HS Code 40.04 – Waste, parings and scrap of rubber (other than hard rubber) and powders and granules obtained therefrom

HS code 4004 is a 4-digit heading in the Harmonized System that covers: Waste, parings and scrap of rubber (other than hard rubber) and powders and granules obtained therefrom. Heading 4004 covers waste, parings, and scrap of rubber (excluding hard rubber), as well as powders and granules obtained therefrom. This classification is crucial for managing the recycling and disposal streams within the rubber industry. Its scope is specifically for unprocessed or minimally processed rubber waste materials, such as manufacturing offcuts, end-of-life products like tires (before devulcanization), or other discarded rubber articles. The key distinction is that these materials have not been chemically or mechanically treated to reclaim their plasticity, unlike the 'reclaimed rubber' of heading 4003. This heading is vital for trade compliance due to the significant environmental regulations and import/export restrictions often placed on waste materials. Accurate classification ensures adherence to international waste conventions (e.g., Basel Convention) and national environmental laws. Powders and granules obtained directly from grinding or shredding this scrap, without further chemical treatment for reclamation, also fall here. The exclusion of hard rubber (like ebonite) is important, as hard rubber scrap is classified under 4017. Historically, rubber waste has been a byproduct of industrialization, evolving from disposal challenges to valuable secondary raw material streams for energy recovery, infill, or further processing. This heading in Chapter 40 acts as a specific category for raw rubber waste, differentiating it from usable raw materials and finished articles.

Used rubber tires (shredded), rubber tire buffings, rubber manufacturing offcuts, vulcanized rubber scrap, waste rubber strips, rubber factory trimmings, end-of-life conveyor belts (for recycling), rubber seal waste, rubber gasket punch-outs, shredded rubber from inner tubes, rubber powders from tire grinding (not devulcanized), rubber granules from scrap processing, used rubber boots (for recycling), rubber hose waste, unvulcanized rubber scrap, rubber floor mat scrap, rubber glove manufacturing waste, rubber band waste, bicycle tire waste, rubber tube scrap, rubber footwear components waste, automotive rubber parts scrap, rubber insulation scrap, rubber sheet offcuts.

A primary misclassification risk for 4004 is confusing it with reclaimed rubber (4003); 4004 is unprocessed waste, while 4003 has undergone a specific devulcanization process. Another common error is classifying functional, albeit used, rubber articles (e.g., used tires for re-use as tires) under 4004 instead of their respective 'articles of rubber' headings (e.g., 4011 for tires). Lastly, hard rubber (ebonite) waste is excluded from 4004 and should be classified under 4017, a distinction often overlooked by traders.

In 2025, the top exporters of HS code 4004 in UN Comtrade data were the United States ($100M, 21% of world exports), Saudi Arabia ($78M) and the United Kingdom ($50M). World exports came to about $471M, adding countries' reported figures and partner-based estimates for those that did not report (UN Comtrade data). Countries that did not report 2025 data are estimated from partner records, which can understate them.

In 2025, the top importers of HS code 4004 in UN Comtrade data were India ($217M, 38% of world imports), Türkiye ($46M) and Japan ($40M). World imports came to about $566M, adding countries' reported figures and partner-based estimates for those that did not report (UN Comtrade data). Countries that did not report 2025 data are estimated from partner records, which can understate them.

HS code 4004 is a 4-digit heading under Chapter 40 of the Harmonized System. The first 2 digits (40) identify the chapter, and digits 3-4 (04) specify the heading. This code contains multiple 6-digit subheadings for precise product classification.