Product classification
HS code for Drawing charcoal: 9609.90
Pastels, drawing charcoals, writing or drawing chalks, tailors' chalk.
Classification of drawing charcoal under HS 9609.90
Drawing charcoal is classified under HS code 9609.90, which encompasses pastels, drawing charcoals, and writing or drawing chalks. This classification is part of Chapter 96, which covers miscellaneous manufactured articles. The specific subheading 9609.90 is used for items that are not encased in a rigid sheath (unlike pencils, which fall under 9609.10). Drawing charcoal is typically produced by the carbonization of wood (such as willow or vine) in a kiln without oxygen. For customs purposes, it is the intended use as an artistic medium that defines its placement in 9609 rather than Chapter 44 (wood and articles of wood). The distinction is critical because 9609.90 items are finished consumer goods for the arts, whereas other forms of charcoal are industrial or fuel products. The classification remains the same regardless of whether the charcoal is in its natural twig form (vine charcoal) or has been ground and compressed into sticks.
- Covers
- Willow drawing charcoal sticks
- Compressed charcoal for artists
- Vine charcoal twigs
- Charcoal pastels
- Artist-grade carbon sticks
- Also under 9609.90
- Sennelier Soft Pastels
- Faber-Castell Polychromos Pastels
- Nitram Academie Fusains charcoal
- Crayola Sidewalk Chalk
- Dritz Tailor's Chalk
Codes often confused with 9609.90
Common mistake. Drawing charcoal is frequently confused with 4402.90, which is for wood charcoal used as fuel. The key difference is the quality and intended use; 9609.90 is for artistic drawing. It is also sometimes misclassified under 9609.10 if it is in pencil form, but 9609.90 is specifically for the sticks or chalks themselves.
Top exporters and importers of HS 960990 (the code used for drawing charcoal), 2025
In 2025, the largest exporter of HS 960990 (the code used for drawing charcoal) in UN Comtrade data was China, with 54% of world exports; the largest importer in UN Comtrade data was the United States, with 21% 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 960990, not only drawing charcoal.
Top exporters 2025 · share of world exports
- 1 China $200M 54% of world exports
- 2 United States $21M 5.6% of world exports
- 3 France $19M 5.2% of world exports
World total: $368M Reported figures on UN Comtrade ↗
Top importers 2025 · share of world imports
- 1 United States $78M 21% of world imports
- 2 Germany $23M 6.3% of world imports
- 3 France $15M 4.0% of world imports
World total: $366M 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 drawing charcoal
Brazil classifies drawing charcoal under NCM 9609.90.00: HS 9609.90 with 00 added.
Source: Siscomex NCM table, updated Oct 2026. The Portuguese text on each NCM page is the official one.
Questions about drawing charcoal
What is the HS code for Drawing charcoal?
The HS code for Drawing charcoal is 960990 (Pastels, drawing charcoals, writing or drawing chalks, tailors' chalk). The HS code for drawing charcoal sticks and pastels is 9609.90.
How do I classify Drawing charcoal for customs?
Drawing charcoal is classified under HS code 960990 — Pastels, drawing charcoals, writing or drawing chalks, tailors' chalk. This is a 6-digit subheading level code.
Is charcoal in a wooden pencil classified here?
No, charcoal leads encased in wood are classified as pencils under HS code 9609.10.
Which countries are the top exporters of drawing charcoal (HS 960990)?
In 2025, the top exporters of HS 960990 (the code used for drawing charcoal) in UN Comtrade data were China ($200M, 54% of world exports), the United States ($21M) and France ($19M). World exports came to about $368M, 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 drawing charcoal (HS 960990)?
In 2025, the top importers of HS 960990 (the code used for drawing charcoal) in UN Comtrade data were the United States ($78M, 21% of world imports), Germany ($23M) and France ($15M). World imports came to about $366M, 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 Drawing charcoal the same in all countries?
The base HS code 960990 for Drawing charcoal 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 drawing charcoal in Brazil?
In Brazil, drawing charcoal (HS 960990) is classified under NCM 9609.90.00.