What does HS 8471 cover?

Automatic data processing machines and their units: computers, servers, and processing and storage units. Laptops and desktops are in it as well as data-center servers, and the four-digit heading does not separate them, so a rise is not by itself a rise in AI hardware. Parts and accessories are classified under heading 8473 and are not in this series.

Why do the four countries not add up to the total?

Other origins are left out. The four shown are the largest sources over the last three years.

Why compare with a year earlier?

The series is not seasonally adjusted, so a month is compared with the same month a year before rather than with the month before.

Are GPUs counted here?

Accelerators that arrive installed in a server are counted at the server’s value. Cards and modules imported on their own may be classified as parts under heading 8473, which this series leaves out, so the series cannot count GPUs.

Supply chainThe Census Bureau’s release fetched October 30, 2026

Hardware imports

Imports of computers, servers and their processing and storage units reached $41.4 billion in Aug 2026, +75.3% on a year earlier, with Mexico the largest source at $20.3 billion (+142.2%). The figures are customs values, not seasonally adjusted, and count every computer, not only those bound for data centers.

Sources, method and freshnessThe Census Bureau’s release fetched October 30, 2026

U.S. Census Bureau, USA Trade Online / International Trade API, imports by Harmonized System code; a U.S. government work in the public domain.

Cite as The Capex Report, Hardware imports, release fetched October 30, 2026.

How much computing hardware is the United States importing?

Monthly, USD, customs value, not seasonally adjusted

Computer and server imports, United States, all countries

Aug 2026$41.4 billion

U.S. general imports of automatic data processing machines and units (HS 8471: computers, servers, and processing and storage units; parts and accessories are classified separately under HS 8473 and are not included), customs value, all partner countries, not seasonally adjusted. The Census Bureau publishes the month about five weeks after it ends; the latest months are revised. Latest observation Aug 2026; fetched October 30, 2026.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, international trade data. U.S. Census Bureau, USA Trade Online / International Trade API, imports by Harmonized System code.

Where are the servers coming from?

Monthly, four largest sources, last three years

United States imports of computers and servers (HS 8471) by country of origin, monthly

$ billion, customs value

Aug 2026Mexico $20.3BTaiwan $10.8BVietnam $4.2BChina $773.2M

MexicoTaiwanVietnamChina

Mexico $20.3 billion (+142.2%), Taiwan $10.8 billion (+14.7%), Vietnam $4.2 billion (+46.8%), China $0.8 billion (+130.0%) in Aug 2026. Not seasonally adjusted. The four do not sum to the total; other origins are left out.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, international trade data. U.S. Census Bureau, USA Trade Online / International Trade API, imports by Harmonized System code.

Questions this page answers

What does HS 8471 cover?: Automatic data processing machines and their units: computers, servers, and processing and storage units. Laptops and desktops are in it as well as data-center servers, and the four-digit heading does not separate them, so a rise is not by itself a rise in AI hardware. Parts and accessories are classified under heading 8473 and are not in this series.
Why do the four countries not add up to the total?: Other origins are left out. The four shown are the largest sources over the last three years.
Why compare with a year earlier?: The series is not seasonally adjusted, so a month is compared with the same month a year before rather than with the month before.
Are GPUs counted here?: Accelerators that arrive installed in a server are counted at the server’s value. Cards and modules imported on their own may be classified as parts under heading 8473, which this series leaves out, so the series cannot count GPUs.