Product classification
HS code for Cardboard wallets: 4202.39
Cases and containers, of a kind normally carried in the pocket or in the handbag, of vulcanised fibre or of paperboard, or wholly or mainly covered with such materials or with paper.
Classification of cardboard wallets under HS 4202.39
Cardboard wallets are classified under HS code 420239. This classification falls within Chapter 42, which covers leather goods, travel goods, and similar containers. Heading 4202 is specifically structured to include articles of a kind normally carried in the pocket or in the handbag, such as wallets, billfolds, and card cases. Subheading 420239 is the designated category for these pocket articles when they are made of vulcanized fiber or paperboard, or are wholly or mainly covered with such materials. Similar to cardboard purses, the classification of cardboard wallets is driven by the item's function as a personal container. According to the General Rules of Interpretation (GRI) 1, the terms of the heading 4202 specifically include these types of articles. Furthermore, Chapter 48 (Paper) excludes these items because they are specifically provided for in Chapter 42. This classification applies to slim wallets, folding billfolds, and even business card holders made of rigid or reinforced paperboard, provided they are intended for personal carry in a pocket or bag.
- Covers
- Paperboard billfolds
- Vulcanized fiber wallets
- Cardboard pocket card cases
- Reinforced paper wallets for travel documents
- Also under 4202.39
- Moleskine card holders
- Paperchase pencil cases
- Tumi travel wallets (paper/fibre versions)
- Bellroy card sleeves (paper/fibre versions)
Codes often confused with 4202.39
Common mistake. Cardboard wallets are frequently misclassified under 4820, which covers stationery and folders. However, if the item is designed to hold currency or credit cards in a pocket, it belongs in 4202. They are also sometimes confused with 420231 (leather) or 420232 (plastic/textile), but 420239 is the correct code for paperboard-based constructions.
Top exporters and importers of HS 420239 (the code used for cardboard wallets), 2025
In 2025, the largest exporter of HS 420239 (the code used for cardboard wallets) in UN Comtrade data was Italy, with 16% of world exports; the largest importer in UN Comtrade data was Thailand, with 8.3% 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 420239, not only cardboard wallets.
Top exporters 2025 · share of world exports
- 1 Italy $36M 16% of world exports
- 2 Thailand $26M 12% of world exports
- 3 United Kingdom $24M 11% of world exports
World total: $225M Reported figures on UN Comtrade ↗
Top importers 2025 · share of world imports
- 1 Thailand $24M 8.3% of world imports
- 2 Germany $20M 7.0% of world imports
- 3 United Kingdom $18M 6.4% of world imports
World total: $287M 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 cardboard wallets
Brazil classifies cardboard wallets under NCM 4202.39.00: HS 4202.39 with 00 added.
Source: Siscomex NCM table, updated Oct 2026. The Portuguese text on each NCM page is the official one.
Questions about cardboard wallets
What is the HS code for Cardboard wallets?
The HS code for Cardboard wallets is 420239 (Cases and containers; of a kind normally carried in the pocket or in the handbag, of vulcanised fibre or of paperboard, or wholly or mainly covered with such materials or with paper). The HS code for wallets made of paperboard or vulcanized fiber is 420239.
How do I classify Cardboard wallets for customs?
Cardboard wallets is classified under HS code 420239 — Cases and containers; of a kind normally carried in the pocket or in the handbag, of vulcanised fibre or of paperboard, or wholly or mainly covered with such materials or with paper. This is a 6-digit subheading level code.
Are disposable paper wallets included here?
Yes, if they are designed to function as a wallet and carried in the pocket, they are classified under 420239 regardless of their intended lifespan.
Which countries are the top exporters of cardboard wallets (HS 420239)?
In 2025, the top exporters of HS 420239 (the code used for cardboard wallets) in UN Comtrade data were Italy ($36M, 16% of world exports), Thailand ($26M) and the United Kingdom ($24M). World exports came to about $225M, 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 cardboard wallets (HS 420239)?
In 2025, the top importers of HS 420239 (the code used for cardboard wallets) in UN Comtrade data were Thailand ($24M, 8.3% of world imports), Germany ($20M) and the United Kingdom ($18M). World imports came to about $287M, 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 Cardboard wallets the same in all countries?
The base HS code 420239 for Cardboard wallets 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 cardboard wallets in Brazil?
In Brazil, cardboard wallets (HS 420239) is classified under NCM 4202.39.00.