HS code · 6-digit subheading

HS Code 8442.30 – Machinery, apparatus and equipment (excluding machines of heading no. 8456 to 8465) for preparing or making printing components

HS code 8442.30 is the 6-digit subheading for machinery, apparatus and equipment (excluding machines of heading no. 8456 to 8465) for preparing or making printing components. It is used for computer-to-plate (CtP) systems, plate setters, plate processors, gravure cylinder engravers and flexographic plate imagers.

What HS 8442.30 covers

This HS code covers specialized machinery and equipment used in the pre-press stage of printing, specifically for preparing or making printing components like plates, cylinders, or blocks. This includes computer-to-plate (CtP) systems, plate processors, and other devices that convert digital data into physical printing forms. These machines are crucial for the printing industry, enabling high-quality and efficient production of printed materials. Major importers are typically large commercial printing houses, newspaper publishers, and packaging printers looking to modernize their pre-press workflows and improve print quality and speed. Exporters are often technologically advanced nations with strong manufacturing capabilities in precision optics, electronics, and industrial automation. The trade is driven by the continuous evolution of printing technology, the demand for faster turnaround times, and the need for high-resolution imaging in various printing applications.

Covers
  • Computer-to-plate (CtP) systems
  • Plate setters
  • Plate processors
  • Gravure cylinder engravers
  • Flexographic plate imagers
  • Photopolymer plate making units
  • Proofing systems for plates
  • Plate punching and bending machines
Examples
  • Kodak Magnus Q800 CtP System
  • Heidelberg Suprasetter A75
  • Agfa Avalon N8-90 CtP
  • Esko CDI Spark Flexo Imager
  • Hell Gravure K500 Engraver

Codes often confused with 8442.30

Common mistake. This code is distinct from actual printing machines (8443) and general machinery for working materials (8456-8465). It focuses solely on the *preparation or making* of the printing components, not the printing itself.

84.43Printing machinery; used for printing by means of plates, cylinders and other printing components of heading 84.42; other printers, copying machines and facsimile machines, whether or not combined; parts and accessories thereof84.56Machine-tools; for working any material by removal of material, by laser or other light or photon beam, ultrasonic, electro-discharge, electro-chemical, electron beam, ionic-beam, or plasma arc processes; water-jet cutting machines84.65Machine-tools; (including machines for nailing, stapling, glueing or otherwise assembling) for working wood, cork, bone, hard plastics or rubber or similar hard materials

Top exporters and importers of HS code 844230, 2025

In 2025, the largest exporter of HS code 844230 in UN Comtrade data was Germany, with 29% of world exports; the largest importer in UN Comtrade data was the United States, with 8.8% 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 Germany $123M
  2. 2 China $74M
  3. 3 South Korea $45M

World total: $424M Reported figures on UN Comtrade ↗

Top importers 2025 · share of world imports

  1. 1 United States $34M
  2. 2 China $28M
  3. 3 India $22M

World total: $383M 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 8442.30 3

Brazil splits HS 8442.30 into 3 NCM codes, Mercosur's 8-digit tariff lines.

  1. 8442.30.10 Phototypesetting machinesDe compor por processo fotográfico
  2. 8442.30.20 Other typesetting machinesDe compor caracteres tipográficos por outros processos, mesmo com dispositivo de fundir
  3. 8442.30.90 Other printing plate-making machineryOutros

All Brazil NCM codes in heading 84.42 →

Source: Siscomex NCM table, updated Oct 2026. The Portuguese text is official; the English is our translation.

Questions about HS 8442.30

What is HS code 844230?

HS code 844230 is a 6-digit subheading in the Harmonized System that covers: Machinery, apparatus and equipment (excluding machines of heading no. 8456 to 8465) for preparing or making printing components. This HS code covers specialized machinery and equipment used in the pre-press stage of printing, specifically for preparing or making printing components like plates, cylinders, or blocks. This includes computer-to-plate (CtP) systems, plate processors, and other devices that convert digital data into physical printing forms. These machines are crucial for the printing industry, enabling high-quality and efficient production of printed materials. Major importers are typically large commercial printing houses, newspaper publishers, and packaging printers looking to modernize their pre-press workflows and improve print quality and speed. Exporters are often technologically advanced nations with strong manufacturing capabilities in precision optics, electronics, and industrial automation. The trade is driven by the continuous evolution of printing technology, the demand for faster turnaround times, and the need for high-resolution imaging in various printing applications.

What products fall under HS code 844230?

Computer-to-plate (CtP) systems, Plate setters, Plate processors, Gravure cylinder engravers, Flexographic plate imagers, Photopolymer plate making units, Proofing systems for plates, Plate punching and bending machines

What are common misclassifications for HS code 844230?

This code is distinct from actual printing machines (8443) and general machinery for working materials (8456-8465). It focuses solely on the *preparation or making* of the printing components, not the printing itself.

Which countries are the top exporters of goods under HS code 844230?

In 2025, the top exporters of HS code 844230 in UN Comtrade data were Germany ($123M, 29% of world exports), China ($74M) and South Korea ($45M). World exports came to about $424M, 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 844230?

In 2025, the top importers of HS code 844230 in UN Comtrade data were the United States ($34M, 8.8% of world imports), China ($28M) and India ($22M). World imports came to about $383M, 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 844230 structured?

HS code 844230 is a 6-digit subheading under the Harmonized System. The first 2 digits (84) identify the chapter, digits 3-4 (42) identify the heading, and digits 5-6 (30) specify the subheading. This code is standardized globally by the World Customs Organization.

What is the Brazil NCM code for HS code 844230?

Brazil splits HS code 844230 into 3 NCM codes: 8442.30.10 (Phototypesetting machines), 8442.30.20 (Other typesetting machines), 8442.30.90 (Other printing plate-making machinery). The first 6 digits of each match the HS code.