Product classification

HS code for Equine wet-blue: 4104.19

Tanned or crust hides and skins, bovine or equine, without hair on, in the wet state (including wet-blue), excluding full grains, unsplit, grain splits.

Classification of equine wet-blue under HS 4104.19

Equine wet-blue is classified under HS code 4104.19. This classification is based on the product being a tanned hide of an equine animal, without hair, in a wet state. The term 'wet-blue' refers to hides that have been chrome-tanned, resulting in a characteristic blue tint from the chromium salts, and are still moist. Heading 4104 covers bovine and equine hides and skins that are tanned or crust but not further prepared. Subheading 4104.19 specifically captures those in the wet state (including wet-blue) that are not full grains unsplit. This means it includes grain splits or other processed hides that have not reached the 'crust' (dry) stage or the 'further prepared' (finished) stage. The classification follows General Interpretative Rule 1 and 6, focusing on the animal type and the specific chemical state of the hide following the tanning process but prior to drying and finishing.

Covers
  • Chrome-tanned horse hides in wet state
  • Wet-blue equine grain splits
  • Tanned pony skins, wet state, excluding full grains
  • Equine hides in the wet state, tanned but not yet dried
Also under 4104.19
  • Wet-blue splits for suede shoes
  • Wet-blue lining leather
  • Wet-blue splits for industrial gloves
  • Wet-blue corrected grain for upholstery

Codes often confused with 4104.19

Common mistake. Equine wet-blue is often misclassified under 4101.20 or 4101.50, which are codes for raw hides. However, once the tanning process (such as chrome tanning) has begun, the product must move to heading 4104. It is also confused with 4104.11, which is reserved for full grains, unsplit. If the hide has been split into layers, it must be classified under 4104.19. Furthermore, if the leather is dried (crust), it should be classified under 4104.49 rather than the wet-state code 4104.19.

4104.11Tanned or crust hides and skins; without hair on, bovine or equine, in the wet state (including wet-blue), full grains, unsplit; grain splits4101.20Raw hides and skins; whole, unsplit, of bovine or equine animals, of a weight per skin not exceeding 8kg when simply dried, 10kg when dry-salted or 16kg when fresh, wet-salted or otherwise preserved4101.50Hides and skins; raw, whole, of bovine or equine animals, of a weight per skin exceeding 16 kg41.04Tanned or crust hides and skins of bovine (including buffalo) or equine animals, without hair on, whether or not split, but not further prepared4104.49Tanned or crust hides and skins; bovine or equine, without hair on, in the dry state (crust), (other than full grains, unsplit; grain splits)

Top exporters and importers of HS 410419 (the code used for equine wet-blue), 2025

In 2025, the largest exporter of HS 410419 (the code used for equine wet-blue) in UN Comtrade data was Italy, with 23% of world exports; the largest importer in UN Comtrade data was Vietnam, with about 25% 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 410419, not only equine wet-blue.

Top exporters 2025 · share of world exports

  1. 1 Italy $149M
  2. 2 Brazil $132M
  3. 3 Thailand $65M

World total: $647M Reported figures on UN Comtrade ↗

Top importers 2025 · share of world imports

  1. 1 Vietnam* ~$184M
  2. 2 China $178M
  3. 3 Italy $78M

World total: $727M 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. 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 equine wet-blue

Brazil splits HS 4104.19 into 5 NCM codes. Pick the one that matches your product:

  • 4104.19.10Wet-blue non-grain whole bovine hides, ≤2.6 m²
  • 4104.19.20Other wet non-grain whole bovine hides, ≤2.6 m²
  • 4104.19.30Wet non-grain bovine hides, vegetable pre-tanned
  • 4104.19.40Other wet non-grain bovine hides
  • 4104.19.90Wet non-grain equine hides

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.

Questions about equine wet-blue

What is the HS code for Equine wet-blue?

The HS code for Equine wet-blue is 410419 (Tanned or crust hides and skins; bovine or equine, without hair on, in the wet state (including wet-blue), excluding full grains, unsplit; grain splits). The HS code for equine wet-blue hides, specifically those that are not full grains unsplit, is 4104.19.

How do I classify Equine wet-blue for customs?

Equine wet-blue is classified under HS code 410419 — Tanned or crust hides and skins; bovine or equine, without hair on, in the wet state (including wet-blue), excluding full grains, unsplit; grain splits. This is a 6-digit subheading level code.

What is the difference between wet-blue and crust leather?

Wet-blue (4104.19) refers to hides that are still moist after chrome tanning, while crust leather (4104.49) refers to hides that have been tanned and then dried but not yet finished.

Which countries are the top exporters of equine wet-blue (HS 410419)?

In 2025, the top exporters of HS 410419 (the code used for equine wet-blue) in UN Comtrade data were Italy ($149M, 23% of world exports), Brazil ($132M) and Thailand ($65M). World exports came to about $647M, 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 equine wet-blue (HS 410419)?

In 2025, the top importers of HS 410419 (the code used for equine wet-blue) in UN Comtrade data were Vietnam (about $184M, 25% of world imports), China ($178M) and Italy ($78M). World imports came to about $727M, 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 Equine wet-blue the same in all countries?

The base HS code 410419 for Equine wet-blue 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 equine wet-blue in Brazil?

Brazil splits HS 410419 into 5 NCM codes, so the right one for equine wet-blue depends on the product's details: 4104.19.10 (Wet-blue non-grain whole bovine hides, ≤2.6 m²), 4104.19.20 (Other wet non-grain whole bovine hides, ≤2.6 m²), 4104.19.30 (Wet non-grain bovine hides, vegetable pre-tanned), 4104.19.40 (Other wet non-grain bovine hides), 4104.19.90 (Wet non-grain equine hides).