Subheading · Chapter 96 · Heading 9608
9608.99: Ballpoint pens: other, other
Official description Other
9608.99 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 99 00 00 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 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
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 | £3.3m | 59.8% | -9.2% |
 Germany | £422k | 7.6% | +20.1% |
 United States | £337k | 6.1% | +16.4% |
 France | £326k | 5.9% | +25.6% |
 Japan | £240k | 4.4% | -26% |
 Taiwan | £205k | 3.7% | +30% |
 Italy | £154k | 2.8% | +64% |
 Denmark | £131k | 2.4% | +30.3% |
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) 4 tariff lines · 2× specific or compound duty 
Canada Free – 7% Third-country duty 2 tariff lines · average 3.5% 
Mexico Free – 15% Third-country duty 9 tariff lines · average 2.2% 
Brazil 16.2% Third-country duty 3 tariff lines 
Argentina 18% Third-country duty 3 tariff lines 
Peru Free – 6% Third-country duty 5 tariff lines · average 2.4% 
New Zealand 5% Third-country duty 4 tariff lines Japan 3.4% Third-country duty 2 tariff lines Taiwan 2.5% Third-country duty 1 tariff line 
GCC 5% Third-country duty 7 tariff lines 
Switzerland Free Third-country duty 1 tariff line 
Norway Free Third-country duty 1 tariff line 
North Macedonia 15% Third-country duty 1 tariff line 
Nigeria 5% – 20% Third-country duty 2 tariff lines · average 12.5% World trade in 2024
Trade value (US$) no reported trade < US$19kUS$19k+US$393k+US$6m+> US$20m
Exports: 133
- China: US$112m
- Japan: US$54m
- United States: US$24m
- Germany: US$20m
- France: US$19m
- Malaysia: US$19m
- Taiwan: US$13m
- Italy: US$13m
- India: US$11m
- Thailand: US$10m
- United Kingdom: US$7m
- Switzerland: US$6m
- South Korea: US$5m
- Hong Kong SAR China: US$5m
- Vietnam: US$3m
- Poland: US$3m
- Austria: US$3m
- Czechia: US$2m
- Mexico: US$2m
- Netherlands: US$2m
- Spain: US$1m
- Israel: US$1m
- Philippines: US$880k
- South Africa: US$738k
- Portugal: US$702k
- Estonia: US$588k
- Singapore: US$515k
- Bulgaria: US$451k
- Australia: US$439k
- Denmark: US$393k
- Türkiye: US$380k
- Slovenia: US$379k
- United Arab Emirates: US$360k
- Tunisia: US$332k
- Egypt: US$295k
- Sweden: US$292k
- Belgium: US$291k
- Russia: US$254k
- Canada: US$157k
- Greece: US$133k
- Hungary: US$128k
- Cyprus: US$89k
- Saudi Arabia: US$79k
- Indonesia: US$78k
- Slovakia: US$77k
- Ireland: US$75k
- Peru: US$62k
- Norway: US$59k
- Romania: US$54k
- Panama: US$51k
- Lithuania: US$45k
- Latvia: US$40k
- New Zealand: US$34k
- Colombia: US$29k
- Uganda: US$29k
- Armenia: US$28k
- Pakistan: US$25k
- Kenya: US$22k
- Brazil: US$21k
- Chile: US$19k
Trade value (US$) no reported trade < US$81kUS$81k+US$575k+US$4m+> US$16m
Imports: 201
- United States: US$47m
- Japan: US$34m
- Mexico: US$27m
- China: US$20m
- Germany: US$18m
- India: US$16m
- France: US$12m
- Malaysia: US$11m
- Vietnam: US$10m
- Indonesia: US$9m
- Switzerland: US$9m
- South Korea: US$8m
- Brazil: US$8m
- Italy: US$7m
- Thailand: US$7m
- Tunisia: US$6m
- Singapore: US$6m
- United Kingdom: US$6m
- Hong Kong SAR China: US$5m
- Netherlands: US$4m
- Peru: US$4m
- Philippines: US$4m
- Algeria: US$3m
- Egypt: US$3m
- Czechia: US$3m
- Pakistan: US$3m
- Austria: US$3m
- South Africa: US$3m
- Türkiye: US$3m
- Portugal: US$3m
- Taiwan: US$3m
- Poland: US$2m
- Spain: US$2m
- Canada: US$2m
- Russia: US$2m
- Sri Lanka: US$2m
- Saudi Arabia: US$2m
- Romania: US$1m
- United Arab Emirates: US$1m
- Iran: US$1m
- Colombia: US$1m
- Nigeria: US$1m
- Belgium: US$1m
- Greece: US$1m
- Sweden: US$899k
- Kenya: US$896k
- Australia: US$834k
- Nepal: US$804k
- Ireland: US$683k
- Guatemala: US$575k
- Norway: US$569k
- Chile: US$536k
- Kuwait: US$474k
- Morocco: US$464k
- Cambodia: US$453k
- Slovakia: US$447k
- Denmark: US$420k
- Kazakhstan: US$415k
- Finland: US$411k
- Kyrgyzstan: US$396k
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
- 31number of duty-free countries (MFN)
- 45%highest: Bahamas, Ethiopia, Türkiye
164
| Importing country | MFN duty | lines from – to | data year |
|---|---|---|---|
 Afghanistan | 2.5% | 2018 · HS 2012 | |
 Albania | 15% | 2023 | |
 Algeria | 15% | 2023 | |
 Angola | 2% | 2023 · HS 2017 | |
 Anguilla | 15% | 2021 · HS 2017 | |
 Antigua & Barbuda | 15% | 5% – 20% | 2021 · HS 2007 |
| Argentina | 18% | 2023 · HS 2017 | |
 Armenia | 6.5% | 5% – 8% | 2023 |
 Aruba | 12% | 2021 · HS 2012 | |
 Australia | 5% | 2023 | |
 Azerbaijan | 15% | 2023 · HS 2017 | |
 Bahamas | 45% | 2022 | |
 Bahrain | 5% | 2023 | |
 Bangladesh | 15% | 5% – 25% | 2023 · HS 2017 |
 Barbados | 15% | 5% – 20% | 2022 · HS 2017 |
 Belarus | 6.5% | 5% – 8% | 2021 · HS 2017 |
 Belize | 8.3% | 0% – 20% | 2023 |
 Benin | 13% | 5% – 20% | 2023 |
 Bermuda | 25% | 2023 | |
 Bhutan | 0% | 2022 | |
 Bolivia | 8.3% | 5% – 10% | 2023 · HS 2017 |
 Bosnia & Herzegovina | 10% | 2022 | |
 Botswana | 0% | 2023 | |
| Brazil | 18% | 2023 · HS 2017 | |
 Brunei | 0% | 2023 · HS 2017 | |
 Burkina Faso | 13% | 5% – 20% | 2023 |
 Burundi | 25% | 2023 | |
 Cambodia | 0% | 2023 · HS 2017 | |
 Cameroon | 20% | 10% – 30% | 2023 |
| Canada | 3.5% | 0% – 7% | 2023 |
 Cape Verde | 5% | 2023 · HS 2017 | |
 Cayman Islands | 22% | 2021 · HS 2002 | |
 Central African Republic | 20% | 10% – 30% | 2023 |
 Chad | 20% | 10% – 30% | 2023 |
 Chile | 6% | 2023 · HS 2017 | |
| China | 10% | 8% – 12% | 2023 |
 Colombia | 12% | 5% – 15% | 2023 · HS 2017 |
 Comoros | 20% | 2021 · HS 2017 | |
 Congo - Brazzaville | 20% | 10% – 30% | 2023 |
 Cook Islands | 0% | 2022 · HS 2017 | |
 Costa Rica | 0% | 2023 | |
 Côte d’Ivoire | 13% | 5% – 20% | 2023 · HS 2017 |
 Cuba | 20% | 2023 · HS 2017 | |
 Dominica | 15% | 5% – 20% | 2023 · HS 2017 |
 Dominican Republic | 20% | 2023 | |
 Ecuador | 18% | 0% – 30% | 2023 · HS 2017 |
 Egypt | 6% | 2% – 10% | 2019 · HS 2017 |
 El Salvador | 0% | 2022 | |
 Equatorial Guinea | 20% | 10% – 30% | 2023 |
 Eswatini | 0% | 2023 | |
 Ethiopia | 30% | 2021 · HS 2017 | |
| European Union (27 countries) | 2.7% | 2023 | |
 Fiji | 5% | 2023 | |
 Gabon | 20% | 10% – 30% | 2023 |
 Gambia | 13% | 5% – 20% | 2023 |
 Georgia | 0% | 2022 · HS 2017 | |
 Ghana | 13% | 5% – 20% | 2023 |
 Gibraltar | 0% | 2023 · HS 2017 | |
 Grenada | 15% | 5% – 20% | 2023 · HS 2012 |
 Guatemala | 0% | 2023 | |
 Guinea | 13% | 5% – 20% | 2023 |
 Guinea-Bissau | 13% | 5% – 20% | 2023 |
 Guyana | 15% | 5% – 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 | 6.7% | 5% – 10% | 2023 |
 Iran | 14% | 5% – 26% | 2020 · HS 2017 |
 Israel | 12% | 2022 · HS 2017 | |
 Jamaica | 15% | 5% – 20% | 2023 |
| Japan | 3.4% | 2023 | |
 Jordan | 2.5% | 0% – 5% | 2023 |
 Kazakhstan | 6.5% | 5% – 8% | 2023 |
 Kenya | 25% | 2023 | |
 Kiribati | 10% | 2023 · HS 2002 | |
 Kuwait | 5% | 2023 | |
 Kyrgyzstan | 6.5% | 5% – 8% | 2021 · HS 2017 |
 Laos | 5% | 2023 · HS 2017 | |
 Lebanon | 5% | 2020 · HS 2017 | |
 Lesotho | 0% | 2023 | |
 Liberia | 13% | 5% – 20% | 2023 |
 Libya | 5% | 2021 · HS 2017 | |
 Liechtenstein | 2.5%* | 2021 · HS 2017 | |
 Macao SAR China | 0% | 2023 | |
 Madagascar | 10% | 2023 | |
 Malawi | 25% | 2021 · HS 2017 | |
 Malaysia | 8.3% | 0% – 25% | 2023 |
 Maldives | 21% | 0% – 25% | 2023 |
 Mali | 13% | 5% – 20% | 2023 |
 Mauritania | 13% | 5% – 20% | 2023 · HS 2017 |
 Mauritius | 0% | 2023 | |
| Mexico | 2.2% | 0% – 15% | 2023 · HS 2017 |
 Micronesia | 4% | 2021 · HS 2017 | |
 Moldova | 10% | 2023 · HS 2017 | |
 Mongolia | 5% | 2023 | |
 Montserrat | 0% | 2023 · HS 2017 | |
 Morocco | 28% | 2.5% – 40% | 2023 |
 Mozambique | 14% | 7.5% – 20% | 2023 |
 Myanmar (Burma) | 3% | 2023 · HS 2017 | |
 Namibia | 0% | 2023 | |
 Nauru | 10% | 2021 · HS 2017 | |
 Nepal | 5% | 2023 | |
| New Zealand | 5% | 2023 | |
 Nicaragua | 0% | 2023 | |
 Niger | 13% | 5% – 20% | 2023 |
| Nigeria | 13% | 5% – 20% | 2023 |
| North Macedonia | 15% | 2023 | |
| Norway | 0% | 2023 | |
 Oman | 5% | 2023 | |
 Pakistan | 14% | 11% – 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 | 2.4% | 0% – 6% | 2023 · HS 2017 |
 Philippines | 1% | 2023 | |
 Qatar | 5% | 2023 | |
 Russia | 6.5% | 5% – 8% | 2021 · HS 2017 |
 Rwanda | 25% | 2023 | |
 Samoa | 20% | 2020 · HS 2017 | |
 São Tomé & Príncipe | 5% | 2019 · HS 2017 | |
 Saudi Arabia | 5% | 2023 | |
 Senegal | 13% | 5% – 20% | 2023 |
 Seychelles | 0% | 2023 | |
 Sierra Leone | 13% | 5% – 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 | 13% | 0% – 20% | 2023 |
 St Kitts & Nevis | 15% | 5% – 20% | 2023 |
 St Lucia | 13% | 0% – 20% | 2023 · HS 2012 |
 St Pierre & Miquelon | 8% | 2021 · HS 2017 | |
 St Vincent & the Grenadines | 15% | 5% – 20% | 2023 |
 Sudan | 10% | 2021 · HS 2017 | |
 Suriname | 15% | 5% – 20% | 2023 · HS 2007 |
| Switzerland | 2.5%* | 2023 | |
 Syria | 6.7% | 5% – 10% | 2020 · HS 2012 |
 Tajikistan | 15% | 2021 · HS 2012 | |
 Tanzania | 25% | 2023 | |
 Thailand | 5% | 2023 | |
 Togo | 13% | 5% – 20% | 2023 |
 Tonga | 0% | 2023 · HS 2017 | |
 Trinidad & Tobago | 13% | 0% – 20% | 2023 · HS 2012 |
| Türkiye | 28% | 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 | 0% | 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)
- 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 | 9608.99 | unchanged |
| 2012 | 9608.99 | unchanged |
| 2007 | 9608.99 | unchanged |
| 2002 | 9608.99 | unchanged |
| 1996 | 9608.99 | unchanged |
| 1992 | 9608.99 | unchanged |
Correspondence tables of the United Nations Statistics Division (UNSD)
Binding rulings for similar goods 2
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.
Subheading 9608.99 is a single line in the UK Global Tariff, where the duty is 2%.
The EU Combined Nomenclature has one tariff line for subheading 9608.99; 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 £5.5m (down 2% on the year before), at an average of £10.30 per kg; China supplied 60%, followed by Germany.
World trade in these goods reached US$344m in 2024, down 1.3% on 2023.
China was the largest exporter with 32.5% of the total, ahead of Japan.
Questions and answers
What is the HS code for ballpoint pens: other, other?
Ballpoint pens: other, other fall under HS subheading 9608.99, part of heading 9608, in section XX of the Harmonized System.
What is the import duty on ballpoint pens: other, other in the UK?
Under the UK Global Tariff, imports under 9608.99 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: other, other in the EU?
Under the EU Combined Nomenclature, imports under 9608.99 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 ballpoint pens: other, other?
China, with US$112m in 2024 (32.5% 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%), Germany (8%) and United States (6%), out of total imports of £5.5m.