Product classification
HS code for Hand-drawn plans: 4906.00
Plans and drawings, for architectural, engineering, industrial, commercial, topographical or similar, being originals drawn by hand, hand-written texts, photo- graphic reproductions, their carbon copies.
Classification of hand-drawn plans under HS 4906.00
Hand-drawn plans are classified under HS code 4906.00. This specific heading is reserved for original plans and drawings for architectural, engineering, industrial, commercial, topographical, or similar purposes, provided they are drawn by hand. This code also encompasses hand-written texts, photographic reproductions on sensitized paper, and carbon copies of these original hand-drawn works. The classification is unique because it prioritizes the method of creation (manual drawing) and the nature of the content (technical or professional plans). Unlike general printed matter, these items are often one-of-a-kind or direct copies of an original manual work. If a plan is created using a computer and then printed, it generally does not fall under this heading unless it is a photographic reproduction of a hand-drawn original. The intent of 4906.00 is to capture the value of the technical drafting and the original intellectual property expressed through manual artistry.
- Covers
- Original hand-drawn architectural blueprints
- Hand-sketched engineering schematics
- Manual topographical surveys and maps
- Carbon copies of hand-written technical specifications
- Hand-drawn industrial design prototypes
- Also under 4906.00
- Frank Lloyd Wright architectural drawings
- Leonardo da Vinci's notebooks (reproductions)
- historical city plans
- original patent applications
Codes often confused with 4906.00
Common mistake. Hand-drawn plans are frequently misclassified under 4911.91 (pictures, designs, and photographs) or 4911.99 (other printed matter). However, if they are original hand drawings for technical purposes, 4906.00 is the mandatory heading. They are also sometimes confused with 9701, which covers works of art; however, technical plans are excluded from 9701 even if they are hand-drawn.
Top exporters and importers of HS 490600 (the code used for hand-drawn plans), 2025
In 2025, the largest exporter of HS 490600 (the code used for hand-drawn plans) in UN Comtrade data was Germany, with 28% of world exports; the largest importer in UN Comtrade data was Romania, with 15% 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 490600, not only hand-drawn plans.
Top exporters 2025 · share of world exports
- 1 Germany $18M 28% of world exports
- 2 Netherlands $17M 27% of world exports
- 3 United Kingdom $5.6M 8.9% of world exports
World total: $63M Reported figures on UN Comtrade ↗
Top importers 2025 · share of world imports
- 1 Romania $7.1M 15% of world imports
- 2 United Kingdom $5.3M 11% of world imports
- 3 United States $4.8M 10% of world imports
World total: $47M 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 hand-drawn plans
Brazil classifies hand-drawn plans under NCM 4906.00.00: HS 4906.00 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 hand-drawn plans
What is the HS code for Hand-drawn plans?
The HS code for Hand-drawn plans is 490600 (Plans and drawings; for architectural, engineering, industrial, commercial, topographical or similar, being originals drawn by hand; hand-written texts; photo- graphic reproductions; their carbon copies). The HS code for original hand-drawn plans and drawings for technical or commercial use is 4906.00.
How do I classify Hand-drawn plans for customs?
Hand-drawn plans is classified under HS code 490600 — Plans and drawings; for architectural, engineering, industrial, commercial, topographical or similar, being originals drawn by hand; hand-written texts; photo- graphic reproductions; their carbon copies. This is a 6-digit subheading level code.
Are CAD drawings printed on a plotter classified here?
No, CAD drawings are generally classified under 4911 as they are not 'drawn by hand' in the traditional sense required by heading 4906.
Which countries are the top exporters of hand-drawn plans (HS 490600)?
In 2025, the top exporters of HS 490600 (the code used for hand-drawn plans) in UN Comtrade data were Germany ($18M, 28% of world exports), the Netherlands ($17M) and the United Kingdom ($5.6M). World exports came to about $63M, 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 hand-drawn plans (HS 490600)?
In 2025, the top importers of HS 490600 (the code used for hand-drawn plans) in UN Comtrade data were Romania ($7.1M, 15% of world imports), the United Kingdom ($5.3M) and the United States ($4.8M). World imports came to about $47M, 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 Hand-drawn plans the same in all countries?
The base HS code 490600 for Hand-drawn plans 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 hand-drawn plans in Brazil?
In Brazil, hand-drawn plans (HS 490600) is classified under NCM 4906.00.00.