Tattoo Equipment and the Port of Baltimore

Author: Ella Madzarac

Edited by Miya Reed 

Tattoo in progress showing tattoo device. (Louisiana Department of Health)

“Devices and accessories for tattoos,” the commodity name under which such equipment and supplies are shipped, includes the full range of materials needed for creating body art, whether used by the artist or experienced by the client. These supplies include ink, tattoo machines (often called tattoo guns), needles, cleaning solutions, preparatory items, and aftercare products. Companies such as Joker Tattoo Supply, Ultimate Tattoo Supply, and Body Art Alliance make and distribute these products worldwide. According to the Pew Research Center, 32 percent of Americans have at least one tattoo, and 15 percent of those without one say they are likely to get one in the future. These statistics suggest a steady and possibly growing demand for tattoo equipment in the United States. 

Tattoo removal device. (FDA)

According to the trade database ImportInfo, in 2024, 49 shipments of tattoo devices and accessories entered the United States. Of those, 36 (73%) came through the Port of Baltimore. They arrived by container ship from Germany and Belgium, totaling approximately 140 tons. Other US ports handling this commodity, according to the ImportInfo database, were Newark (7 shipments), Norfolk (6 shipments), and Los Angeles (1 shipment). Baltimore handled more containers, greater total weight, and a higher frequency of arrivals. These figures highlight the port’s efficiency and importance in handling specialized goods. We lead the US by far in this commodity.

Tattoo ink (The Dame. Wikimedia. CC BY 2.0 )

Of the 36 shipments received in Baltimore, the company Body Art Alliance received 29 (78%) of them. Body Art Alliance is a distribution and wholesale company, located in Hanover, MD, that supplies tattoo and body modification equipment to professional artists and studios. The company represents hundreds of brands, fosters innovation in body art, and supports many well-known artists. Recent reports note that the number of body art parlors in the United States now exceeds the number of McDonald’s restaurants. Commercial industry reports (IBISWorld) estimate roughly 20,000–24,000 tattoo-studio businesses in the United States, by comparison, McDonald’s reports about 13,500–13,700 US restaurant locations. This shows how deeply tattoo culture has become embedded in US society.

Tattoo equipment and ink in use. (FDA)

The tattoo industry relies on a steady supply of safe, high-quality materials, and the Port of Baltimore plays a key role in ensuring that this supply chain remains uninterrupted. The port’s infrastructure, accessibility, and strong connections to freight-forwarding networks make it an essential gateway for the tattoo industry and for other specialized goods entering the U.S. market.