tariff line 
Peru 6% General (MFN) 1 tariff line 
New Zealand Free General (MFN) 2 tariff lines Japan Free General (MFN) 1 tariff line Taiwan 2.5% General (MFN) 2 tariff lines 
GCC 5% General (MFN) 1 tariff line 
Switzerland Free General (MFN) 1 tariff line 
Norway Free General (MFN) 1 tariff line 
North Macedonia 15% General (MFN) 1 tariff line 
Nigeria 10% General (MFN) 1 tariff line World trade in 2024
Trade value (US$) no reported trade < US$10kUS$10k+US$343k+US$2m+> US$12m
Exports: 91
- Japan: US$37m
- India: US$14m
- China: US$12m
- Thailand: US$9m
- Germany: US$6m
- Malaysia: US$4m
- France: US$2m
- United States: US$2m
- South Korea: US$1m
- Netherlands: US$1m
- United Kingdom: US$902k
- Italy: US$736k
- South Africa: US$622k
- Taiwan: US$588k
- Switzerland: US$502k
- Austria: US$412k
- Czechia: US$349k
- Spain: US$347k
- Finland: US$343k
- Singapore: US$340k
- Indonesia: US$280k
- Poland: US$141k
- Slovakia: US$134k
- Mexico: US$130k
- Belgium: US$127k
- Canada: US$78k
- Hong Kong SAR China: US$76k
- Slovenia: US$71k
- Türkiye: US$65k
- Australia: US$39k
- Denmark: US$29k
- Vietnam: US$28k
- Sweden: US$20k
- Croatia: US$19k
- Pakistan: US$15k
- Fiji: US$14k
- New Zealand: US$12k
- Ireland: US$10k
- Russia: US$9k
- Latvia: US$7k
- Saudi Arabia: US$7k
- Armenia: US$6k
- Hungary: US$5k
- United Arab Emirates: US$4k
- Senegal: US$4k
- Tunisia: US$3k
- Estonia: US$2k
- Lithuania: US$2k
- Greece: US$2k
- Romania: US$2k
- Georgia: US$2k
- Luxembourg: US$2k
- Ukraine: US$2k
- Brazil: US$2k
- Serbia: US$1k
- Kyrgyzstan: US$1k
- Chile: US$1k
- Panama: US$1k
- Cyprus: US$800
- Moldova: US$600
Trade value (US$) no reported trade < US$29kUS$29k+US$402k+US$2m+> US$5m
Imports: 163
- United States: US$9m
- Germany: US$8m
- Vietnam: US$7m
- India: US$7m
- Italy: US$5m
- Indonesia: US$4m
- Malaysia: US$4m
- Egypt: US$3m
- Pakistan: US$3m
- China: US$3m
- South Korea: US$3m
- Mexico: US$2m
- Bangladesh: US$2m
- Czechia: US$2m
- Nigeria: US$2m
- France: US$2m
- Peru: US$2m
- Kenya: US$2m
- Taiwan: US$2m
- Hong Kong SAR China: US$2m
- Belgium: US$1m
- Japan: US$1m
- Thailand: US$1m
- United Arab Emirates: US$1m
- Sri Lanka: US$1m
- Philippines: US$858k
- Netherlands: US$857k
- Türkiye: US$827k
- Denmark: US$787k
- Mozambique: US$783k
- Austria: US$753k
- Iran: US$736k
- Tunisia: US$651k
- United Kingdom: US$564k
- Poland: US$563k
- Tanzania: US$496k
- Brazil: US$458k
- Switzerland: US$427k
- Singapore: US$402k
- Spain: US$371k
- South Africa: US$299k
- Canada: US$290k
- Zimbabwe: US$290k
- Nepal: US$260k
- Romania: US$218k
- Slovakia: US$180k
- Algeria: US$170k
- Russia: US$161k
- Brunei: US$145k
- Hungary: US$142k
- Slovenia: US$133k
- Qatar: US$123k
- Uganda: US$107k
- Colombia: US$102k
- Morocco: US$102k
- Ukraine: US$101k
- Sweden: US$98k
- Myanmar (Burma): US$98k
- Armenia: US$81k
- Greece: US$74k
Top exporters
| Rank | Country | Value | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Japan | US$37m | 38.8% |
| 2 | India | US$14m | 14.4% |
| 3 | China | US$12m | 12.5% |
| 4 |  Thailand | US$9m | 9.1% |
| 5 | Germany | US$6m | 6.6% |
| 6 |  Malaysia | US$4m | 4.7% |
| 7 |  France | US$2m | 2.5% |
| 8 | United States | US$2m | 1.9% |
| 9 | South Korea | US$1m | 1.3% |
| 10 | Netherlands | US$1m | 1.3% |
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.
- 5%median duty
- 39number of duty-free countries (MFN)
- 45%highest: Bahamas, Algeria, Cameroon
164
| Importing country | MFN duty | lines from – to | data 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 | 5% | 2021 · HS 2007 | |
| Argentina | 18% | 2023 · HS 2017 | |
 Armenia | 8% | 2023 | |
 Aruba | 12% | 2021 · HS 2012 | |
 Australia | 0% | 2023 | |
 Azerbaijan | 15% | 2023 · HS 2017 | |
 Bahamas | 45% | 2022 | |
 Bahrain | 5% | 2023 | |
 Bangladesh | 25% | 2023 · HS 2017 | |
 Barbados | 5% | 2022 · HS 2017 | |
 Belarus | 8% | 2021 · HS 2017 | |
 Belize | 5% | 2023 | |
 Benin | 10% | 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 | 10% | 2023 | |
 Burundi | 0% | 2023 | |
 Cambodia | 0% | 2023 · HS 2017 | |
 Cameroon | 30% | 2023 | |
| Canada | 2.5% | 0% – 5% | 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 | 8% | 2023 | |
 Colombia | 5% | 2023 · HS 2017 | |
 Comoros | 20% | 2021 · HS 2017 | |
 Congo - Brazzaville | 30% | 2023 | |
 Cook Islands | 0% | 2022 · HS 2017 | |
 Costa Rica | 5% | 2023 | |
 Côte d’Ivoire | 10% | 2023 · HS 2017 | |
 Cuba | 20% | 2023 · HS 2017 | |
 Dominica | 5% | 2023 · HS 2017 | |
 Dominican Republic | 20% | 2023 | |
 Ecuador | 25% | 2023 · HS 2017 | |
 Egypt | 10% | 2019 · HS 2017 | |
 El Salvador | 5% | 2022 | |
 Equatorial Guinea | 30% | 2023 | |
 Eswatini | 0% | 2023 | |
 Ethiopia | 30% | 2021 · HS 2017 | |
| European Union (27 countries) | 2.7% | 2023 | |
 Fiji | 5% | 2023 | |
 Gabon | 30% | 2023 | |
 Gambia | 10% | 2023 | |
 Georgia | 0% | 2022 · HS 2017 | |
 Ghana | 10% | 2023 | |
 Gibraltar | 0% | 2023 · HS 2017 | |
 Grenada | 5% | 2023 · HS 2012 | |
 Guatemala | 5% | 2023 | |
 Guinea | 10% | 2023 | |
 Guinea-Bissau | 10% | 2023 | |
 Guyana | 5% | 2023 · HS 2017 | |
 Haiti | 0% | 2020 · HS 2017 | |
 Honduras | 5% | 2023 | |
 Hong Kong SAR China | 0% | 2023 | |
 Iceland | 0% | 2023 | |
| India | 10% | 2023 | |
 Indonesia | 5% | 2023 | |
 Iran | 5% | 2020 · HS 2017 | |
 Israel | 12% | 2022 · HS 2017 | |
 Jamaica | 5% | 2023 | |
| Japan | 0% | 2023 | |
 Jordan | 5% | 2023 | |
 Kazakhstan | 8% | 2023 | |
 Kenya | 0% | 2023 | |
 Kiribati | 10% | 2023 · HS 2002 | |
 Kuwait | 5% | 2023 | |
 Kyrgyzstan | 8% | 2021 · HS 2017 | |
 Laos | 5% | 2023 · HS 2017 | |
 Lebanon | 5% | 2020 · HS 2017 | |
 Lesotho | 0% | 2023 | |
 Liberia | 10% | 2023 | |
 Libya | 0% | 2021 · HS 2017 | |
 Liechtenstein | 8.8%* | 4.9% – 13% | 2021 · HS 2017 |
 Macao SAR China | 0% | 2023 | |
 Madagascar | 10% | 2023 | |
 Malawi | 25% | 2021 · HS 2017 | |
| Malaysia | 0% | 2023 | |
 Maldives | 0% | 2023 | |
 Mali | 10% | 2023 | |
 Mauritania | 10% | 2023 · HS 2017 | |
 Mauritius | 0% | 2023 | |
| Mexico | 0% | 2023 · HS 2017 | |
 Micronesia | 4% | 2021 · HS 2017 | |
 Moldova | 10% | 2023 · HS 2017 | |
 Mongolia | 5% | 2023 | |
 Montserrat | 0% | 2023 · HS 2017 | |
 Morocco | 18% | 2.5% – 40% | 2023 |
 Mozambique | 7.5% | 2023 | |
 Myanmar (Burma) | 5.3% | 3% – 7.5% | 2023 · HS 2017 |
 Namibia | 0% | 2023 | |
 Nauru | 10% | 2021 · HS 2017 | |
 Nepal | 5% | 2023 | |
| New Zealand | 0% | 2023 | |
 Nicaragua | 5% | 2023 | |
 Niger | 10% | 2023 | |
| Nigeria | 10% | 2023 | |
| North Macedonia | 15% | 2023 | |
| Norway | 0% | 2023 | |
 Oman | 5% | 2023 | |
 Pakistan | 20% | 2023 | |
 Palau | 3% | 2023 · HS 2012 | |
 Palestinian Territories | 12% | 2017 · HS 2017 | |
 Panama | 5% | 2023 | |
 Papua New Guinea | 0% | 2023 | |
 Paraguay | 18% | 2023 · HS 2017 | |
| Peru | 6% | 2023 · HS 2017 | |
 Philippines | 1% | 2023 | |
 Qatar | 5% | 2023 | |
 Russia | 8% | 2021 · HS 2017 | |
 Rwanda | 0% | 2023 | |
 Samoa | 20% | 2020 · HS 2017 | |
 São Tomé & Príncipe | 5% | 2019 · HS 2017 | |
 Saudi Arabia | 5% | 2023 | |
 Senegal | 10% | 2023 | |
 Seychelles | 0% | 2023 | |
 Sierra Leone | 10% | 2023 | |
 Singapore | 0% | 2023 · HS 2017 | |
 Solomon Islands | 10% | 2023 · HS 2017 | |
 Somalia | 5% | 2023 · HS 2017 | |
 South Africa | 0% | 2023 | |
| South Korea | 8% | 2023 | |
 Sri Lanka | 20% | 2023 | |
 St Kitts & Nevis | 5% | 2023 | |
 St Lucia | 0% | 2023 · HS 2012 | |
 St Pierre & Miquelon | 8% | 2021 · HS 2017 | |
 St Vincent & the Grenadines | 5% | 2023 | |
 Sudan | 10% | 2021 · HS 2017 | |
 Suriname | 5% | 2023 · HS 2007 | |
| Switzerland | 5.1%* | 2.9% – 7.4% | 2023 |
 Syria | 5% | 2020 · HS 2012 | |
 Tajikistan | 15% | 2021 · HS 2012 | |
 Tanzania | 0% | 2023 | |
| Thailand | 5% | 2023 | |
 Togo | 10% | 2023 | |
 Tonga | 0% | 2023 · HS 2017 | |
 Trinidad & Tobago | 0% | 2023 · HS 2012 | |
| Türkiye | 14% | 2023 | |
 Tuvalu | 0% | 2017 · HS 2017 | |
 Uganda | 0% | 2023 | |
 Ukraine | 10% | 2023 · HS 2017 | |
 United Arab Emirates | 5% | 2023 | |
| United Kingdom | 2% | 2023 | |
| United States | 0% | 2023 | |
 Uruguay | 18% | 2023 · HS 2017 | |
 Uzbekistan | 10% | 2021 · HS 2017 | |
 Vanuatu | 0% | 2023 | |
 Venezuela | 18% | 2023 · HS 2017 | |
 Vietnam | 10% | 2023 | |
 Wallis & Futuna | 6% | 2021 · HS 2012 | |
 Yemen | 5% | 2017 · HS 2017 | |
 Zambia | 5% | 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
- 89522 Pen nibs & nib points
- End use (BEC Rev. 5)
- Intermediate goods · BEC 311220
- 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
| HS | Code | |
|---|---|---|
| 2017 | 9608.91 | unchanged |
| 2012 | 9608.91 | unchanged |
| 2007 | 9608.91 | unchanged |
| 2002 | 9608.91 | unchanged |
| 1996 | 9608.91 | unchanged |
| 1992 | 9608.91 | unchanged |
Correspondence tables of the United Nations Statistics Division (UNSD)
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:
The Russia (Sanctions) (EU Exit) (Amendment) Regulations 2026
S.I. 2026/543 · Source: legislation.gov.uk
In the UK Global Tariff, subheading 9608.91 covers 3 tariff lines and the duty is 2%.
The EU Combined Nomenclature has one tariff line for subheading 9608.91; the duty is 2.7%.
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 £443.4k (down 1% on the year before), at an average of £14.33 per kg; China supplied 35%, followed by Germany.
World trade in these goods reached US$95m in 2024, down 18.2% on 2023.
Japan was the largest exporter with 38.8% of the total, ahead of India.
Questions and answers
What is the HS code for pen nibs and nib points?
Pen nibs and nib points fall under HS subheading 9608.91, part of heading 9608, in section XX of the Harmonized System.
What is the import duty on pen nibs and nib points in the UK?
Under the UK Global Tariff, imports under 9608.91 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 pen nibs and nib points in the EU?
Under the EU Combined Nomenclature, imports under 9608.91 from countries without a preferential agreement are charged at 2.7%. Preferential rates, anti-dumping duties and VAT are not included.
Which country exports the most pen nibs and nib points?
Japan, with US$37m in 2024 (38.8% 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 (35%), Germany (25%) and Japan (25%), out of total imports of £443.4k.