Product classification
HS code for Bleached kraft paperboard: 4804.42
Kraft paper and paperboard, uncoated, weight between 150 and 225g/m2, bleached uniformly throughout, more than 95% of total fibre content consists of chemically processed wood fibres, in rolls or sheets.
Classification of bleached kraft paperboard under HS 4804.42
This classification applies to uncoated kraft paper and paperboard that has been uniformly bleached throughout its structure. A key characteristic is its weight, which must fall within the range of 150 to 225 grams per square meter (g/m2). Furthermore, the product must consist of more than 95% chemically processed wood fibres, a defining feature of kraft products, and be presented in rolls or sheets. This specific combination of bleaching, weight, fibre content, and form dictates its classification under HS code 480442, which covers certain types of uncoated kraft paper and paperboard.
- Covers
- Bleached folding boxboard (FBB) within the specified weight range
- Bleached solid bleached sulfate (SBS) board within the specified weight range
- Bleached cup stock paperboard within the specified weight range
- Other bleached kraft paperboard used for packaging, printing, or converting, meeting the weight and fibre content criteria.
- Also under 4804.42
- Stora Enso Natura
- BillerudKorsnäs White Top Kraftliner
- Mondi Advantage White
- International Paper Accent Opaque
- Sappi Algro Design
Codes often confused with 4804.42
Common mistake. This code is often confused with other subheadings within 4804 based on weight. For instance, HS code 480441 covers similar bleached, uncoated kraft paper and paperboard but weighing less than 150g/m2, while 480449 applies to those weighing more than 225g/m2. Additionally, HS code 480419 covers bleached kraftliner, which, while also bleached kraft, is specifically designated as "kraftliner" and may have different structural or end-use implications, even if it falls within a similar weight range.
Top exporters and importers of HS 480442 (the code used for bleached kraft paperboard), 2025
In 2025, the largest exporter of HS 480442 (the code used for bleached kraft paperboard) in UN Comtrade data was the United States, with 70% of world exports; the largest importer in UN Comtrade data was Canada, with 64% 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 480442, not only bleached kraft paperboard.
Top exporters 2025 · share of world exports
- 1 United States $145M 70% of world exports
- 2 Finland $20M 9.4% of world exports
- 3 Canada $17M 8.1% of world exports
World total: $209M Reported figures on UN Comtrade ↗
Top importers 2025 · share of world imports
- 1 Canada $134M 64% of world imports
- 2 United States $17M 8.1% of world imports
- 3 South Korea $7.1M 3.4% of world imports
World total: $209M 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 bleached kraft paperboard
Brazil classifies bleached kraft paperboard under NCM 4804.42.00: HS 4804.42 with 00 added.
Source: Siscomex NCM table, updated Oct 2026. The Portuguese text on each NCM page is the official one.
EU Regulatory Requirements
This product category is subject to the EU Deforestation Regulation (EUDR). Importers must provide due diligence statements proving the product was not produced on deforested land after December 31, 2020.
This product is covered by the EU Timber Regulation (EUTR), requiring operators to exercise due diligence to minimize the risk of placing illegally harvested timber on the EU market.
Questions about bleached kraft paperboard
What is the HS code for Bleached kraft paperboard?
The HS code for Bleached kraft paperboard is 480442 (Kraft paper and paperboard; uncoated, weight between 150 and 225g/m2, bleached uniformly throughout, more than 95% of total fibre content consists of chemically processed wood fibres, in rolls or sheets). The Harmonized System (HS) code for uncoated kraft paper and paperboard, weighing between 150 and 225g/m2, uniformly bleached throughout, with more than 95% chemically processed wood fibres, in rolls or sheets, is 480442.
How do I classify Bleached kraft paperboard for customs?
Bleached kraft paperboard is classified under HS code 480442 — Kraft paper and paperboard; uncoated, weight between 150 and 225g/m2, bleached uniformly throughout, more than 95% of total fibre content consists of chemically processed wood fibres, in rolls or sheets. This is a 6-digit subheading level code.
What is the significance of the 95% chemical wood fibre content in this classification?
The requirement for more than 95% chemically processed wood fibres is a defining characteristic of "kraft" paper and paperboard. This high chemical pulp content ensures specific strength, durability, and purity properties, distinguishing it from paperboards made with mechanical pulp or a lower percentage of chemical fibres, which would be classified elsewhere.
Which countries are the top exporters of bleached kraft paperboard (HS 480442)?
In 2025, the top exporters of HS 480442 (the code used for bleached kraft paperboard) in UN Comtrade data were the United States ($145M, 70% of world exports), Finland ($20M) and Canada ($17M). World exports came to about $209M, 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 bleached kraft paperboard (HS 480442)?
In 2025, the top importers of HS 480442 (the code used for bleached kraft paperboard) in UN Comtrade data were Canada ($134M, 64% of world imports), the United States ($17M) and South Korea ($7.1M). World imports came to about $209M, 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 Bleached kraft paperboard the same in all countries?
The base HS code 480442 for Bleached kraft paperboard 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 bleached kraft paperboard in Brazil?
In Brazil, bleached kraft paperboard (HS 480442) is classified under NCM 4804.42.00.