HS code · 6-digit subheading
HS Code 8448.31 – Machines, card clothing; parts and accessories
HS code 8448.31 is the 6-digit subheading for machines, card clothing, parts and accessories. It is used for flexible card clothing, metallic card clothing, licker-in wire, doffer wire and cylinder wire.
What HS 8448.31 covers
This code specifically covers card clothing, which are essential components for carding machines used in the textile industry. Carding is a mechanical process that disentangles, cleans, and intermixes fibers to produce a continuous web or sliver suitable for subsequent processing like spinning. Card clothing consists of a foundation material (e.g., rubber, fabric) into which fine, sharp wires or teeth are embedded, forming a surface that effectively processes the fibers. This trade is vital for manufacturers of natural and synthetic yarns, as the quality of card clothing directly impacts the efficiency of the carding process and the final yarn quality. Key exporters are specialized manufacturers, often from Germany, Switzerland, and India, known for their precision engineering in textile components. Importers include textile mills worldwide, especially in major textile-producing countries like China, India, Pakistan, and Turkey, who require regular replacement of card clothing due to wear and tear. The market is driven by the continuous operation of spinning mills and the need for high-quality fiber preparation.
- Covers
- Flexible card clothing
- Metallic card clothing
- Licker-in wire
- Doffer wire
- Cylinder wire
- Flat tops for carding machines
- Stripping fillets
- Examples
- Graf card clothing
- Trützschler carding elements
- Rieter C 80 card clothing
- Lakshmi Machine Works (LMW) carding parts
- Marzoli card clothing
Codes often confused with 8448.31
Common mistake. This code could be confused with 844832 (other parts for fiber preparing machines) if the specific nature of card clothing isn't recognized, or with general textile machine parts under 844839 if not clearly identified as card clothing.
Top exporters and importers of HS code 844831, 2025
In 2025, the largest exporter of HS code 844831 in UN Comtrade data was Germany, with 28% of world exports; the largest importer in UN Comtrade data was China, 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 $56M 28% of world exports
- 2 Switzerland $50M 25% of world exports
- 3 China $36M 18% of world exports
World total: $201M Reported figures on UN Comtrade ↗
Top importers 2025 · share of world imports
- 1 China $29M 15% of world imports
- 2 Germany $25M 13% of world imports
- 3 India $17M 9.0% of world imports
World total: $189M 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 8448.31
Brazil does not split HS 8448.31: its NCM code is 8448.31.00.
All Brazil NCM codes in heading 84.48 →
Source: Siscomex NCM table, updated Oct 2026. The Portuguese text is official; the English is our translation.
Questions about HS 8448.31
What is HS code 844831?
HS code 844831 is a 6-digit subheading in the Harmonized System that covers: Machines, card clothing; parts and accessories. This code specifically covers card clothing, which are essential components for carding machines used in the textile industry. Carding is a mechanical process that disentangles, cleans, and intermixes fibers to produce a continuous web or sliver suitable for subsequent processing like spinning. Card clothing consists of a foundation material (e.g., rubber, fabric) into which fine, sharp wires or teeth are embedded, forming a surface that effectively processes the fibers. This trade is vital for manufacturers of natural and synthetic yarns, as the quality of card clothing directly impacts the efficiency of the carding process and the final yarn quality. Key exporters are specialized manufacturers, often from Germany, Switzerland, and India, known for their precision engineering in textile components. Importers include textile mills worldwide, especially in major textile-producing countries like China, India, Pakistan, and Turkey, who require regular replacement of card clothing due to wear and tear. The market is driven by the continuous operation of spinning mills and the need for high-quality fiber preparation.
What products fall under HS code 844831?
Flexible card clothing, metallic card clothing, licker-in wire, doffer wire, cylinder wire, flat tops for carding machines, stripping fillets
What are common misclassifications for HS code 844831?
This code could be confused with 844832 (other parts for fiber preparing machines) if the specific nature of card clothing isn't recognized, or with general textile machine parts under 844839 if not clearly identified as card clothing.
Which countries are the top exporters of goods under HS code 844831?
In 2025, the top exporters of HS code 844831 in UN Comtrade data were Germany ($56M, 28% of world exports), Switzerland ($50M) and China ($36M). World exports came to about $201M, 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 844831?
In 2025, the top importers of HS code 844831 in UN Comtrade data were China ($29M, 15% of world imports), Germany ($25M) and India ($17M). World imports came to about $189M, 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 844831 structured?
HS code 844831 is a 6-digit subheading under the Harmonized System. The first 2 digits (84) identify the chapter, digits 3-4 (48) identify the heading, and digits 5-6 (31) specify the subheading. This code is standardized globally by the World Customs Organization.
What is the Brazil NCM code for HS code 844831?
In Brazil, HS code 844831 is NCM 8448.31.00. The last two digits are 00 because Brazil does not split this HS code further.