Product classification
HS code for Coniferous wood chips: 4401.21
Wood, for fuel, in chips or particles, coniferous, whether or not agglomerated.
Classification of coniferous wood chips under HS 4401.21
HS code 4401.21 applies to coniferous wood that has been reduced to the form of chips or particles. This classification is primarily used for wood that has been mechanically processed into small pieces for industrial applications or energy production. Common uses include raw material for paper pulp, the manufacturing of particle board or fiberboard, and use as biomass fuel. The wood must be of coniferous origin, such as pine, fir, or spruce. This code covers wood that may or may not be agglomerated, although most chips in this category are traded in loose form. It is a critical classification for the forestry and renewable energy sectors, ensuring that wood waste and processed wood particles are correctly identified for international trade and environmental reporting.
- Covers
- Pine wood chips for pulp production
- Spruce particles for particle board
- Coniferous wood chips for biomass fuel
- Softwood chips for landscaping mulch
- Industrial wood particles from coniferous waste
- Agglomerated coniferous wood chips
- Also under 4401.21
- Drax Power Station wood chips (if coniferous)
- specific brands of industrial wood pellets made from coniferous chips
- forestry company biomass fuel
- wood chip boilers
Codes often confused with 4401.21
Common mistake. This code is frequently confused with HS code 4401.11, which covers coniferous fuelwood in the form of logs, billets, or twigs. If the wood is not chipped but remains in its natural round or split form, it belongs in 4401.11. Additionally, wood pellets are classified under 4401.31. While pellets are made from wood particles, the specific process of pelletization moves them to the 4401.3x series. Sawdust is also excluded from 4401.21 and is instead classified under 4401.41.
Top exporters and importers of HS 440121 (the code used for coniferous wood chips), 2025
In 2025, the largest exporter of HS 440121 (the code used for coniferous wood chips) in UN Comtrade data was the United States, with 27% of world exports; the largest importer in UN Comtrade data was Japan, with 27% 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 440121, not only coniferous wood chips.
Top exporters 2025 · share of world exports
- 1 United States $280M 27% of world exports
- 2 Latvia $140M 14% of world exports
- 3 Germany $112M 11% of world exports
World total: $1.0B Reported figures on UN Comtrade ↗
Top importers 2025 · share of world imports
- 1 Japan $354M 27% of world imports
- 2 Denmark $158M 12% of world imports
- 3 Sweden $132M 9.9% of world imports
World total: $1.3B 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 coniferous wood chips
Brazil classifies coniferous wood chips under NCM 4401.21.00: HS 4401.21 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 coniferous wood chips
What is the HS code for Coniferous wood chips?
The HS code for Coniferous wood chips is 440121 (Wood; for fuel, in chips or particles, coniferous, whether or not agglomerated). The HS code for wood in chips or particles of coniferous origin is 4401.21.
How do I classify Coniferous wood chips for customs?
Coniferous wood chips is classified under HS code 440121 — Wood; for fuel, in chips or particles, coniferous, whether or not agglomerated. This is a 6-digit subheading level code.
Does this code include wood sawdust?
No, sawdust is classified separately under HS code 4401.41, even if it is of coniferous origin.
Which countries are the top exporters of coniferous wood chips (HS 440121)?
In 2025, the top exporters of HS 440121 (the code used for coniferous wood chips) in UN Comtrade data were the United States ($280M, 27% of world exports), Latvia ($140M) and Germany ($112M). World exports came to about $1.0B, 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 coniferous wood chips (HS 440121)?
In 2025, the top importers of HS 440121 (the code used for coniferous wood chips) in UN Comtrade data were Japan ($354M, 27% of world imports), Denmark ($158M) and Sweden ($132M). World imports came to about $1.3B, 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 Coniferous wood chips the same in all countries?
The base HS code 440121 for Coniferous wood chips 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 coniferous wood chips in Brazil?
In Brazil, coniferous wood chips (HS 440121) is classified under NCM 4401.21.00.