Product classification

HS code for Filter paper pulp: 4812.00

Paper pulp, filter blocks, slabs and plates of paper pulp.

Classification of filter paper pulp under HS 4812.00

Filter paper pulp, specifically in the form of blocks, slabs, or plates, is classified under HS code 4812.00. This heading is unique within Chapter 48 as it specifically addresses products made from paper pulp that are designed for filtration but are not yet "paper" in the traditional sense of thin, flexible sheets. These articles are typically thick, rigid, and highly porous, created by compressing vegetable fibers (usually wood or cotton) into dense masses. The classification is determined by GRI 1, as the heading 4812.00 specifically describes "Filter blocks, slabs and plates, of paper pulp." These products are used in large-scale industrial filtration, such as in the beverage industry for clarifying liquids or in chemical processing. The essential character of these items is their bulk and density, which allows for deep-bed filtration, a process different from the surface filtration provided by thin filter papers. The absence of a subheading under 4812 ensures that all forms of these pulp-based filter blocks are consolidated under this single code.

Covers
  • Compressed paper pulp filter blocks
  • Filter slabs made of cellulose fibers
  • Porous plates of paper pulp for liquid clarification
  • Thick cellulose filter pads for industrial presses
  • Masses of vegetable fibers for deep filtration
Also under 4812.00
  • Pall Corporation filter sheets
  • Eaton Begerow filter media
  • ErtelAlsop filter plates
  • Cuno filter cartridges

Codes often confused with 4812.00

Common mistake. Filter paper pulp is often confused with HS code 4823.20 (filter paper cut to size) or 4805.40 (filter paper in rolls). The key difference is the thickness and form; 4812.00 is for blocks and slabs, while the others are for sheets. It may also be misclassified under Chapter 47 (codes 4701-4706) which covers raw wood pulp. However, once the pulp is formed into a specific article like a filter block, it must move to Chapter 48, specifically 4812.00.

4823.20Paper and paperboard; filter paper and paperboard4805.40Paper and paperboard; filter paper and paperboard, uncoated, in rolls or sheets47.01Wood pulp, mechanical wood pulp47.06Pulps of fibres derived from recovered (waste and scrap) paper or paperboard or of other fibrous cellulosic material

Top exporters and importers of HS 481200 (the code used for filter paper pulp), 2025

In 2025, the largest exporter of HS 481200 (the code used for filter paper pulp) in UN Comtrade data was Germany, with 36% of world exports; the largest importer in UN Comtrade data was the United States, with 11% 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 481200, not only filter paper pulp.

Top exporters 2025 · share of world exports

  1. 1 Germany $91M
  2. 2 Denmark $32M
  3. 3 Thailand $23M

World total: $250M Reported figures on UN Comtrade ↗

Top importers 2025 · share of world imports

  1. 1 United States $25M
  2. 2 China $14M
  3. 3 Germany $13M

World total: $219M 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 filter paper pulp

Brazil classifies filter paper pulp under NCM 4812.00.00: HS 4812.00 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 filter paper pulp

What is the HS code for Filter paper pulp?

The HS code for Filter paper pulp is 481200 (Paper pulp; filter blocks, slabs and plates of paper pulp).

How do I classify Filter paper pulp for customs?

Filter paper pulp is classified under HS code 481200 — Paper pulp; filter blocks, slabs and plates of paper pulp. This is a 6-digit subheading level code.

What is the HS code for filter paper pulp blocks?

The HS code for filter blocks, slabs, and plates of paper pulp is 4812.00.

How does 4812.00 differ from standard filter paper?

HS code 4812.00 applies to thick, rigid blocks or slabs used for deep filtration, whereas standard filter paper (4823.20) refers to thin sheets cut to shape.

Which countries are the top exporters of filter paper pulp (HS 481200)?

In 2025, the top exporters of HS 481200 (the code used for filter paper pulp) in UN Comtrade data were Germany ($91M, 36% of world exports), Denmark ($32M) and Thailand ($23M). World exports came to about $250M, 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 filter paper pulp (HS 481200)?

In 2025, the top importers of HS 481200 (the code used for filter paper pulp) in UN Comtrade data were the United States ($25M, 11% of world imports), China ($14M) and Germany ($13M). World imports came to about $219M, 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 Filter paper pulp the same in all countries?

The base HS code 481200 for Filter paper pulp 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 filter paper pulp in Brazil?

In Brazil, filter paper pulp (HS 481200) is classified under NCM 4812.00.00.