Product classification
HS code for Hardwood posts: 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 posts under HS 4404.20
Hardwood posts are classified under HS code 4404.20, which covers non-coniferous hoopwood, split poles, piles, pickets, and stakes of wood, pointed but not sawn lengthwise. This heading is intended for wood that has undergone minimal processing, such as splitting or pointing, but has not been subjected to the longitudinal sawing that would classify it as timber under heading 4407. Hardwood posts in this category are typically used for fencing, agriculture, or horticulture. The classification requires that the wood be from non-coniferous species. These items are often roughly trimmed and may have the bark removed, but they retain their natural round or split shape. If the posts were sawn on all four sides to specific dimensions, they would likely move to a different classification. This code also includes wood chips used for tanning or dyeing and wood used for making tool handles or umbrellas, provided it is only roughly trimmed. The durability of hardwood makes these posts particularly valuable for long-term outdoor use in soil contact.
- Covers
- Pointed hardwood fence stakes
- Split hardwood poles for agriculture
- Roughly trimmed hardwood pickets
- Hardwood piles for soil stabilization (not sawn)
- Hardwood hoopwood for barrel making
- 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 posts are frequently misclassified under HS code 4407.99, which covers non-coniferous wood sawn or chipped lengthwise. The key distinction is that 4404.20 is for wood that is NOT sawn lengthwise. They may also be confused with 4403.99 (wood in the rough), but the act of pointing or splitting for use as a stake moves the product to 4404.
Top exporters and importers of HS 440420 (the code used for hardwood posts), 2025
In 2025, the largest exporter of HS 440420 (the code used for hardwood posts) 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 posts.
Top exporters 2025 · share of world exports
- 1 France $13M 16% of world exports
- 2 Hungary $9.6M 12% of world exports
- 3 Romania $7.2M 8.9% of world exports
World total: $81M Reported figures on UN Comtrade ↗
Top importers 2025 · share of world imports
- 1 Netherlands $19M 19% of world imports
- 2 Germany $8.8M 9.1% of world imports
- 3 France $8.2M 8.4% of world imports
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 posts
Brazil classifies hardwood posts 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 posts
What is the HS code for Hardwood posts?
The HS code for Hardwood posts 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 hardwood posts that are pointed or split but not sawn lengthwise is 4404.20.
How do I classify Hardwood posts for customs?
Hardwood posts 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.
What if the hardwood posts are sawn into square shapes?
If the posts are sawn lengthwise into square or rectangular shapes, they are generally classified under HS code 4407.99 as sawn timber, rather than 4404.20.
Which countries are the top exporters of hardwood posts (HS 440420)?
In 2025, the top exporters of HS 440420 (the code used for hardwood posts) 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 posts (HS 440420)?
In 2025, the top importers of HS 440420 (the code used for hardwood posts) 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 posts the same in all countries?
The base HS code 440420 for Hardwood posts 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 posts in Brazil?
In Brazil, hardwood posts (HS 440420) is classified under NCM 4404.20.00.