9608.99.30.00 - Balls for ball point pens

This HTS category, 9608.99.30.00, specifically covers the individual balls used in the manufacturing of ballpoint pens. These are the precision-engineered spherical components that contain the ink and facilitate its transfer to the writing surface through rolling action. Classification within this subheading requires the goods to be exclusively intended for use as parts of ballpoint pens.

It is crucial to distinguish this category from its sibling, 9608.99.20.00, which covers refill cartridges for pens. While refill cartridges are a component of a pen, they are a self-contained unit designed to hold and deliver ink, often including the writing tip. In contrast, 9608.99.30.00 is for the individual ball component itself, which would be assembled into a pen or a refill cartridge during manufacturing.

As this subheading represents a leaf node within the HTS, there are no further subcategories. Therefore, classification relies on the clear identification of the goods as balls intended for ballpoint pens, distinguishing them from other pen parts or complete writing instruments. Examples include stainless steel or tungsten carbide balls designed for specific pen tip sizes and ink viscosities.