Last week, we reported that Fujifilm was having to raise its prices in the U.S. for a second time in as many months. Now, Nikon has announced that it is also going to increase its prices again this year. It’s only been two months since the company introduced its previous price hikes on June 23, 2025.
Nikon issued a press release which stated, “At Nikon, we remain committed to providing the highest quality imaging products and value to our customers. As we continue to navigate the impact of tariffs, a further price adjustment will take effect on September 1, 2025. We are closely monitoring tariff developments and the evolving market conditions and are taking every possible step to minimize the impact on our community. We wish to thank our customers for their understanding. Customers with order inquiries should contact their authorized retailer for support.”
How much will prices rise?
Nikon hasn’t said yet how much it is increasing its prices, or which products will be affected. Back in June, the majority of Nikon’s lenses jumped in cost by around 10%. This was in response to the 10% tariffs that President Trump has imposed on most countries around the world. However, Japan has now been hit with a 15% tariff, and China’s tariff is currently 30%.
Also, Thailand, where Nikon’s mirrorless cameras are manufactured, faces a 19% tariff. As Nikon’s mirrorless camera bodies avoided any price rises in June, it seems likely that they will cost more after September 1st, 2025.
Tariffs
President Donald Trump told the American public that, “Tariff is the most beautiful word in the dictionary.” He also claimed that foreign companies pay the tariffs he imposes. However, that is not true. American importers pay the tariffs when they bring goods into the U.S. To recover the costs of the tariffs, the importers then increase the wholesale price for the goods. This means that ultimately, consumers in America pay the tariffs. As the tariffs only apply in the U.S., Americans are the only ones paying the higher prices. All of the extra money generated by tariffs goes directly to the U.S. government.
What we think
In the first few months after President Trump introduced his initial tariffs in April, nothing changed. However, this was the calm before the storm as importers ran down their stocks of goods that had come into the U.S. before the tariffs came into force. Unfortunately, by the middle of the year, those stocks were gone, and all new imports were subject to the tariffs. Now, U.S. importers are having to pay the new, higher tariffs imposed in August, which means a second round of price increases for the American markets. President Trump may think tariff is a beautiful word, but for U.S. consumers, it just means more economic pain.
