HTS heading 8523 · Chapter 85, Electrical machinery, electronics and parts
US imports of Discs, tapes, solid-state non-volatile storage devices
Discs, tapes, solid-state non-volatile storage devices, "smart cards" and other media for the recording of sound or of other phenomena, whether or not recorded, including matrices and masters for the production of discs, but excluding products of Chapter 37
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, USA Trade Online / International Trade API, imports for consumption, March–July 2026; effective duty = calculated duty ÷ dutiable value.
US imports under HTS 8523 at a glance
Between March and July 2026, US importers entered $26.8 billion of discs, tapes, solid-state non-volatile storage devices under HTS heading 8523, from 47 of the 55 origin countries covered here and across 25 ten-digit tariff lines — roughly $5.37 billion a month of customs value under a single four-digit heading.
The heading belongs to chapter 85, electrical machinery, electronics and parts. Classification disputes in this range usually turn on the six-digit subheading, which is where the rates start to diverge.
Top origin countries by share of HTS 8523
Origin countries: value, share and duty paid
| Origin | Import value | Share | Dutiable share | Effective duty | Duty per $100 | Detail |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| South Korea | $6.02 billion | 22.4% | 1.1% | 9.53% | $0.10 | Duty on 8523.51.00 |
| Vietnam | $5.42 billion | 20.2% | 0.6% | 5.12% | $0.03 | Duty on 8523.51.00 Vietnam lane |
| Taiwan | $4.68 billion | 17.4% | 1.3% | 6.79% | $0.09 | Duty on 8523.51.00 |
| Malaysia | $4.06 billion | 15.1% | 0.9% | 9.11% | $0.08 | Duty on 8523.51.00 |
| Thailand | $2.24 billion | 8.3% | 0.9% | 10.06% | $0.09 | Duty on 8523.51.00 Thailand lane |
| Singapore | $2.08 billion | 7.7% | 1.6% | 9.73% | $0.16 | Duty on 8523.51.00 |
| Philippines | $1.39 billion | 5.2% | 0.1% | 10% | $0.01 | Duty on 8523.51.00 |
| Japan | $293 million | 1.1% | 17.3% | 10.05% | $1.74 | Duty on 8523.51.00 |
| China | $168 million | 0.6% | 99.9% | 11.07% | $11.06 | Duty on 8523.51.00 China lane |
| Mexico | $127 million | 0.5% | 8.8% | 10% | $0.88 | |
| Germany | $83.3 million | 0.3% | 23.8% | 9.25% | $2.20 | Duty on 8523.51.00 |
| Canada | $55.5 million | 0.2% | 2.8% | 10.37% | $0.29 | |
| United Kingdom | $36.6 million | 0.1% | 27.8% | 9.95% | $2.77 | Duty on 8523.51.00 |
| France | $36.2 million | 0.1% | 72.5% | 9.92% | $7.19 | Duty on 8523.52.00 |
| Czechia | $32.5 million | 0.1% | 29% | 9.93% | $2.88 | Duty on 8523.80.10 |
Who exports discs, tapes, solid-state non-volatile storage devices to the United States
South Korea is the largest origin with $6.02 billion, or 22.4% of the heading, with Vietnam at 20.2% and Taiwan at 17.4%. The top three take 60.1% between them — enough concentration to matter when one origin's duty treatment changes, but not so much that a buyer has no alternative to qualify.
Asian origins supply 90.5% of the heading, led by South Korea, Vietnam, Taiwan and Malaysia. That means ocean transit from Asian base ports and, for most of these countries, no free-trade-agreement relief — so the tariff line you classify into carries the full cost.
What importers actually paid in duty
Most of this heading enters duty-free. Only 2.3% of the entered value was dutiable, and across all origins CBP collected $58.3 million — about $0.22 of duty per $100 of goods. The headline rate on the dutiable portion was 9.6%, but it applies to a small slice, so the number that matters to a landed-cost model is the $0.22.
Duty treatment is fairly uniform across origins here: the countries with real volume all land within a narrow band of $0.01–$0.16 per $100 of goods. Where that happens, switching origin does little for the duty bill, and savings have to come from classification, valuation or freight.
10-digit tariff lines under HTS 8523
| HTS code | Description | Import value | Share | Duty per $100 | Largest origin |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 8523.51.00.00 | — | $26.1 billion | 97.3% | $0.06 | South Korea |
| 8523.52.00.10 | Unrecorded | $168 million | 0.6% | $7.33 | Mexico |
| 8523.52.00.90 | Other | $141 million | 0.5% | $10.18 | France |
| 8523.80.10.00 | — | $99.9 million | 0.4% | $0.68 | Canada |
| 8523.49.50.00 | — | $75.3 million | 0.3% | $1.09 | Mexico |
| 8523.49.30.00 | — | $68.1 million | 0.3% | $0.98 | South Korea |
| 8523.59.00.00 | — | $40.7 million | 0.1% | $8.92 | Malaysia |
| 8523.29.10.00 | — | $38.5 million | 0.1% | $9.45 | Japan |
| 8523.49.40.00 | — | $27.9 million | 0.1% | $3.99 | Japan |
| 8523.49.20.20 | — | $23.6 million | 0.1% | $7.71 | China |
| 8523.80.20.00 | — | $15.2 million | 0.1% | $6.48 | South Korea |
| 8523.49.20.10 | — | $10.4 million | 0% | $3.66 | Japan |
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, USA Trade Online / International Trade API, imports for consumption, March–July 2026; effective duty = calculated duty ÷ dutiable value.
The 10-digit lines under heading 8523
25 ten-digit lines carried trade under this heading in the period. The largest, 8523.51.00.00, took 97.3% of the heading at $26.1 billion. 8523.52.00.10, 8523.52.00.90 and 8523.80.10.00 follow. Rates diverge between those lines, so the classification your broker files is worth checking against the goods rather than carried over from the last entry.
What the duty stack looks like
The rate on an entry is not one number. It is a stack: the general (column 1) rate for the 10-digit line, less any trade-agreement preference the goods qualify for, plus whatever additional duties apply to that product and origin, all applied to the customs value declared. The $0.22 per $100 above is what that stack averaged across every entry in this heading — a benchmark, not a quote.
For the origins carrying the most volume, the per-country breakdowns go a level deeper: South Korea (8523.51.00), Vietnam (8523.51.00) and Taiwan (8523.51.00). To price a specific shipment, put your 10-digit code and country of origin into the tariff simulator.
What this means for your next shipment
The numbers above are a starting point, not the answer for a specific shipment: the rate depends on the exact 10-digit line, the origin, and any trade-agreement claim you can substantiate. Airlift USA arranges the ocean and air movement and coordinates classification and entry filing through our licensed broker network.
For the operational side rather than the tariff side, see the Electronics & Semiconductor Commodities guide for how this cargo moves, the Vietnam to USA lane for transit times and ports and the heading index to compare against the rest of chapter 85.
Price a shipment under HTS 8523
Airlift USA has moved ocean and air freight into the United States since 1999 and coordinates HTS classification, ISF and entry filing through our licensed broker network.
Methodology
Figures come from the U.S. Census Bureau's international trade statistics for imports for consumption — the customs value of goods entered into US commerce, not shipments in transit or goods held in bonded warehouses. The period is March–July 2026 (5 months of data), and coverage is limited to 55 major origin countries, so totals here are lower than published US-wide totals for the same heading.
Three quantities are additive and everything else is derived from them: entered customs value, dutiable value and calculated duty. Effective duty is calculated duty divided by dutiable value — the rate CBP actually applied to the part of the trade that was dutiable. Dutiable share is dutiable value divided by entered value; below 20% it means the trade entered mostly free, under a trade agreement or a duty-free provision. Duty per $100 spreads calculated duty across all entered value, which is the figure comparable between origins.
Chapter 98 and chapter 99 are excluded: those are special classification and temporary-measure provisions rather than product headings. Heading and tariff-line descriptions are the current HTS text. Values are historical and reflect duty as calculated at the time of entry; they are not a quote and not a prediction of the rate on a future shipment.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, USA Trade Online / International Trade API, imports for consumption, March–July 2026; effective duty = calculated duty ÷ dutiable value. Census data is a work of the US government and is in the public domain.
Frequently asked questions
Which countries export the most discs, tapes, solid-state non-volatile storage devices to the United States?
South Korea is the largest origin under HTS heading 8523, with $6.02 billion entered between March and July 2026, or 22.4% of the heading. Vietnam follows at 20.2% and Taiwan at 17.4%. Figures cover the 55 major origin countries in this dataset. Source: U.S. Census Bureau, USA Trade Online / International Trade API, imports for consumption, March–July 2026; effective duty = calculated duty ÷ dutiable value.
How much import duty is paid on discs, tapes, solid-state non-volatile storage devices under HTS 8523?
Across all origins, 2.3% of the entered value was dutiable and CBP calculated $58.3 million of duty over the five months — an effective 9.6% on dutiable value, or about $0.22 per $100 of goods across the whole heading. Your own rate depends on the exact 10-digit line and country of origin.
Which HTS codes fall under heading 8523?
Heading 8523 covers discs, tapes, solid-state non-volatile storage devices, "smart cards" and other media for the recording of sound or of other phenomena, whether or not recorded, including matrices and masters for the production of discs, but excluding products of Chapter 37. 25 ten-digit lines recorded imports in this period; the largest by value were 8523.51.00.00, 8523.52.00.10, 8523.52.00.90 and 8523.80.10.00. Duty rates differ between those lines, so the 10-digit classification matters more than the heading.
Which origin pays the lowest duty on discs, tapes, solid-state non-volatile storage devices?
Among origins with at least 2% of the heading, Philippines paid the least duty relative to entered value — about $0.01 per $100 of goods, with 99.9% of its value entering free. Duty is only one part of landed cost, and a claim has to be substantiated at entry to be allowed.
How do I check the duty on my own shipment?
Use the Airlift USA tariff simulator with your 10-digit HTS code and country of origin to see the duty stack that applies today, then confirm the classification before you file. Airlift USA coordinates classification and entry filing through our licensed broker network and can review the code against your product specification.