HS code · 6-digit subheading
HS Code 4811.51 – Paper and paperboard; coated, impregnated or covered with plastics (excluding adhesives), bleached, weighing more than 150g/m2, other than goods of heading no. 4803, 4809, or 4810
HS code 4811.51 is the 6-digit subheading for paper and paperboard, coated, impregnated or covered with plastics (excluding adhesives), bleached, weighing more than 150g/m2, other than goods of heading no. 4803, 4809, or 4810. It is used for plastic-coated paperboard for liquid packaging, bleached PE-coated paper cups, grease-resistant food packaging paper, laminated paperboard for frozen foods and moisture-barrier paperboard.
What HS 4811.51 covers
This HS code encompasses bleached paper and paperboard that has been coated, impregnated, or covered with plastics, excluding those with adhesive properties. These materials are characterized by their weight exceeding 150g/m2, indicating a substantial and durable product. The plastic treatment provides enhanced properties such as water resistance, grease resistance, and improved strength, making them ideal for high-performance packaging, food service applications, and certain industrial uses. Major importers are countries with significant food and beverage industries, retail sectors, and manufacturing requiring protective packaging, such as the United States, Germany, and China. Exporters often include nations with advanced paper and plastics processing capabilities, like Finland, Sweden, and Japan. Traders need to consider the type of plastic coating (e.g., polyethylene, polypropylene), the barrier properties it provides, and compliance with food safety regulations, which are critical for many end-uses.
- Covers
- Plastic-coated paperboard for liquid packaging
- Bleached PE-coated paper cups
- Grease-resistant food packaging paper
- Laminated paperboard for frozen foods
- Moisture-barrier paperboard
- Ovenable paperboard
- Release liner base paper
- Examples
- Tetra Pak (packaging material)
- Elopak (carton board)
- Stora Enso Natura
- Metsä Board Pro FBB
- International Paper Coated Board
Codes often confused with 4811.51
Common mistake. This code can be confused with other plastic-coated papers (e.g., 481159 for unbleached or lighter weight), but 481151 specifically denotes bleached paper/paperboard over 150g/m2. It should also not be confused with plastic films (Chapter 39) or self-adhesive papers (481141).
Top exporters and importers of HS code 481151, 2025
In 2025, the largest exporter of HS code 481151 in UN Comtrade data was China, with 21% of world exports; the largest importer in UN Comtrade data was the United States, with 14% 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 China $641M 21% of world exports
- 2 United States $564M 19% of world exports
- 3 Finland $528M 18% of world exports
World total: $3.0B Reported figures on UN Comtrade ↗
Top importers 2025 · share of world imports
- 1 United States $461M 14% of world imports
- 2 Canada $263M 7.7% of world imports
- 3 Japan $226M 6.6% of world imports
World total: $3.4B 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.
Brazil NCM codes for 4811.51 7
Brazil splits HS 4811.51 into 7 NCM codes, Mercosur's 8-digit tariff lines.
- 4811.51.10 Plastic-coated bleached over 150 g/m², small sizesEm tiras ou rolos de largura não superior a 15 cm ou em folhas em que nenhum lado exceda 360 mm, quando não dobradas
- 4811.51.2 Other, covered or coatedOutros, recobertos ou revestidos Group
- 4811.51.21 Bleached silicone paper over 150 g/m², unembossedDe silicone, exceto gofrados na face recoberta ou revestida
- 4811.51.22 Printed PE/aluminium paper, bleached over 150 g/m²De polietileno, estratificado com alumínio, impresso
- 4811.51.23 Bleached photo base over 150 g/m², two-side PE/PPDe polietileno ou polipropileno, em ambas as faces, base para papel fotográfico
- 4811.51.28 Embossed plastic-coated bleached, over 150 g/m²Outros, gofrados na face recoberta ou revestida
- 4811.51.29 Other plastic-coated bleached paper over 150 g/m²Outros
- 4811.51.30 Plastic-impregnated bleached paper over 150 g/m²Outros, impregnados
All Brazil NCM codes in heading 48.11 →
Source: Siscomex NCM table, updated Oct 2026. The Portuguese text is official; the English is our translation.
EU Regulatory Requirements
This product category is subject to the EU Deforestation Regulation (EUDR). Importers must provide due diligence statements proving the product was not produced on deforested land after December 31, 2020.
This product is covered by the EU Timber Regulation (EUTR), requiring operators to exercise due diligence to minimize the risk of placing illegally harvested timber on the EU market.
Questions about HS 4811.51
What is HS code 481151?
HS code 481151 is a 6-digit subheading in the Harmonized System that covers: Paper and paperboard; coated, impregnated or covered with plastics (excluding adhesives), bleached, weighing more than 150g/m2, other than goods of heading no. 4803, 4809, or 4810. This HS code encompasses bleached paper and paperboard that has been coated, impregnated, or covered with plastics, excluding those with adhesive properties. These materials are characterized by their weight exceeding 150g/m2, indicating a substantial and durable product. The plastic treatment provides enhanced properties such as water resistance, grease resistance, and improved strength, making them ideal for high-performance packaging, food service applications, and certain industrial uses. Major importers are countries with significant food and beverage industries, retail sectors, and manufacturing requiring protective packaging, such as the United States, Germany, and China. Exporters often include nations with advanced paper and plastics processing capabilities, like Finland, Sweden, and Japan. Traders need to consider the type of plastic coating (e.g., polyethylene, polypropylene), the barrier properties it provides, and compliance with food safety regulations, which are critical for many end-uses.
What products fall under HS code 481151?
Plastic-coated paperboard for liquid packaging, Bleached PE-coated paper cups, Grease-resistant food packaging paper, Laminated paperboard for frozen foods, Moisture-barrier paperboard, Ovenable paperboard, Release liner base paper
What are common misclassifications for HS code 481151?
This code can be confused with other plastic-coated papers (e.g., 481159 for unbleached or lighter weight), but 481151 specifically denotes bleached paper/paperboard over 150g/m2. It should also not be confused with plastic films (Chapter 39) or self-adhesive papers (481141).
Which countries are the top exporters of goods under HS code 481151?
In 2025, the top exporters of HS code 481151 in UN Comtrade data were China ($641M, 21% of world exports), the United States ($564M) and Finland ($528M). World exports came to about $3.0B, 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 481151?
In 2025, the top importers of HS code 481151 in UN Comtrade data were the United States ($461M, 14% of world imports), Canada ($263M) and Japan ($226M). World imports came to about $3.4B, 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 481151 structured?
HS code 481151 is a 6-digit subheading under the Harmonized System. The first 2 digits (48) identify the chapter, digits 3-4 (11) identify the heading, and digits 5-6 (51) specify the subheading. This code is standardized globally by the World Customs Organization.
What is the Brazil NCM code for HS code 481151?
Brazil splits HS code 481151 into 7 NCM codes: 4811.51.10 (Plastic-coated bleached over 150 g/m², small sizes), 4811.51.21 (Bleached silicone paper over 150 g/m², unembossed), 4811.51.22 (Printed PE/aluminium paper, bleached over 150 g/m²), 4811.51.23 (Bleached photo base over 150 g/m², two-side PE/PP), 4811.51.28 (Embossed plastic-coated bleached, over 150 g/m²), 4811.51.29 (Other plastic-coated bleached paper over 150 g/m²), 4811.51.30 (Plastic-impregnated bleached paper over 150 g/m²). The first 6 digits of each match the HS code.