Subheading · Chapter 96 · Heading 9609
9609.20: Pencil leads, black or coloured
Subheading 9609.20 belongs to heading 9609 (pencils (other than pencils of heading 9608), crayons, pencil leads, pastels…) in chapter 96.
What you pay
Importing into UK
Rates by national line · UK Global Tariff
UK lines →- 9609 20 00 00 Pencil leads, black or coloured 2%
Additional duties and import rules
Charges on top of the customs duty, and rules the goods must meet at the border.
Import requirements 1
- Import controlRestriction on entry into free circulation
- Applies to goods from
- Ukraine
- Legal act
- S.I. 2022/395
- Documents
- 9009
- 9010
- 9017
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 | £595k | 70.5% | -40.7% |
 Japan | £47k | 5.5% | +38.8% |
 Germany | £46k | 5.5% | +66.3% |
 Czechia | £43k | 5.1% | +68% |
 Thailand | £32k | 3.8% | -22.5% |
 Indonesia | £20k | 2.4% | -0.4% |
 Poland | £18k | 2.2% | -77.2% |
 United States | £12k | 1.4% | +9.8% |
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) 2 tariff lines 
Canada Free – 6% General (MFN) 2 tariff lines · average 3% 
Mexico 10% – 15% General (MFN) 2 tariff lines · average 12.5% 
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) 1 tariff line Japan Free General (MFN) 1 tariff line 
Taiwan 2.5% General (MFN) 1 tariff line 
GCC 5% General (MFN) 1 tariff line 
Switzerland Free General (MFN) 1 tariff line 
Norway Free General (MFN) 1 tariff line 
North Macedonia 12% General (MFN) 1 tariff line 
Nigeria 20% General (MFN) 1 tariff line World trade in 2024
Trade value (US$) no reported trade < US$25kUS$25k+US$328k+US$913k+> US$8m
Exports: 101
- China: US$38m
- Japan: US$13m
- Germany: US$8m
- France: US$6m
- Vietnam: US$3m
- Czechia: US$2m
- South Korea: US$2m
- Indonesia: US$2m
- Romania: US$913k
- United States: US$800k
- Sweden: US$787k
- Mexico: US$786k
- Slovakia: US$785k
- Taiwan: US$758k
- Brazil: US$673k
- Thailand: US$659k
- Poland: US$635k
- Austria: US$540k
- Spain: US$385k
- Malaysia: US$351k
- Italy: US$328k
- Hong Kong SAR China: US$326k
- Singapore: US$295k
- South Africa: US$293k
- India: US$287k
- United Kingdom: US$260k
- Denmark: US$259k
- Netherlands: US$233k
- Switzerland: US$197k
- Saudi Arabia: US$193k
- Slovenia: US$144k
- Türkiye: US$121k
- Norway: US$117k
- Belgium: US$115k
- United Arab Emirates: US$99k
- Hungary: US$80k
- Estonia: US$67k
- Albania: US$60k
- Australia: US$51k
- Lithuania: US$30k
- Sri Lanka: US$29k
- Serbia: US$25k
- Mauritius: US$23k
- Egypt: US$23k
- Croatia: US$22k
- Latvia: US$22k
- Dominican Republic: US$14k
- Greece: US$13k
- Russia: US$11k
- Panama: US$10k
- Finland: US$9k
- Portugal: US$9k
- Canada: US$9k
- Guatemala: US$8k
- Bulgaria: US$8k
- Ecuador: US$6k
- New Zealand: US$5k
- Bosnia & Herzegovina: US$5k
- Ireland: US$5k
- Peru: US$5k
Trade value (US$) no reported trade < US$52kUS$52k+US$319k+US$1m+> US$4m
Imports: 185
- United States: US$8m
- Vietnam: US$6m
- Mexico: US$6m
- Türkiye: US$6m
- Germany: US$4m
- Japan: US$4m
- Saudi Arabia: US$4m
- China: US$4m
- India: US$3m
- France: US$3m
- United Kingdom: US$2m
- Canada: US$2m
- South Korea: US$2m
- United Arab Emirates: US$2m
- Sweden: US$2m
- Taiwan: US$2m
- Indonesia: US$2m
- Thailand: US$1m
- Brazil: US$1m
- Iran: US$1m
- Poland: US$967k
- Netherlands: US$921k
- Italy: US$866k
- Israel: US$720k
- Slovakia: US$711k
- Pakistan: US$700k
- Egypt: US$689k
- Austria: US$667k
- Malaysia: US$663k
- Russia: US$651k
- Australia: US$638k
- Belgium: US$602k
- Spain: US$601k
- Romania: US$599k
- Switzerland: US$562k
- Norway: US$546k
- Hong Kong SAR China: US$523k
- Singapore: US$473k
- Czechia: US$453k
- Denmark: US$434k
- Finland: US$388k
- Myanmar (Burma): US$341k
- Chile: US$338k
- South Africa: US$335k
- Croatia: US$319k
- North Korea: US$304k
- Slovenia: US$295k
- Iraq: US$295k
- Philippines: US$258k
- Peru: US$225k
- Greece: US$224k
- Ireland: US$212k
- Seychelles: US$210k
- Fiji: US$209k
- Hungary: US$199k
- Portugal: US$195k
- Bosnia & Herzegovina: US$183k
- Serbia: US$171k
- Nigeria: US$156k
- Bahrain: US$153k
Top exporters
| Rank | Country | Value | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | China | US$38m | 44.5% |
| 2 | Japan | US$13m | 15.2% |
| 3 | Germany | US$8m | 9.8% |
| 4 |  France | US$6m | 6.8% |
| 5 |  Vietnam | US$3m | 3% |
| 6 | Czechia | US$2m | 2.6% |
| 7 |  South Korea | US$2m | 2.3% |
| 8 | Indonesia | US$2m | 1.8% |
| 9 |  Romania | US$913k | 1.1% |
| 10 | United States | US$800k | 0.9% |
Top importers
| Rank | Country | Value | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | United States | US$8m | 9% |
| 2 | Vietnam | US$6m | 7% |
| 3 | Mexico | US$6m | 6.7% |
| 4 | Türkiye | US$6m | 6.7% |
| 5 | Germany | US$4m | 4.9% |
| 6 | Japan | US$4m | 4.9% |
| 7 |  Saudi Arabia | US$4m | 4.6% |
| 8 | China | US$4m | 4.5% |
| 9 |  India | US$3m | 3.8% |
| 10 | France | US$3m | 3.3% |
Import duty on this product around the world 165
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
- 39number of duty-free countries (MFN)
- 40%highest: Egypt, Algeria, Cameroon
165
| 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 | 10% | 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 | 10% | 2022 | |
 Bahrain | 5% | 2023 | |
 Bangladesh | 10% | 2023 · HS 2017 | |
 Barbados | 10% | 2022 · HS 2017 | |
 Belarus | 8% | 2021 · HS 2017 | |
 Belize | 0% | 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 | 3% | 0% – 6% | 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 | 5% | 2023 · HS 2017 | |
 Dominica | 10% | 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) | 2.7% | 2023 | |
 Fiji | 5% | 2023 | |
 French Polynesia | 13% | 2023 | |
 Gabon | 30% | 2023 | |
 Gambia | 20% | 2023 | |
 Georgia | 0% | 2022 · HS 2017 | |
 Ghana | 20% | 2023 | |
 Gibraltar | 0% | 2023 · HS 2017 | |
 Grenada | 10% | 2023 · HS 2012 | |
 Guatemala | 0% | 2023 | |
 Guinea | 20% | 2023 | |
 Guinea-Bissau | 20% | 2023 | |
 Guyana | 10% | 2023 · HS 2017 | |
 Haiti | 0% | 2020 · HS 2017 | |
 Honduras | 0% | 2023 | |
 Hong Kong SAR China | 0% | 2023 | |
 Iceland | 0% | 2023 | |
| India | 10% | 2023 | |
| Indonesia | 0% | 2023 | |
 Iran | 15% | 2020 · HS 2017 | |
 Israel | 6% | 0% – 12% | 2022 · HS 2017 |
 Jamaica | 10% | 2023 | |
| Japan | 0% | 2023 | |
 Jordan | 5% | 2023 | |
 Kazakhstan | 8% | 2023 | |
 Kenya | 25% | 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 | 20% | 2023 | |
 Libya | 0% | 2021 · HS 2017 | |
 Liechtenstein | 4.8%* | 2021 · HS 2017 | |
 Macao SAR China | 0% | 2023 | |
 Madagascar | 10% | 2023 | |
 Malawi | 25% | 2021 · HS 2017 | |
 Malaysia | 0% | 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 | 2.5% | 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 | 6% | 0% – 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 | 8% | 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 | 10% | 2023 | |
 St Lucia | 10% | 2023 · HS 2012 | |
 St Pierre & Miquelon | 6% | 2021 · HS 2017 | |
 St Vincent & the Grenadines | 10% | 2023 | |
 Sudan | 10% | 2021 · HS 2017 | |
 Suriname | 10% | 2023 · HS 2007 | |
| Switzerland | 4.5%* | 2023 | |
 Syria | 5% | 2020 · HS 2012 | |
 Tajikistan | 15% | 2021 · HS 2012 | |
 Tanzania | 25% | 2023 | |
| Thailand | 10% | 2023 | |
 Togo | 20% | 2023 | |
 Tonga | 0% | 2023 · HS 2017 | |
 Trinidad & Tobago | 10% | 2023 · HS 2012 | |
| Türkiye | 2.7% | 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
- 89523 Pencils (other than pencils of heading 895.21), crayons, pencil leads, pastels, drawing charcoals, writing/drawing chalks & tailors’ chalks
- End use (BEC Rev. 5)
- Intermediate goods · BEC 711220
- 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 | 9609.20 | unchanged |
| 2012 | 9609.20 | unchanged |
| 2007 | 9609.20 | unchanged |
| 2002 | 9609.20 | unchanged |
| 1996 | 9609.20 | unchanged |
| 1992 | 9609.20 | unchanged |
Correspondence tables of the United Nations Statistics Division (UNSD)
The UK Global Tariff has one tariff line for subheading 9609.20; the duty is 2%.
Subheading 9609.20 is a single line in the EU Combined Nomenclature, where the duty is 2.7%.
174 countries pay no duty in the UK thanks to trade agreements and preference schemes such as DCTS Comprehensive and European Union, against a standard rate of 2%.
Imports of these goods into the UK came to £842.7k between September 2025 and August 2026 (down 36% on the year before); China supplied 71%, followed by Japan.
In 2024, countries exported these goods worth US$86m (−13.6% year on year).
The largest exporter was China (US$38m), followed by Japan.
Questions and answers
What is the HS code for pencil leads, black or coloured?
Pencil leads, black or coloured fall under HS subheading 9609.20, part of heading 9609, in section XX of the Harmonized System.
What is the import duty on pencil leads, black or coloured in the UK?
Under the UK Global Tariff, imports under 9609.20 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 pencil leads, black or coloured in the EU?
Under the EU Combined Nomenclature, imports under 9609.20 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 pencil leads, black or coloured?
China, with US$38m in 2024 (44.5% 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.
Where does the UK import these goods from?
In the 12 months to August 2026, the largest suppliers were China (71%), Japan (6%) and Germany (6%), out of total imports of £842.7k.