Product classification
HS code for Folder inserter: 8472.30
Office machines, for sorting or folding mail or for inserting mail in envelopes or bands, machines for opening, closing or sealing mail and machines for affixing or cancelling postage stamps.
Classification of folder inserter under HS 8472.30
HS code 8472.30 is the specific classification for office machines designed to automate the handling and preparation of mail. This code falls under heading 8472, which is a basket category for other office machines that do not fit into the more specialized headings for typewriters, calculating machines, or automatic data processing units. Subheading 8472.30 specifically identifies machines used for sorting or folding mail, as well as those designed to insert correspondence into envelopes or bands. These machines are vital for businesses and organizations that manage large volumes of outgoing mail, as they significantly increase efficiency and reduce the manual labor required for mailroom operations. The classification also extends to machines that perform related tasks, such as closing or sealing envelopes and affixing or canceling postage stamps. The determination for this classification is based on the machine's primary function as an office tool for document and mail management. It is distinct from industrial machinery used in the manufacture of paper products or high-speed commercial printing presses. The focus is on the administrative application of the technology within a corporate or institutional mailroom setting.
- Covers
- Mail folding machines
- Envelope inserting machines
- Mail sorting machines
- Envelope sealing machines
- Postage stamp affixing machines
- Also under 8472.30
- Pitney Bowes SendPro P1500
- Quadient (Neopost) DS-75i inserter
- Formax FD 6100 folder
- Bell and Howell Criterion mail sorter
Codes often confused with 8472.30
Common mistake. Folder inserters are sometimes misclassified under HS code 8441.20, which covers machines for making bags, sacks, or envelopes. However, 8441 is for the manufacturing process of the envelope itself, while 8472.30 is for the office task of inserting mail into a pre-made envelope. They may also be confused with 8443.32, which covers printers, but the folding and inserting function is distinct from the printing process.
Top exporters and importers of HS 847230 (the code used for folder inserter), 2025
In 2025, the largest exporter of HS 847230 (the code used for folder inserter) in UN Comtrade data was Germany, with 18% of world exports; the largest importer in UN Comtrade data was the United States, with 33% 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 847230, not only folder inserter.
Top exporters 2025 · share of world exports
- 1 Germany $33M 18% of world exports
- 2 United Kingdom $30M 16% of world exports
- 3 United States $28M 15% of world exports
World total: $186M Reported figures on UN Comtrade ↗
Top importers 2025 · share of world imports
- 1 United States $69M 33% of world imports
- 2 Germany $26M 12% of world imports
- 3 France $16M 7.7% of world imports
World total: $213M 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 codes for folder inserter
Brazil splits HS 8472.30 into 4 NCM codes. Pick the one that matches your product:
- 8472.30.10Automatic postage stamp cancelling machines
- 8472.30.20Automatic mail sorters with postcode reading
- 8472.30.30Automatic parcel sorters with postcode reading
- 8472.30.90Other mail handling machines
Source: Siscomex NCM table, updated Oct 2026. The Portuguese text on each NCM page is the official one.
Questions about folder inserter
What is the HS code for Folder inserter?
The HS code for Folder inserter is 847230 (Office machines; for sorting or folding mail or for inserting mail in envelopes or bands, machines for opening, closing or sealing mail and machines for affixing or cancelling postage stamps). The HS code for machines used for sorting, folding, or inserting mail into envelopes is 8472.30.
How do I classify Folder inserter for customs?
Folder inserter is classified under HS code 847230 — Office machines; for sorting or folding mail or for inserting mail in envelopes or bands, machines for opening, closing or sealing mail and machines for affixing or cancelling postage stamps. This is a 6-digit subheading level code.
Does this code include postage meters?
Yes, machines for affixing or canceling postage stamps are included under the same subheading 8472.30.
Which countries are the top exporters of folder inserter (HS 847230)?
In 2025, the top exporters of HS 847230 (the code used for folder inserter) in UN Comtrade data were Germany ($33M, 18% of world exports), the United Kingdom ($30M) and the United States ($28M). World exports came to about $186M, 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 folder inserter (HS 847230)?
In 2025, the top importers of HS 847230 (the code used for folder inserter) in UN Comtrade data were the United States ($69M, 33% of world imports), Germany ($26M) and France ($16M). World imports came to about $213M, 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 Folder inserter the same in all countries?
The base HS code 847230 for Folder inserter 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 folder inserter in Brazil?
Brazil splits HS 847230 into 4 NCM codes, so the right one for folder inserter depends on the product's details: 8472.30.10 (Automatic postage stamp cancelling machines), 8472.30.20 (Automatic mail sorters with postcode reading), 8472.30.30 (Automatic parcel sorters with postcode reading), 8472.30.90 (Other mail handling machines).