Product classification
HS code for Badger hair: 0502.90
Animal products, badger hair and other brush making hair and waste of such bristles or hair, n.e.c. in heading no. 0502 (excluding horsehair).
Classification of badger hair under HS 0502.90
HS code 050290 is specifically designated for "badger hair and other brush making hair and waste of such bristles or hair, n.e.c. in heading no. 0502 (excluding horsehair)." The product "Badger hair" directly aligns with the primary description within this code. This classification covers raw or simply prepared animal hair that is suitable for the manufacturing of brushes, excluding horsehair, which is classified elsewhere. The "n.e.c." (not elsewhere specified or included) clause ensures that various types of brush-making hair, beyond just badger hair, are covered here, provided they are not specifically mentioned in other subheadings of 0502 or other chapters.
- Covers
- Raw badger hair, unprocessed
- Prepared badger hair for use in shaving brushes or artist brushes
- Waste badger hair resulting from processing
- Other animal hair suitable for brush making (e.g., squirrel, sable), excluding horsehair and pig/hog/boar bristles
- Also under 0502.90
- Mühle shaving brushes (using badger hair)
- Kent brushes (various natural hairs)
- Da Vinci artist brushes
- Omega brush company
Codes often confused with 0502.90
Common mistake. A common point of confusion is with HS code 050210, which specifically covers "Pig, hog or boar bristles and hair." The distinction is the animal source; 050290 is for badger hair and other brush-making hair, while 050210 is exclusively for porcine hair. Another potential misclassification could be with HS code 670300, which includes "Human hair, dressed, thinned, bleached or otherwise worked; wool or other animal hair or other textile materials, prepared for making wigs or the like." The key difference is the level of processing and intended use; 050290 is for raw or simply prepared hair for brushes, not highly worked hair for wigs or similar articles.
Top exporters and importers of HS 050290 (the code used for badger hair), 2025
In 2025, the largest exporter of HS 050290 (the code used for badger hair) in UN Comtrade data was China, with 52% of world exports; the largest importer in UN Comtrade data was Indonesia, with 40% of world imports. Countries that did not report 2025 data are estimated from partner records, which can understate them.
Figures cover everything classified under HS 050290, not only badger hair.
Top exporters 2025 · share of world exports
- 1 China $3.0M 52% of world exports
- 2 United Kingdom $1.1M 20% of world exports
- 3 Germany $1.0M 18% of world exports
World total: $5.7M Reported figures on UN Comtrade ↗
Top importers 2025 · share of world imports
- 1 Indonesia $5.5M 40% of world imports
- 2 Netherlands $1.5M 11% of world imports
- 3 Japan $1.4M 10% of world imports
World total: $14M 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 badger hair
Brazil splits HS 0502.90 into 2 NCM codes. Pick the one that matches your product:
- 0502.90.10Badger and other brush-making hair
- 0502.90.20Waste of badger and brush-making hair
Source: Siscomex NCM table, updated Oct 2026. The Portuguese text on each NCM page is the official one.
Questions about badger hair
What is the HS code for Badger hair?
The HS code for Badger hair is 050290 (Animal products; badger hair and other brush making hair and waste of such bristles or hair, n.e.c. in heading no. 0502 (excluding horsehair)). The HS code for badger hair, whether raw or simply prepared for brush making, is 050290.
How do I classify Badger hair for customs?
Badger hair is classified under HS code 050290 — Animal products; badger hair and other brush making hair and waste of such bristles or hair, n.e.c. in heading no. 0502 (excluding horsehair). This is a 6-digit subheading level code.
Does HS code 050290 include horsehair?
No, the description for HS code 050290 explicitly states "excluding horsehair." Horsehair, whether raw or prepared for brush-making, is classified under different headings, typically 050100 for raw horsehair or 050210 if it falls under bristles of pig, hog or boar (though horsehair is distinct from these).
Which countries are the top exporters of badger hair (HS 050290)?
In 2025, the top exporters of HS 050290 (the code used for badger hair) in UN Comtrade data were China ($3.0M, 52% of world exports), the United Kingdom ($1.1M) and Germany ($1.0M). World exports came to about $5.7M, 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 badger hair (HS 050290)?
In 2025, the top importers of HS 050290 (the code used for badger hair) in UN Comtrade data were Indonesia ($5.5M, 40% of world imports), the Netherlands ($1.5M) and Japan ($1.4M). World imports came to about $14M, 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.
Is the HS code for Badger hair the same in all countries?
The base HS code 050290 for Badger hair is internationally standardized for the first 6 digits across 200+ countries. Individual countries may add additional digits for national tariff lines and specific classifications.
What is the NCM code for badger hair in Brazil?
Brazil splits HS 050290 into 2 NCM codes, so the right one for badger hair depends on the product's details: 0502.90.10 (Badger and other brush-making hair), 0502.90.20 (Waste of badger and brush-making hair).