Official data Source: US Census Bureau international trade data
Track this productMeasuring or checking instruments, appliances & machines, oth tn optical, not elsewhere specified
In short
- The US imported $3.88B of this product over the 12 months to August 2026, up 1.9% on the year before.
- Mexico is the largest supplier, with 16.0% of US imports; Germany is next, with 11.9%.
- Duty paid averaged 8.6% of the value of imports in August 2026, down 3.6 points on a year earlier.
- Canada is gaining share: 8.5% over the last 12 months, up from 7.5%.
- 4 Federal Register notices named this product's tariff codes in the last 12 months.
- US exports were $3.18B over the last 12 months; the largest market is Mexico, with 14.1%.
US imports, Aug 2026
$363.0M
↑ +34% vs Aug 2025
Last 12 months
$3.88B
↑ +1.9% vs the 12 months before
Average duty paid
8.6%
↓ −3.6 pts vs Aug 2025
Top supplier
Mexico
16.0% of US imports
US imports by month
The last 13 months, so the same month a year ago is on the left. August 2026 is highlighted. Dotted lines mark lasting changes in duty paid, labelled with the supplier, or "Duty" when several moved; the tariff timeline lists each one with its notices.
Show the numbers
| Month | US imports |
|---|---|
| August 2025 | $271.0M |
| September 2025 | $322.7M |
| October 2025 | $309.8M |
| November 2025 | $287.9M |
| December 2025 | $323.3M |
| January 2026 | $268.8M |
| February 2026 | $294.8M |
| March 2026 | $310.7M |
| April 2026 | $318.9M |
| May 2026 | $329.3M |
| June 2026 | $391.7M |
| July 2026 | $357.0M |
| August 2026 | $363.0M |
What changed
- US imports were $363.0M in August 2026, up 1.7% from July 2026 and up 34% from August 2025.
- Over the 12 months to August 2026 they totalled $3.88B, up 1.9% on the 12 months before.
- Biggest moves in market share since July 2026: Czech Republic up from 0.3% to 3.9%, United Kingdom down from 6.6% to 4.2%.
- Duty paid on imports from Taiwan fell from 9.2% to 6.7% of their value since July 2026.
- Duty paid on imports from Korea, South rose from 9.2% to 11.6% of their value since July 2026.
US trade by year
US imports were $3.88B in the 12 months to Aug 2026, up 46% on the 12 months to Aug 2017. US exports were $3.18B, up 19%. In January 2022 the HS 2022 revision moved some goods between this code and 8524.11, 8524.12, 8524.19 and 12 more, so part of a change across the dashed line can be the revision. In January 2017 the HS 2017 revision moved some goods between this code and 8542.31, 8542.32 and 8542.39, so part of a change across the dashed line can be the revision. Dotted lines mark lasting changes in duty paid, labelled with the supplier, or "Duty" when several moved; the tariff timeline lists each one with its notices.
Show the numbers
| Period | US imports |
|---|---|
| 12 months to Aug 2017 | $2.66B |
| 12 months to Aug 2018 | $2.78B |
| 12 months to Aug 2019 | $2.69B |
| 12 months to Aug 2020 | $2.37B |
| 12 months to Aug 2021 | $2.72B |
| 12 months to Aug 2022 | $2.98B |
| 12 months to Aug 2023 | $3.21B |
| 12 months to Aug 2024 | $3.66B |
| 12 months to Aug 2025 | $3.81B |
| 12 months to Aug 2026 | $3.88B |
- Mexico
- Germany
- Canada
- Japan
- All countries
Show the numbers
| Period | Mexico | Germany | Canada | Japan |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 12 months to Aug 2017 | 4.7% | 16.7% | 9.4% | 13.3% |
| 12 months to Aug 2018 | 7.9% | 16.6% | 9.7% | 12.7% |
| 12 months to Aug 2019 | 10.3% | 16.6% | 9.3% | 13.9% |
| 12 months to Aug 2020 | 11.4% | 14.9% | 8.5% | 12.5% |
| 12 months to Aug 2021 | 11.3% | 14.2% | 7.9% | 10.8% |
| 12 months to Aug 2022 | 10.1% | 13.1% | 7.6% | 10.5% |
| 12 months to Aug 2023 | 11.3% | 13.6% | 8.3% | 9.6% |
| 12 months to Aug 2024 | 14.3% | 13.4% | 7.5% | 7.4% |
| 12 months to Aug 2025 | 19.0% | 12.7% | 7.5% | 7.9% |
| 12 months to Aug 2026 | 19.0% | 13.2% | 8.5% | 7.3% |
Show the numbers
| Period | Mexico | Germany | Canada | Japan | All countries |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 12 months to Aug 2017 | 0.3% | 1.1% | 0.3% | 1.0% | 0.8% |
| 12 months to Aug 2018 | 0.2% | 0.6% | 0.2% | 0.7% | 0.8% |
| 12 months to Aug 2019 | 0.1% | 0.3% | 0.1% | 0.3% | 2.1% |
| 12 months to Aug 2020 | 0.0% | 0.1% | 0.0% | 0.1% | 1.7% |
| 12 months to Aug 2021 | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.0% | 2.1% |
| 12 months to Aug 2022 | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.0% | 2.3% |
| 12 months to Aug 2023 | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.0% | 2.1% |
| 12 months to Aug 2024 | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.0% | 1.6% |
| 12 months to Aug 2025 | 0.7% | 4.2% | 2.5% | 3.4% | 4.9% |
| 12 months to Aug 2026 | 0.9% | 11.4% | 4.4% | 11.8% | 10.3% |
| Period | US imports | Duty paid | US exports |
|---|---|---|---|
| 12 months to Aug 2026 | $3.88B+1.9% | 10.3%+5.4 pts | $3.18B−2.7% |
| 12 months to Aug 2025 | $3.81B+4.1% | 4.9%+3.3 pts | $3.27B+7.3% |
| 12 months to Aug 2024 | $3.66B+14% | 1.6%−0.5 pts | $3.05B+4.8% |
| 12 months to Aug 2023 | $3.21B+7.5% | 2.1%−0.1 pts | $2.91B+12% |
| 12 months to Aug 2022HS 2022 revision | $2.98B+9.9% | 2.3%+0.2 pts | $2.60B+9.4% |
| 12 months to Aug 2021 | $2.72B+15% | 2.1%+0.4 pts | $2.38B−1.9% |
| 12 months to Aug 2020 | $2.37B−12% | 1.7%−0.4 pts | $2.43B−9.8% |
| 12 months to Aug 2019 | $2.69B−3.2% | 2.1%+1.3 pts | $2.69B−5.4% |
| 12 months to Aug 2018 | $2.78B+4.7% | 0.8%0.0 pts | $2.84B+6.1% |
| 12 months to Aug 2017HS 2017 revision | $2.66B | 0.8% | $2.68B |
Who supplies the US
August 2026. Small figures under each value are the change from August 2025. Average prices aren't shown because this product's lines are counted in different units.
| Country | US imports | Share | Average price | Duty paid | Last 13 months |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mexico | $58.2M | 16.0%−7.2 pts | n/a | 0.4%−0.8 pts | |
| Germany | $43.3M | 11.9%−1.0 pts | n/a | 9.0%−3.4 pts | |
| Japan | $31.1M | 8.6%+2.4 pts | n/a | 8.6%−2.6 pts | |
| Vietnam | $31.0M | 8.5%+7.1 pts | n/a | 12.4%−0.6 pts | |
| Canada | $30.3M | 8.3%0.0 pts | n/a | 1.7%−2.7 pts | |
| China | $18.8M | 5.2%−2.0 pts | n/a | 34.7%−18.1 pts | |
| Taiwan | $15.7M | 4.3%+0.3 pts | n/a | 6.7%−5.7 pts | |
| United Kingdom | $15.3M | 4.2%+0.3 pts | n/a | 7.9%−1.2 pts | |
| Other countries (67) | $119.3M | 32.9%+0.3 pts | n/a | 9.6%−4.0 pts | |
| All countries | $363.0M | 100.0% | n/a | 8.6%−3.6 pts |
The 3 largest suppliers had 40.7% of US imports over the last 12 months.
How the market is shifting
Canada gained the most share: 8.5% of US imports over the last 12 months, up from 7.5% in the 12 months before. Estonia lost the most: 2.0%, down from 3.1%. The charts show September 2024 to August 2026 for the 4 largest suppliers over the last 12 months. Dotted lines mark lasting changes in duty paid, labelled with the supplier, or "Duty" when several moved; the tariff timeline lists each one with its notices.
- Mexico
- Germany
- Canada
- Japan
- All countries
Show the numbers
| Month | Mexico | Germany | Canada | Japan |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| September 2024 | 17.9% | 12.4% | 6.8% | 6.9% |
| October 2024 | 20.0% | 10.7% | 7.4% | 12.0% |
| November 2024 | 19.7% | 11.7% | 7.0% | 8.0% |
| December 2024 | 15.7% | 10.7% | 7.5% | 9.4% |
| January 2025 | 18.0% | 13.1% | 7.7% | 8.4% |
| February 2025 | 19.5% | 12.6% | 7.6% | 5.8% |
| March 2025 | 18.9% | 12.3% | 8.0% | 7.0% |
| April 2025 | 17.9% | 14.8% | 8.7% | 7.4% |
| May 2025 | 20.9% | 12.5% | 7.6% | 6.0% |
| June 2025 | 20.1% | 11.7% | 7.0% | 7.7% |
| July 2025 | 17.7% | 15.8% | 6.0% | 9.3% |
| August 2025 | 23.3% | 13.0% | 8.3% | 6.1% |
| September 2025 | 22.7% | 13.9% | 10.3% | 6.8% |
| October 2025 | 21.7% | 17.1% | 8.2% | 6.7% |
| November 2025 | 22.9% | 12.6% | 9.0% | 8.9% |
| December 2025 | 17.3% | 12.0% | 8.8% | 6.4% |
| January 2026 | 20.4% | 13.8% | 9.3% | 5.9% |
| February 2026 | 18.4% | 15.8% | 6.8% | 8.8% |
| March 2026 | 21.8% | 12.8% | 9.1% | 5.9% |
| April 2026 | 20.2% | 13.8% | 8.5% | 7.6% |
| May 2026 | 19.8% | 12.5% | 8.4% | 6.7% |
| June 2026 | 14.6% | 11.8% | 7.6% | 8.1% |
| July 2026 | 14.4% | 11.9% | 8.3% | 6.9% |
| August 2026 | 16.0% | 11.9% | 8.3% | 8.6% |
Show the numbers
| Month | Mexico | Germany | Canada | Japan | All countries |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| September 2024 | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.0% | 1.2% |
| October 2024 | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.0% | 1.2% |
| November 2024 | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.0% | 1.2% |
| December 2024 | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.0% | 1.4% |
| January 2025 | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.0% | 1.7% |
| February 2025 | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.0% | 1.3% |
| March 2025 | 2.7% | 0.0% | 5.5% | 0.0% | 2.8% |
| April 2025 | 1.1% | 6.3% | 7.5% | 4.1% | 8.0% |
| May 2025 | 1.2% | 9.8% | 3.3% | 9.7% | 9.8% |
| June 2025 | 0.9% | 9.8% | 3.6% | 10.0% | 9.1% |
| July 2025 | 1.1% | 9.7% | 3.5% | 10.0% | 9.9% |
| August 2025 | 1.2% | 12.4% | 4.4% | 11.2% | 12.2% |
| September 2025 | 0.8% | 14.4% | 9.2% | 14.9% | 13.0% |
| October 2025 | 1.0% | 14.3% | 4.3% | 14.9% | 13.4% |
| November 2025 | 2.4% | 13.9% | 6.9% | 14.8% | 13.4% |
| December 2025 | 0.9% | 14.2% | 6.2% | 14.9% | 12.4% |
| January 2026 | 2.4% | 13.9% | 8.0% | 14.0% | 13.0% |
| February 2026 | 0.8% | 12.5% | 7.6% | 13.0% | 12.1% |
| March 2026 | 0.4% | 9.0% | 2.4% | 9.4% | 7.6% |
| April 2026 | 0.2% | 9.0% | 1.7% | 9.4% | 7.6% |
| May 2026 | 0.4% | 9.2% | 1.3% | 9.8% | 7.5% |
| June 2026 | 0.4% | 8.9% | 1.6% | 9.6% | 8.3% |
| July 2026 | 0.4% | 8.8% | 2.6% | 9.8% | 8.3% |
| August 2026 | 0.4% | 9.0% | 1.7% | 8.6% | 8.6% |
Tariff actions touching this product
When the duty paid on this product changed and stayed changed, for its main suppliers and all countries, newest first, with the Federal Register notices that named the product in the 3 months before. Rates are medians of the 4 months either side, less any usual seasonal swing. A change shows what happened to duty paid, not why; read each notice for what it did.
- February 2026 · Duty paid: Japan 14.9% → 9.6%, China 45.7% → 34.1%, all countries 13.2% → 7.7%.
- April–May 2025 · Duty paid: Germany 0.0% → 9.8%, Japan 0.0% → 10.0%, China 25.3% → 58.8%, all countries 1.5% → 9.5%.
- July 2018 · Duty paid: China 0.8% → 23.7%.
Federal Register notices from the last 12 months that list this product's tariff codes. A notice can add a duty, exclude products from one or only mention them, so read each for what it changes. Search the Federal Register for 9031.80
- Notice of Action: Brazil's Acts, Policies, and Practices Related to Digital Trade and Electronic Payment Services; Unfair, Preferential Tariffs; Anti-Corruption Enforcement; Intellectual Property Protection; Ethanol Market Access; and Illegal Deforestation
- Notice of Determination and Request for Comments Concerning Action Pursuant to Section 301: Brazil's Acts, Policies, and Practices Related to Digital Trade and Electronic Payment Services; Unfair, Preferential Tariffs; Anti-Corruption Enforcement; Intellectual Property Protection; Ethanol Market Access; and Illegal Deforestation
- Implementing Certain Tariff-Related Elements of the Framework for a United States-Switzerland-Liechtenstein Agreement on Fair, Balanced, and Reciprocal Trade
- Implementing Certain Tariff-Related Elements of the U.S.-Korea Strategic Trade and Investment Deal
Where it enters the US
Main ports of entry over the 12 months to August 2026: US imports and share.
Where US exports go
US exports were $276.8M in August 2026, up 13% from August 2025, and $3.18B over the last 12 months, down 2.7% on the 12 months before. Fastest-growing market with 3% or more of US exports: Singapore, up 62%.
| Market | Last 12 months | Share | vs 12 months before |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mexico | $447.7M | 14.1% | −23% |
| Canada | $419.2M | 13.2% | +5.6% |
| China | $283.9M | 8.9% | −16% |
| Japan | $226.1M | 7.1% | −0.8% |
| Germany | $220.6M | 6.9% | −20% |
| United Kingdom | $130.9M | 4.1% | +7.1% |
| Taiwan | $105.3M | 3.3% | +42% |
| Singapore | $103.2M | 3.2% | +62% |
| Other countries (179) | $1.25B | 39.2% | +4.2% |
| All countries | $3.18B | 100.0% | −2.7% |
Markets abroad
Each country's own import figures for this product, from UN Comtrade: the 8 biggest importers outside the US in the latest year each has reported, what they bought from the US, and the change from the year before. Values usually include freight and insurance to the importer's border, so they run a little above US export figures. Countries report a year or more late; 124 have reported 2025 so far. Where a country's figure for imports from the US is under half or over double what the US recorded exporting there that year, the US figure is shown under it.
| Market | Imports | vs year before | From the US | US share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| China | $6.36Bin 2025 | +8.2% | $544.8M | 8.6% |
| Germany | $2.38Bin 2025 | +9.2% | $257.5M | 10.8% |
| Korea, South | $1.48Bin 2025 | +8.0% | $186.2MUS records $90.0M | 12.6% |
| Mexico | $1.32Bin 2025 | −17% | $489.7M | 37.2% |
| India | $1.29Bin 2025 | +13% | $120.5M | 9.3% |
| Japan | $1.15Bin 2025 | +16% | $189.7M | 16.5% |
| United Kingdom | $1.15Bin 2025 | +18% | $262.9MUS records $119.6M | 22.9% |
| Netherlands | $778.4Min 2025 | −13% | $60.1M | 7.7% |
The biggest market outside the US is China, which imported $6.36B of this product in 2025, 8.6% of that from the US.
The US supplies 37.2% of imports into Mexico, but under 10% into China, India and the Netherlands.
Of these, imports into Japan grew fastest: up 16% from 2024 to 2025.
Related products
Other products under heading 9031: measuring or checking instruments, appliances and machines, not elsewhere specified; profile projectors; parts and accessories thereof. US trade over the 12 months to August 2026.
| Product | US imports | US exports |
|---|---|---|
| Parts and accessories for measuring or checking instruments, appliances and machines, not elsewhere specified; parts and accessories for profile projectorsHS 9031.90 | $1.28B | $1.53B |
| Optical instruments and appliances for inspecting semiconductor wafers, devices, photomasks or reticles used in manufacturing semiconductor devicesHS 9031.41 | $582.9M | $2.13B |
| Other optical measuring or checking instruments, appliances & machines, not elsewhere specifiedHS 9031.49 | $1.59B | $900.4M |
| Test benchesHS 9031.20 | $228.9M | $141.8M |
| Measuring or checking machines for balancing mechanical parts, not elsewhere specifiedHS 9031.10 | $31.2M | $63.2M |
About these figures
- Source: US Census Bureau international trade data, not seasonally adjusted, in US dollars. Retrieved November 3, 2026.
- US imports are general imports at customs value, which excludes freight and insurance. Exports are at free-alongside-ship value.
- Average price is customs value divided by quantity, across all of the product's 10-digit lines.
- Duty paid is the duty Census calculates on each country's imports for consumption, as a share of their value. It moves with tariff changes, exemptions and the mix of goods within the product.
- Markets abroad are each country's imports as it reports them to UN Comtrade, in US dollars, usually including freight and insurance. Countries report a year or more late and in their own edition of the HS codes, so one still on an older edition is missing for codes that changed in 2022.
- Tariff notices are from the Federal Register, matched to this product by the HTS numbers in their text.
- Census revises recent months, so figures can change slightly. These are estimates for research and planning, not customs or legal advice.