Product classification

HS code for Hardwood poles: 4404.20

Wood, non-coniferous, split poles, piles, pickets, stakes, pointed but not sawn lengthwise, sticks for umbrellas, tool handles etc, roughly trimmed but not turned or bent, chipwood etc, hoopwood.

Classification of hardwood poles under HS 4404.20

Hardwood poles are classified under HS code 4404.20. This heading covers non-coniferous wood that has been prepared as split poles, piles, pickets, or stakes. The defining characteristic for this classification is that the wood must be pointed or roughly trimmed but not sawn lengthwise. This includes items like fence pickets or stakes used in agriculture and viticulture. The heading also encompasses wood that has been roughly trimmed for use as tool handles, umbrella sticks, or walking sticks, but has not yet been turned, bent, or otherwise worked into a finished shape. Classification under 4404.20 is based on the intended use and the specific stage of processing. Because these items are non-coniferous, they are separated from softwood poles (4404.10). This distinction is important for trade statistics and for applying specific duties related to hardwood timber products.

Covers
  • Hardwood fence pickets (pointed)
  • Non-coniferous wooden stakes for gardening
  • Roughly trimmed hardwood sticks for tool handles
  • Split hardwood poles for rustic fencing
  • Hardwood piles for light construction foundations
Also under 4404.20
  • Local timber yards
  • agricultural suppliers specializing in hardwood stakes
  • manufacturers of rough tool handle blanks

Codes often confused with 4404.20

Common mistake. Hardwood poles are often confused with HS code 4403.99 (logs). The distinction is that 4404 items are specifically prepared (pointed or split) for a particular use, whereas 4403 is wood in the rough. Another common misclassification is 4417.00 for finished tool handles. If the handle has been turned on a lathe or finished into its final shape, it must be classified under 4417; 4404.20 is only for the roughly trimmed raw material.

4403.99Wood; in the rough, whether or not stripped of bark or sapwood, or roughly squared, untreated, n.e.c. in heading no. 440344.04Hoopwood; split poles; piles, pickets, stakes of wood, pointed, not sawn lengthwise; wooden sticks, roughly trimmed, not turned, bent, etc., suitable for walking sticks, umbrellas, tool handles, etc.44.03Wood in the rough, whether or not stripped of bark or sapwood, or roughly squared4417.00Wood; tools, tool bodies, tool handles, broom or brush bodies and handles, boot and shoe lasts and trees, of wood44.17Tools, tool bodies, tool handles, broom or brush bodies and handles, of wood; boot or shoe lasts and trees, of wood

Top exporters and importers of HS 440420 (the code used for hardwood poles), 2025

In 2025, the largest exporter of HS 440420 (the code used for hardwood poles) in UN Comtrade data was France, with 16% of world exports; the largest importer in UN Comtrade data was the Netherlands, with 19% 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 440420, not only hardwood poles.

Top exporters 2025 · share of world exports

  1. 1 France $13M
  2. 2 Hungary $9.6M
  3. 3 Romania $7.2M

World total: $81M Reported figures on UN Comtrade ↗

Top importers 2025 · share of world imports

  1. 1 Netherlands $19M
  2. 2 Germany $8.8M
  3. 3 France $8.2M

World total: $97M 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 hardwood poles

Brazil classifies hardwood poles under NCM 4404.20.00: HS 4404.20 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.

Questions about hardwood poles

What is the HS code for Hardwood poles?

The HS code for Hardwood poles is 440420 (Wood; non-coniferous, split poles, piles, pickets, stakes, pointed but not sawn lengthwise; sticks for umbrellas, tool handles etc, roughly trimmed but not turned or bent; chipwood etc, hoopwood). The HS code for non-coniferous split poles, pickets, and stakes is 4404.20.

How do I classify Hardwood poles for customs?

Hardwood poles is classified under HS code 440420 — Wood; non-coniferous, split poles, piles, pickets, stakes, pointed but not sawn lengthwise; sticks for umbrellas, tool handles etc, roughly trimmed but not turned or bent; chipwood etc, hoopwood. This is a 6-digit subheading level code.

Can sawn timber be classified under 4404.20?

No, if the wood has been sawn lengthwise, it generally moves to heading 4407. Heading 4404 is specifically for split or pointed wood that has not been sawn.

Which countries are the top exporters of hardwood poles (HS 440420)?

In 2025, the top exporters of HS 440420 (the code used for hardwood poles) in UN Comtrade data were France ($13M, 16% of world exports), Hungary ($9.6M) and Romania ($7.2M). World exports came to about $81M, 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 hardwood poles (HS 440420)?

In 2025, the top importers of HS 440420 (the code used for hardwood poles) in UN Comtrade data were the Netherlands ($19M, 19% of world imports), Germany ($8.8M) and France ($8.2M). World imports came to about $97M, 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 Hardwood poles the same in all countries?

The base HS code 440420 for Hardwood poles 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 hardwood poles in Brazil?

In Brazil, hardwood poles (HS 440420) is classified under NCM 4404.20.00.