Product classification

HS code for Blank DVD: 8523.41

Optical media, unrecorded, excluding products of Chapter 37.

Classification of blank DVD under HS 8523.41

Blank DVDs are classified under HS code 8523.41, following the logic established for unrecorded optical media. This code is part of Chapter 85, which encompasses electrical machinery and equipment. Within this chapter, heading 8523 is dedicated to discs, tapes, solid-state non-volatile storage devices, and other media for the recording of sound or other phenomena. The subheading 8523.41 specifically targets optical media that have not yet been recorded with data, music, or video. This includes various formats such as DVD-R, DVD+R, and rewritable versions like DVD-RW. The classification is determined by the fact that the disc is designed to be read by an optical laser system and is currently in a blank state. If the DVD were to contain pre-recorded software or movies, it would shift to a different subheading. The consistency in classifying blank DVDs, CDs, and Blu-rays under 8523.41 simplifies the international trade process for digital storage manufacturers. The HS system treats the physical format (DVD) and the state (unrecorded) as the primary identifiers, regardless of whether the disc is intended for professional data backup or consumer video recording.

Covers
  • DVD-R and DVD+R blank discs
  • DVD-RW and DVD+RW rewritable discs
  • DVD-RAM discs
  • Mini-DVDs (8cm) in unrecorded format
  • Dual-layer (DL) blank DVDs
Also under 8523.41
  • Verbatim CD-R
  • Taiyo Yuden DVD-R
  • Sony BD-R
  • Maxell CD-RW
  • TDK DVD+RW

Codes often confused with 8523.41

Common mistake. Blank DVDs are often misclassified under 8523.49, which is the code for recorded optical media. This error usually occurs when the importer does not distinguish between media intended for recording and media already containing content. Another error is 8523.21, which is reserved for magnetic stripe cards, or 8523.51, which covers solid-state non-volatile storage like USB drives.

8523.49Optical media; recorded, excluding products of Chapter 378523.21Magnetic media; cards incorporating a magnetic stripe, whether or not recorded, excluding products of Chapter 378523.51Semiconductor media; solid-state non-volatile storage devices, whether or not recorded, excluding products of Chapter 37

Top exporters and importers of HS 852341 (the code used for blank DVD), 2025

In 2025, the largest exporter of HS 852341 (the code used for blank DVD) in UN Comtrade data was Taiwan, with about 27% of world exports; the largest importer in UN Comtrade data was Thailand, with 79% 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 852341, not only blank DVD.

Top exporters 2025 · share of world exports

  1. 1 Taiwan* ~$100M
  2. 2 South Korea $64M
  3. 3 Vietnam* ~$28M

World total: $363M Reported figures on UN Comtrade ↗

Top importers 2025 · share of world imports

  1. 1 Thailand $1.1B
  2. 2 Japan $50M
  3. 3 United States $32M

World total: $1.4B 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 marked * did not, so their figures add up what other countries recorded trading with them, and their exports are valued at buyers' CIF prices. 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. UN Comtrade records Taiwan as "Other Asia, not elsewhere specified". Saudi Arabia's exports under that code are left out: they are far too large to be trade with Taiwan, so mostly undisclosed partners. 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 blank DVD

Brazil splits HS 8523.41 into 2 NCM codes. Pick the one that matches your product:

Source: Siscomex NCM table, updated Oct 2026. The Portuguese text on each NCM page is the official one.

Questions about blank DVD

What is the HS code for Blank DVD?

The HS code for Blank DVD is 852341 (Optical media; unrecorded, excluding products of Chapter 37). The HS code for a blank DVD is 8523.41, which covers all unrecorded optical media discs.

How do I classify Blank DVD for customs?

Blank DVD is classified under HS code 852341 — Optical media; unrecorded, excluding products of Chapter 37. This is a 6-digit subheading level code.

Does this code include blank CDs?

Yes, blank CDs are also classified under HS code 8523.41 because they are unrecorded optical media, just like DVDs and Blu-rays.

Which countries are the top exporters of blank DVD (HS 852341)?

In 2025, the top exporters of HS 852341 (the code used for blank DVD) in UN Comtrade data were Taiwan (about $100M, 27% of world exports), South Korea ($64M) and Vietnam (about $28M). World exports came to about $363M, 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 blank DVD (HS 852341)?

In 2025, the top importers of HS 852341 (the code used for blank DVD) in UN Comtrade data were Thailand ($1.1B, 79% of world imports), Japan ($50M) and the United States ($32M). World imports came to about $1.4B, 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 Blank DVD the same in all countries?

The base HS code 852341 for Blank DVD 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 blank DVD in Brazil?

Brazil splits HS 852341 into 2 NCM codes, so the right one for blank DVD depends on the product's details: 8523.41.10 (Blank write-once optical discs), 8523.41.90 (Other blank optical media).