Pens; 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
HS heading 96.08 covers Pens; 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. Within Chapter 96 it splits into 8 six-digit subheadings spanning pens to pens and pencils, each carrying its own customs duty line.
- India exports 2024
- $251.1M
- Share of Chapter 96
- 35%
- Rank in its chapter
- #1 of 20
Source: UN Comtrade — India's reported merchandise exports to the world, 2024.
Sourcing this category from India
HS 96.08 covers Pens; 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. At the six-digit line it separates pens, pencils and pen and pencil sets, among others — each a distinct duty line shown below. India exports writing instruments, brushware, buttons, combs and a range of finished consumer articles. India exported $251.1M under this code worldwide in 2024, about 35% of all Chapter 96 exports, ranking #1 of 20 lines in its chapter (UN Comtrade).
How to read this code
96.08 is the four-digit HS heading for pens. To clear customs your destination country extends it to a full 8–10 digit code and assigns the duty rate. India's preferential trade agreements (UAE CEPA, Australia ECTA, and others) can reduce or zero out that duty on many miscellaneous manufactured articles lines — check our import guides for your market.
Subheadings under HS 96.08
The Harmonised System breaks Pens; 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 into these 8 subheadings. Drill down to the exact classification for your goods.
Pens; ball point
Pens; felt tipped and other porous-tipped pens and markers
Pens; fountain, stylograph and other pens
Pencils; propelling or sliding
Pen and pencil sets; of articles from two or more of the foregoing sub-headings
Pens; ball-point, refills comprising the ball point and ink-reservoir
Pens; nibs and nib points
Pens and pencils; duplicating stylos, pen-holders, pencil-holders, and similar holders, parts of the articles of heading 9608, including caps and clips
Top destinations for Chapter 96 exports
India's largest buyers of goods in this HS chapter in 2024, ranked by export value.
Chapter-level destination mix — your specific HS line may skew differently. Source: UN Comtrade, 2024.
More codes in Miscellaneous manufactured articles
Jump to the other headings classified under 96 — hover a code for its description.
Working out import duty for HS 96.08 into your market? See full duty context and India-vs-rivals comparisons in our India comparison guides and export resource hub.
Indian exporters in this category
Established export houses with relevant HS focus. Listings are compiled from public records — run your own due diligence.
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