HS code · 4-digit heading

HS Code 42.02 – Trunks; suit, camera, jewellery, cutlery cases; travel, tool, similar bags; wholly or mainly covered by leather, composition leather, plastic sheeting, textile materials, vulcanised fibre, paperboard

What HS 42.02 covers

HS Code 4202 is a comprehensive heading for various types of containers, specifically trunks, suitcases, vanity cases, executive-cases, briefcases, school satchels, spectacle cases, binocular cases, camera cases, musical instrument cases, gun cases, holsters and similar containers; travel bags, insulated food or beverage bags, toilet bags, rucksacks, handbags, shopping-bags, wallets, purses, map-cases, cigarette-cases, tobacco-pouches, tool bags, sports bags, bottle cases, jewellery boxes, powder-boxes, cutlery cases and similar containers, of leather or of composition leather, of plastic sheeting, of textile materials, of vulcanised fibre or of paperboard, or wholly or mainly covered with such materials or with paper. This heading captures a vast range of articles used for carrying personal effects, travel, or specific items, emphasizing that the primary characteristic is being 'wholly or mainly covered' by the specified materials. This broad material scope (leather, plastic, textile, etc.) means the classification hinges on the *function* as a container and its external covering. It's a critical heading for global trade in consumer goods, covering everything from luxury handbags to utilitarian tool bags. For trade compliance, precise classification within 4202 is essential due to varying tariff rates based on material composition (e.g., leather vs. textile) and specific product type (e.g., luggage vs. handbags). This heading is central to Chapter 42, which deals with articles of leather and other materials, reflecting the diverse manufacturing and consumer demand for portable storage solutions worldwide.

Covers
  • Leather suitcases
  • Textile travel bags
  • Plastic luggage sets
  • Camera bags
  • Jewellery boxes
  • Cutlery cases
  • Briefcases
  • Laptop bags
  • School backpacks
  • Women's handbags
  • Men's wallets
  • Cosmetic cases
  • Tool bags
  • Sports duffel bags
  • Insulated lunch bags
  • Toiletry kits
  • Golf club bags
  • Fishing tackle boxes
  • Gun cases
  • Holsters
  • Music instrument cases
  • Shopping tote bags
  • Coin purses
  • Passport holders
  • Spectacle cases
  • Tablet sleeves
  • Key cases
  • Mobile phone pouches
  • Bicycle pannier bags
  • Pet carrier bags
  • Medical equipment cases
  • Art supply cases
  • Document portfolios
  • Picnic baskets (if covered by specified materials)
  • Garment bags.
Examples

A major retailer in the United States imports thousands of textile travel bags and hardshell plastic suitcases from manufacturers in China and Vietnam. These products, primarily covered by textile materials or plastic sheeting, are classified under 4202, traveling via ocean freight from Asian ports to major US distribution centers, subject to specific tariffs for luggage. In another instance, a luxury brand in Japan imports high-end leather handbags and wallets from Italy. These premium goods, wholly covered by leather, are declared under 4202 and typically shipped via air cargo or express freight from Milan to Tokyo, reflecting their high value and demand. Additionally, a European construction supplier imports durable tool bags made of heavy-duty textile and plastic from India. These functional containers, used for carrying tools, are classified under 4202 when entering ports like Rotterdam, ensuring appropriate customs duties for industrial accessories.

Subheadings under 42.02 12

4202.11Cases and containers; trunks, suit-cases, vanity-cases, executive-cases, brief-cases, school satchels and similar containers, with outer surface of leather or of composition leather4202.12Cases and containers; trunks, suit-cases, vanity-cases, executive-cases, brief-cases, school satchels and similar containers, with outer surface of plastics or of textile materials4202.19Cases and containers; trunks, suit-cases, vanity-cases, executive-cases, brief-cases, school satchels and similar containers, of vulcanised fibre or of paperboard, or wholly or mainly covered with such materials or with paper4202.21Cases and containers; handbags (whether or not with shoulder strap and including those without handle), with outer surface of leather or of composition leather4202.22Cases and containers; handbags (whether or not with shoulder strap and including those without handle), with outer surface of sheeting of plastics or of textile materials4202.29Cases and containers; handbags (whether or not with shoulder strap and including those without handle), of vulcanised fibre or of paperboard, or wholly or mainly covered with such materials or with paper4202.31Cases and containers; of a kind normally carried in the pocket or in the handbag, with outer surface of leather or of composition leather4202.32Cases and containers; of a kind normally carried in the pocket or in the handbag, with outer surface of sheeting of plastics or of textile materials4202.39Cases and containers; of a kind normally carried in the pocket or in the handbag, of vulcanised fibre or of paperboard, or wholly or mainly covered with such materials or with paper4202.91Cases and containers; n.e.c. in heading 4202, with outer surface of leather or of composition leather4202.92Cases and containers; n.e.c. in heading 4202, with outer surface of sheeting of plastics or of textile materials4202.99Cases and containers; n.e.c. in heading 4202, of vulcanised fibre or of paperboard, or wholly or mainly covered with such materials or with paper

14 Brazil NCM codes in heading 42.02 →

Codes often confused with 42.02

Common mistake. A frequent misclassification involves confusing articles under 4202 with general packaging materials (e.g., Chapter 39 for plastic articles or Chapter 48 for paper articles) if the item's primary function as a long-term container for personal use is overlooked. For instance, a simple plastic box might be 3923, but if it's a camera case, it's 4202. Another common error is with apparel accessories: while a handbag is 4202, a belt (4203) or a hat (6505) is not. The 'wholly or mainly covered' clause is crucial; items with only minor coverings of the specified materials may fall elsewhere. Also, some specialized cases for scientific instruments or specific machinery might fall under their respective chapters rather than 4202 if they are integral parts or accessories of those instruments.

39.23Plastic articles for the conveyance or packing of goods; stoppers, lids, caps and other closures of plastics42.03Articles of apparel and clothing accessories, of leather or of composition leather65.05Hats and other headgear; knitted or crocheted, or made up from lace, felt or other textile fabric, in the piece (but not in strips), whether or not lined or trimmed; hair-nets of any material, whether or not lined or trimmed

Top exporters and importers of HS code 4202, 2025

In 2025, the largest exporter of HS code 4202 in UN Comtrade data was China, with 35% of world exports; the largest importer in UN Comtrade data was the United States, with 15% of world imports. Countries that did not report 2025 data are estimated from partner records, which can understate them.

Top exporters 2025 · share of world exports

  1. 1 China $29.9B
  2. 2 France $13.3B
  3. 3 Italy $10.1B

World total: $86.2B Reported figures on UN Comtrade ↗

Top importers 2025 · share of world imports

  1. 1 United States $11.6B
  2. 2 Japan $6.2B
  3. 3 China $5.3B

World total: $79.4B Reported figures on UN Comtrade ↗

How these figures are built

109 countries reported 2025 trade to UN Comtrade in HS 2022, and their own totals are used. Countries that did not report are estimated from what other countries recorded trading with them. Those estimates miss trade with other non-reporting countries, so they can be low, and a non-reporting country can rank higher than shown or be missing from the list. World totals add both and leave out trade between two non-reporting countries. Figures are in current US dollars; reported imports are mostly valued CIF and exports FOB, and exports include re-exports. The UN Comtrade links show the underlying records; they can also list a few reporters left out here (regional groups and older HS editions).

Source: UN Comtrade (United Nations Statistics Division), 2025 annual data.

Questions about HS 42.02

What is HS code 4202?

HS code 4202 is a 4-digit heading in the Harmonized System that covers: Trunks; suit, camera, jewellery, cutlery cases; travel, tool, similar bags; wholly or mainly covered by leather, composition leather, plastic sheeting, textile materials, vulcanised fibre, paperboard. HS Code 4202 is a comprehensive heading for various types of containers, specifically trunks, suitcases, vanity cases, executive-cases, briefcases, school satchels, spectacle cases, binocular cases, camera cases, musical instrument cases, gun cases, holsters and similar containers; travel bags, insulated food or beverage bags, toilet bags, rucksacks, handbags, shopping-bags, wallets, purses, map-cases, cigarette-cases, tobacco-pouches, tool bags, sports bags, bottle cases, jewellery boxes, powder-boxes, cutlery cases and similar containers, of leather or of composition leather, of plastic sheeting, of textile materials, of vulcanised fibre or of paperboard, or wholly or mainly covered with such materials or with paper. This heading captures a vast range of articles used for carrying personal effects, travel, or specific items, emphasizing that the primary characteristic is being 'wholly or mainly covered' by the specified materials. This broad material scope (leather, plastic, textile, etc.) means the classification hinges on the *function* as a container and its external covering. It's a critical heading for global trade in consumer goods, covering everything from luxury handbags to utilitarian tool bags. For trade compliance, precise classification within 4202 is essential due to varying tariff rates based on material composition (e.g., leather vs. textile) and specific product type (e.g., luggage vs. handbags). This heading is central to Chapter 42, which deals with articles of leather and other materials, reflecting the diverse manufacturing and consumer demand for portable storage solutions worldwide.

What products fall under HS code 4202?

Leather suitcases, textile travel bags, plastic luggage sets, camera bags, jewellery boxes, cutlery cases, briefcases, laptop bags, school backpacks, women's handbags, men's wallets, cosmetic cases, tool bags, sports duffel bags, insulated lunch bags, toiletry kits, golf club bags, fishing tackle boxes, gun cases, holsters, music instrument cases, shopping tote bags, coin purses, passport holders, spectacle cases, tablet sleeves, key cases, mobile phone pouches, bicycle pannier bags, pet carrier bags, medical equipment cases, art supply cases, document portfolios, picnic baskets (if covered by specified materials), garment bags.

What are common misclassifications for HS code 4202?

A frequent misclassification involves confusing articles under 4202 with general packaging materials (e.g., Chapter 39 for plastic articles or Chapter 48 for paper articles) if the item's primary function as a long-term container for personal use is overlooked. For instance, a simple plastic box might be 3923, but if it's a camera case, it's 4202. Another common error is with apparel accessories: while a handbag is 4202, a belt (4203) or a hat (6505) is not. The 'wholly or mainly covered' clause is crucial; items with only minor coverings of the specified materials may fall elsewhere. Also, some specialized cases for scientific instruments or specific machinery might fall under their respective chapters rather than 4202 if they are integral parts or accessories of those instruments.

Which countries are the top exporters of goods under HS code 4202?

In 2025, the top exporters of HS code 4202 in UN Comtrade data were China ($29.9B, 35% of world exports), France ($13.3B) and Italy ($10.1B). World exports came to about $86.2B, 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.

Which countries are the top importers of goods under HS code 4202?

In 2025, the top importers of HS code 4202 in UN Comtrade data were the United States ($11.6B, 15% of world imports), Japan ($6.2B) and China ($5.3B). World imports came to about $79.4B, 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.

How is HS code 4202 structured?

HS code 4202 is a 4-digit heading under Chapter 42 of the Harmonized System. The first 2 digits (42) identify the chapter, and digits 3-4 (02) specify the heading. This code contains multiple 6-digit subheadings for precise product classification.