HS code · 6-digit subheading
HS Code 4906.00 – Plans and drawings; for architectural, engineering, industrial, commercial, topographical or similar, being originals drawn by hand; hand-written texts; photo- graphic reproductions; their carbon copies
HS code 4906.00 is the 6-digit subheading for plans and drawings, for architectural, engineering, industrial, commercial, topographical or similar, being originals drawn by hand, hand-written texts, photo- graphic reproductions, their carbon copies. It is used for architectural blueprints, engineering schematics, topographical maps, industrial design plans and handwritten manuscripts.
What HS 4906.00 covers
This code covers original hand-drawn plans and designs across various professional fields, as well as handwritten texts and their photographic or carbon copies. In international trade, this primarily involves the movement of intellectual property in a physical format, often for large-scale projects or historical archives. Importers are typically architectural firms, engineering companies, construction businesses, or research institutions acquiring specific designs, blueprints, or historical documents. Exporters include design studios, individual artists, archives, or educational institutions. Key things to know include the potential for high value due to the intellectual property embedded, the need for careful handling and preservation during transit, and the decreasing volume of physical originals as digital formats become dominant. Despite the digital shift, physical originals still hold legal, historical, or artistic significance, making their trade niche but important.
- Covers
- Architectural blueprints
- Engineering schematics
- Topographical maps
- Industrial design plans
- Handwritten manuscripts
- Original art sketches
- Patent drawings
- Carbon copies of plans
- Examples
- Frank Lloyd Wright architectural drawings
- Leonardo da Vinci's notebooks (reproductions)
- historical city plans
- original patent applications
Codes often confused with 4906.00
Common mistake. This code can be confused with 4911 (Other printed matter) if the items are mass-produced prints rather than originals or copies of originals, or with 9701 (Paintings, drawings and pastels, executed entirely by hand) if the primary value is artistic rather than functional.
Top exporters and importers of HS code 490600, 2025
In 2025, the largest exporter of HS code 490600 in UN Comtrade data was Germany, with 28% of world exports; the largest importer in UN Comtrade data was Romania, 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 Germany $18M 28% of world exports
- 2 Netherlands $17M 27% of world exports
- 3 United Kingdom $5.6M 8.9% of world exports
World total: $63M Reported figures on UN Comtrade ↗
Top importers 2025 · share of world imports
- 1 Romania $7.1M 15% of world imports
- 2 United Kingdom $5.3M 11% of world imports
- 3 United States $4.8M 10% of world imports
World total: $47M 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 code for 4906.00
Brazil does not split HS 4906.00: its NCM code is 4906.00.00.
All Brazil NCM codes in heading 49.06 →
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 4906.00
What is HS code 490600?
HS code 490600 is a 6-digit subheading in the Harmonized System that covers: Plans and drawings; for architectural, engineering, industrial, commercial, topographical or similar, being originals drawn by hand; hand-written texts; photo- graphic reproductions; their carbon copies. This code covers original hand-drawn plans and designs across various professional fields, as well as handwritten texts and their photographic or carbon copies. In international trade, this primarily involves the movement of intellectual property in a physical format, often for large-scale projects or historical archives. Importers are typically architectural firms, engineering companies, construction businesses, or research institutions acquiring specific designs, blueprints, or historical documents. Exporters include design studios, individual artists, archives, or educational institutions. Key things to know include the potential for high value due to the intellectual property embedded, the need for careful handling and preservation during transit, and the decreasing volume of physical originals as digital formats become dominant. Despite the digital shift, physical originals still hold legal, historical, or artistic significance, making their trade niche but important.
What products fall under HS code 490600?
Architectural blueprints, engineering schematics, topographical maps, industrial design plans, handwritten manuscripts, original art sketches, patent drawings, carbon copies of plans
What are common misclassifications for HS code 490600?
This code can be confused with 4911 (Other printed matter) if the items are mass-produced prints rather than originals or copies of originals, or with 9701 (Paintings, drawings and pastels, executed entirely by hand) if the primary value is artistic rather than functional.
Which countries are the top exporters of goods under HS code 490600?
In 2025, the top exporters of HS code 490600 in UN Comtrade data were Germany ($18M, 28% of world exports), the Netherlands ($17M) and the United Kingdom ($5.6M). World exports came to about $63M, 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 490600?
In 2025, the top importers of HS code 490600 in UN Comtrade data were Romania ($7.1M, 15% of world imports), the United Kingdom ($5.3M) and the United States ($4.8M). World imports came to about $47M, 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 490600 structured?
HS code 490600 is a 6-digit subheading under the Harmonized System. The first 2 digits (49) identify the chapter, digits 3-4 (06) identify the heading, and digits 5-6 (00) specify the subheading. This code is standardized globally by the World Customs Organization.
What is the Brazil NCM code for HS code 490600?
In Brazil, HS code 490600 is NCM 4906.00.00. The last two digits are 00 because Brazil does not split this HS code further.