HS code · 6-digit subheading
HS Code 8472.30 – Office machines; for sorting or folding mail or for inserting mail in envelopes or bands, machines for opening, closing or sealing mail and machines for affixing or cancelling postage stamps
HS code 8472.30 is the 6-digit subheading for office machines, for sorting or folding mail or for inserting mail in envelopes or bands, machines for opening, closing or sealing mail and machines for affixing or cancelling postage stamps. It is used for letter openers, envelope stuffers, mail sorters, folding machines and franking machines.
What HS 8472.30 covers
HS 847230 encompasses specialized office machines designed for handling mail, streamlining the processing of physical correspondence for large organizations. This category includes equipment that automates tasks such as sorting, folding, inserting, opening, sealing, and affixing postage. Importers and exporters typically include postal services, large corporations, banks, government agencies, and specialized mail house equipment suppliers. Key considerations in this trade involve the need for efficiency in high-volume mail operations, ensuring security and accuracy in document handling, and adapting to evolving postal regulations. These machines are essential for organizations with significant physical mail flows, enhancing productivity and reducing manual labor.
- Covers
- Letter openers
- Envelope stuffers
- Mail sorters
- Folding machines
- Franking machines
- Postage meters
- Sealing machines
- Mail inserters
- Examples
- Pitney Bowes SendPro P1500
- Quadient (Neopost) DS-75i inserter
- Formax FD 6100 folder
- Bell and Howell Criterion mail sorter
Codes often confused with 8472.30
Common mistake. This code is quite specific and less prone to misclassification with general office machines. However, a multi-function device with mail handling as one component might be classified under 847290 if mail handling isn't its primary or dedicated function.
Top exporters and importers of HS code 847230, 2025
In 2025, the largest exporter of HS code 847230 in UN Comtrade data was Germany, with 18% of world exports; the largest importer in UN Comtrade data was the United States, with 33% 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 $33M 18% of world exports
- 2 United Kingdom $30M 16% of world exports
- 3 United States $28M 15% of world exports
World total: $186M Reported figures on UN Comtrade ↗
Top importers 2025 · share of world imports
- 1 United States $69M 33% of world imports
- 2 Germany $26M 12% of world imports
- 3 France $16M 7.7% of world imports
World total: $213M 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 8472.30 4
Brazil splits HS 8472.30 into 4 NCM codes, Mercosur's 8-digit tariff lines.
- 8472.30.10 Automatic postage stamp cancelling machinesMáquinas automáticas para obliterar selos postais
- 8472.30.20 Automatic mail sorters with postcode readingMáquinas automáticas para seleção de correspondência por formato e classificação e distribuição da mesma por leitura óptica do código postal
- 8472.30.30 Automatic parcel sorters with postcode readingMáquinas automáticas para seleção e distribuição de encomendas, por leitura óptica do código postal
- 8472.30.90 Other mail handling machinesOutras
All Brazil NCM codes in heading 84.72 →
Source: Siscomex NCM table, updated Oct 2026. The Portuguese text is official; the English is our translation.
Questions about HS 8472.30
What is HS code 847230?
HS code 847230 is a 6-digit subheading in the Harmonized System that covers: Office machines; for sorting or folding mail or for inserting mail in envelopes or bands, machines for opening, closing or sealing mail and machines for affixing or cancelling postage stamps. HS 847230 encompasses specialized office machines designed for handling mail, streamlining the processing of physical correspondence for large organizations. This category includes equipment that automates tasks such as sorting, folding, inserting, opening, sealing, and affixing postage. Importers and exporters typically include postal services, large corporations, banks, government agencies, and specialized mail house equipment suppliers. Key considerations in this trade involve the need for efficiency in high-volume mail operations, ensuring security and accuracy in document handling, and adapting to evolving postal regulations. These machines are essential for organizations with significant physical mail flows, enhancing productivity and reducing manual labor.
What products fall under HS code 847230?
Letter openers, envelope stuffers, mail sorters, folding machines, franking machines, postage meters, sealing machines, mail inserters
What are common misclassifications for HS code 847230?
This code is quite specific and less prone to misclassification with general office machines. However, a multi-function device with mail handling as one component might be classified under 847290 if mail handling isn't its primary or dedicated function.
Which countries are the top exporters of goods under HS code 847230?
In 2025, the top exporters of HS code 847230 in UN Comtrade data were Germany ($33M, 18% of world exports), the United Kingdom ($30M) and the United States ($28M). World exports came to about $186M, 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 847230?
In 2025, the top importers of HS code 847230 in UN Comtrade data were the United States ($69M, 33% of world imports), Germany ($26M) and France ($16M). World imports came to about $213M, 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 847230 structured?
HS code 847230 is a 6-digit subheading under the Harmonized System. The first 2 digits (84) identify the chapter, digits 3-4 (72) 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 847230?
Brazil splits HS code 847230 into 4 NCM codes: 8472.30.10 (Automatic postage stamp cancelling machines), 8472.30.20 (Automatic mail sorters with postcode reading), 8472.30.30 (Automatic parcel sorters with postcode reading), 8472.30.90 (Other mail handling machines). The first 6 digits of each match the HS code.