HS Code 9608Pens; ball-point, felt tipped, other porous tipped pens; fountain pens, stylograph pens duplicating stylos, propelling or sliding pencils; parts of the foregoing, excluding those of heading no. 9609

What is the HS code for pen products?

For most writing instruments with ink, the answer is heading 9608. A felt-tip pen or marker sits in 960820. A fountain pen sits in 960830.

The code is built in layers. The section is the broad group. Chapter 96 narrows it down. A six-digit code such as 960810 names the exact product.

If you search for the HSN code for pen items, you are looking at the same first six digits. This is a tariff classification, so the goods decide the code, not the brand or the shop name.

HS code 9608 subheadings: pens, markers, pencils and parts

The legal wording is long. Here are the everyday names that match each code.

• Ball pens and ballpoint pens: 960810
• Felt-tip pens, other porous-tipped pens and markers: 960820
• Fountain pens, stylograph pens and other pens: 960830
• Propelling or sliding pencils, often called mechanical pencils: 960840
• Pen and pencil sets that mix two or more of these items: 960850
• Ball-point pen refills, made of the ball point and ink reservoir: 960860
• Pen nibs and nib points: 960891
• Caps, clips, pen-holders, pencil-holders, duplicating stylos and other parts: 960899

How to pick the right 9608 code

Start with what is in the box. A complete pen goes to its own type: ball point, felt tip or fountain. A pencil that you twist or slide to push out the lead goes to 960840.

A refill is not a complete pen. If you ship only the ball point and ink reservoir, use 960860. A bare nib or nib point goes to 960891.

Caps and clips are pen parts. They go to 960899, along with holders for pens and pencils. Keep in mind that this code covers parts of the articles in heading 9608, so check that the part really belongs to a pen or pencil of this heading.

A set is different again. If one pack holds a pen and a pencil, or other mixed items from this heading, look at 960850. If you are unsure, the HS code classifier can help you narrow it down.

9608 vs 9609: pens and propelling pencils vs other pencils

That is the line between the two.

Heading 9609 holds ordinary pencils, crayons, pencil leads, pastels, drawing charcoals, and writing or drawing chalks. So a crayon is not a 9608 product, and a loose pencil lead is not a pen part.

A few nearby headings are worth a look when your product is close to writing gear. Heading 9610 covers slates and writing boards. Heading 9611 covers hand stamps. Heading 9612 covers ink ribbons and ink pads.

HS 9608 pens import and export data

EximDataX shows shipment-level import and export records from official customs sources. Coverage runs to 43 direct customs feeds plus 184 mirror-derived countries.

Named buyers and named suppliers are available in 38 of the 43 direct markets. Most markets refresh weekly and some refresh daily.

You can search by HS code to see who imports and exports a product. Try 9608, or a single code like 960810 if you want ballpoint pen importers. Then book a free demo to see the records for your own product.