April 4, 2025
New Tariffs
We’ve all been hearing about the new tariffs. As you know, most electronics are manufactured outside of the US. This is also true of lenses. The vast majority of components we use in the machine vision industry are made in Asia and, to a lesser degree, in Europe.
How will the new tariffs affect your purchases from Machine Vision Store? Though we’ve taken a few actions to mitigate and delay our exposure to the tariffs, the situation is generally beyond our control. One way or another, the cost of purchasing and delivering electronic and optical components will be increasing.
Background
Machine Vision Store commits to transparency in all things we do, including pricing policy. Some readers may be curious about the inner workings of how tariffs get charged and paid. The answer is that it depends on the contract between the US buyer and the foreign manufacturer.
Most contracts rely on terms defined by the International Chamber of Commerce. These are called “Incoterms.” (You can learn about them on Wikipedia.) If the contract specifies, for example, EXW or FCA factory, then the buyer pays all freight and tariffs. On the other hand, if the contract specifies DDP destination, then the shipper pays all freight and tariffs. There are several other variants, but EXW and FCA are the most common terms for small parcels.
Machine Vision Store’s partner manufacturers generally offer EXW or FCA terms. If they have a US warehouse, then we’re paying for freight and insurance, and accepting the risk of loss, from that warehouse to our own. And when the manufacturer is shipping from a factory outside of the US, that means we’re also paying the tariffs.
Tariffs are collected by a customs broker and paid to the US Treasury. The broker ensures compliance with related regulations and processes transaction data on behalf of the responsible party. And of course, the broker charges a fee for their effort.
Until recently, most machine vision components were subject to a US tariff of between 0 and 4 percent, depending on the type of item and the manufacturing origin. There were however exceptions, including a 25% tariff on lenses made in China.
Specifics
[UPDATED 5/12/2025]
What does this mean for you? It depends on the items you're purchasing.
APG
APG manufactures most of their products in the US. Prices remain unchanged so far. However, the vast majority of their products are made from steel and aluminum. If the cost of these metals increase substantially, our own opinion is that there will be a price increase.
Base Lab Tools
Base Lab Tools manufactures their products in the US. Prices remain unchanged so far. However, the vast majority of their products are made from steel or aluminum. If the cost of these metals increase substantially, our own opinion is that there will be a price increase.
Basler
Basler announced on May 9th that, effective immediately, they will be passing all tariff costs on to purchasers. The tariffs are especially steep on their lenses and cables manufactured in China. Basler cameras manufactured in Germany are currently subject to a 10% import tariff.
Fuji Film
Fujinon lenses are manufactured in Asia. When tariffs were announced, they discontinued manufacture of two older series of lenses. (Perhaps coincidence, perhaps not.) Factory lead time has greatly extended on a few models. Our own opinion is there there will be a future price increase if US policy does not change.
Kowa
We are waiting to learn the details of a new price list that will be published any day. We expect a price increase.
Leimac
We are pleased to announce that there will be no price increase or additional fees for our valued Leimac customers, so long as the US does not further increase the tariff rate. Leimac will absorb the tariff cost for many of the items they manufacture, while Machine Vision Store will pay the tariff on some controllers and accessories.
MidOpt
We are not yet aware of a price increase on optical filters produced by MidOpt.
Neousys
Neousys currently does some light assembly work in the US. However, most of their products' value is in the components arriving from Asia. Prices have already increased, and we may see further changes.
Opto-Engineering
Price increase is pending.
Photoneo
Update is pending.
Schneider
Schneider recently published new, increased prices, now in effect.
Smart Vision Lights
Most Smart Vision Lights products are made in the US, and we have not seen any price or policy changes. That said, component parts may be sourced from foreign suppliers.
Spectrum Illumination
Most Spectrum Illumination products are made in the US, and we have not seen any price or policy changes. That said, component parts may be sourced from foreign suppliers.
SVS-Vistek
Most SVS-Vistek cameras are manufactured in Germany. We believe some accessories are made in China. Machine Vision Store is currently paying US import tariffs on SVS-Vistek products. The prices we quote remain unchanged, but we have no choice but to apply an import fee that reflects our substantial cost increase.
Zebra
Zebra's supply chain is truly global. They have previously announced a substantial price increase, now in effect, for many of their products. So far, machine vision product prices have not been impacted. That may change at any time.
Zeiss
Zeiss previously announced that they are exiting the industrial lens market. Our own opinion is we won't see any price increases at this time.
We may change our own policy, without notification, as government regulations continue to evolve.
Tags: Tariffs, Leimac