Product classification
HS code for Folding cartons: 4819.20
Paper and paperboard, folding cartons, boxes and cases, of non-corrugated paper or paperboard.
Classification of folding cartons under HS 4819.20
HS code 4819.20 covers folding cartons, boxes, and cases made of non-corrugated paper or paperboard. This falls under Chapter 48, which deals with paper and paperboard articles. Heading 4819 addresses containers for packing goods. Subheading 4819.20 is defined by two characteristics: the material must be non-corrugated, and the construction must be 'folding.' Non-corrugated board, or solid board, lacks the fluted inner layer of corrugated boxes (4819.10). 'Folding' means the carton is manufactured as a flat blank, scored and die-cut to be assembled at the point of use. These are widely used for retail packaging of cereal, cosmetics, and pharmaceuticals. The classification excludes rigid boxes that do not fold and containers made from corrugated materials. Accurate classification is crucial for compliance with trade policies and anti-dumping duties.
- Covers
- Cereal boxes (non-corrugated)
- Cosmetic folding cartons
- Pharmaceutical boxes
- Frozen food folding cartons
- Printed retail display boxes
- Also under 4819.20
- Kellogg's cereal boxes
- Nike shoe boxes
- Tylenol cartons
- Apple iPhone boxes
- Godiva chocolate boxes
Codes often confused with 4819.20
Common mistake. The most frequent error is confusing this with 4819.10, which is for corrugated paperboard boxes. Another mistake is 4819.50 for other packing containers that are not folding. If the item is a simple paper bag, it belongs in 4819.30 or 4819.40 depending on the width of the base.
Top exporters and importers of HS 481920 (the code used for folding cartons), 2025
In 2025, the largest exporter of HS 481920 (the code used for folding cartons) in UN Comtrade data was China, with 19% 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 481920, not only folding cartons.
Top exporters 2025 · share of world exports
- 1 China $2.0B 19% of world exports
- 2 Germany $1.2B 11% of world exports
- 3 Poland $745M 7.3% of world exports
World total: $10.3B Reported figures on UN Comtrade ↗
Top importers 2025 · share of world imports
- 1 United States $1.1B 11% of world imports
- 2 France $907M 9.1% of world imports
- 3 Germany $667M 6.7% of world imports
World total: $9.9B 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 folding cartons
Brazil classifies folding cartons under NCM 4819.20.00: HS 4819.20 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 folding cartons
What is the HS code for Folding cartons?
The HS code for Folding cartons is 481920 (Paper and paperboard; folding cartons, boxes and cases, of non-corrugated paper or paperboard). The HS code for folding cartons made of non-corrugated paper or paperboard is 4819.20.
How do I classify Folding cartons for customs?
Folding cartons is classified under HS code 481920 — Paper and paperboard; folding cartons, boxes and cases, of non-corrugated paper or paperboard. This is a 6-digit subheading level code.
How do I distinguish between 4819.10 and 4819.20?
Check the material; if it has a fluted (wavy) layer between two flat layers, it is corrugated (4819.10). If it is a single solid layer of paperboard, it is non-corrugated (4819.20).
Which countries are the top exporters of folding cartons (HS 481920)?
In 2025, the top exporters of HS 481920 (the code used for folding cartons) in UN Comtrade data were China ($2.0B, 19% of world exports), Germany ($1.2B) and Poland ($745M). World exports came to about $10.3B, 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.
Which countries are the top importers of folding cartons (HS 481920)?
In 2025, the top importers of HS 481920 (the code used for folding cartons) in UN Comtrade data were the United States ($1.1B, 11% of world imports), France ($907M) and Germany ($667M). World imports came to about $9.9B, 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 Folding cartons the same in all countries?
The base HS code 481920 for Folding cartons 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 folding cartons in Brazil?
In Brazil, folding cartons (HS 481920) is classified under NCM 4819.20.00.