HS code · 6-digit subheading
HS Code 8443.91 – Printing machinery used for printing by means of plates, cylinders and other printing components of heading 8442; parts and accessories
HS code 8443.91 is the 6-digit subheading for printing machinery used for printing by means of plates, cylinders and other printing components of heading 8442, parts and accessories. It is used for offset printing plates, gravure cylinders, flexographic printing sleeves, ink rollers and dampening rollers.
What HS 8443.91 covers
This HS code specifically covers parts and accessories for printing machinery that utilizes plates, cylinders, or other components from HS 8442 (which deals with machinery for preparing or making plates, cylinders, and other printing components). This indicates a focus on the industrial printing sector, particularly offset, gravure, and flexographic printing technologies. Trade in these parts is crucial for maintaining the operational efficiency and longevity of large-scale printing presses globally. Manufacturers of these parts are often specialized engineering firms, frequently located in countries with strong industrial machinery sectors like Germany, Japan, and Italy, as well as emerging manufacturing hubs. Importers are typically commercial printing houses, packaging manufacturers, and newspaper publishers who rely on these components for continuous production. Key aspects of trade include precision engineering, material quality, and compatibility with specific machine models, as downtime due to part failure can be extremely costly. The global supply chain for these parts is complex, often involving just-in-time delivery to minimize inventory for end-users.
- Covers
- Offset printing plates
- Gravure cylinders
- Flexographic printing sleeves
- Ink rollers
- Dampening rollers
- Plate clamps
- Blanket cylinders
- Impression cylinders
- Examples
- Heidelberg Speedmaster parts
- KBA Rapida components
- Manroland parts
- Komori Lithrone accessories
- Fujifilm CTP plates
Codes often confused with 8443.91
Common mistake. This code can be confused with 844399 (other parts for printing machinery) if the parts are not specifically for machines using plates/cylinders of heading 8442, or with 844250 (plates, cylinders, and other printing components themselves) if the item is a finished component rather than a part of the machine.
Top exporters and importers of HS code 844391, 2025
In 2025, the largest exporter of HS code 844391 in UN Comtrade data was Germany, with 22% of world exports; the largest importer in UN Comtrade data was the United States, with 16% 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 $535M 22% of world exports
- 2 Israel $281M 11% of world exports
- 3 United States $233M 9.5% of world exports
World total: $2.5B Reported figures on UN Comtrade ↗
Top importers 2025 · share of world imports
- 1 United States $349M 16% of world imports
- 2 Germany $272M 13% of world imports
- 3 China $94M 4.3% of world imports
World total: $2.2B 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 8443.91 4
Brazil splits HS 8443.91 into 4 NCM codes, Mercosur's 8-digit tariff lines.
- 8443.91.10 Parts of office sheet-fed offset pressesDe máquinas e aparelhos da subposição 8443.12
- 8443.91.9 OtherOutros Group
- 8443.91.91 Folding units for printing pressesDobradoras
- 8443.91.92 Automatic numberers for printing pressesNumeradores automáticos
- 8443.91.99 Other parts of plate or cylinder printing pressesOutros
All Brazil NCM codes in heading 84.43 →
Source: Siscomex NCM table, updated Oct 2026. The Portuguese text is official; the English is our translation.
Questions about HS 8443.91
What is HS code 844391?
HS code 844391 is a 6-digit subheading in the Harmonized System that covers: Printing machinery used for printing by means of plates, cylinders and other printing components of heading 8442; parts and accessories. This HS code specifically covers parts and accessories for printing machinery that utilizes plates, cylinders, or other components from HS 8442 (which deals with machinery for preparing or making plates, cylinders, and other printing components). This indicates a focus on the industrial printing sector, particularly offset, gravure, and flexographic printing technologies. Trade in these parts is crucial for maintaining the operational efficiency and longevity of large-scale printing presses globally. Manufacturers of these parts are often specialized engineering firms, frequently located in countries with strong industrial machinery sectors like Germany, Japan, and Italy, as well as emerging manufacturing hubs. Importers are typically commercial printing houses, packaging manufacturers, and newspaper publishers who rely on these components for continuous production. Key aspects of trade include precision engineering, material quality, and compatibility with specific machine models, as downtime due to part failure can be extremely costly. The global supply chain for these parts is complex, often involving just-in-time delivery to minimize inventory for end-users.
What products fall under HS code 844391?
Offset printing plates, Gravure cylinders, Flexographic printing sleeves, Ink rollers, Dampening rollers, Plate clamps, Blanket cylinders, Impression cylinders
What are common misclassifications for HS code 844391?
This code can be confused with 844399 (other parts for printing machinery) if the parts are not specifically for machines using plates/cylinders of heading 8442, or with 844250 (plates, cylinders, and other printing components themselves) if the item is a finished component rather than a part of the machine.
Which countries are the top exporters of goods under HS code 844391?
In 2025, the top exporters of HS code 844391 in UN Comtrade data were Germany ($535M, 22% of world exports), Israel ($281M) and the United States ($233M). World exports came to about $2.5B, 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 844391?
In 2025, the top importers of HS code 844391 in UN Comtrade data were the United States ($349M, 16% of world imports), Germany ($272M) and China ($94M). World imports came to about $2.2B, 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.
How is HS code 844391 structured?
HS code 844391 is a 6-digit subheading under the Harmonized System. The first 2 digits (84) identify the chapter, digits 3-4 (43) identify the heading, and digits 5-6 (91) specify the subheading. This code is standardized globally by the World Customs Organization.
What is the Brazil NCM code for HS code 844391?
Brazil splits HS code 844391 into 4 NCM codes: 8443.91.10 (Parts of office sheet-fed offset presses), 8443.91.91 (Folding units for printing presses), 8443.91.92 (Automatic numberers for printing presses), 8443.91.99 (Other parts of plate or cylinder printing presses). The first 6 digits of each match the HS code.