Product classification
HS code for Hole punches: 8203.40
Tools, hand, pipe-cutters, bolt croppers, perforating punches and similar tools.
Classification of hole punches under HS 8203.40
Hole punches, specifically hand-operated perforating punches, are classified under HS code 820340. This code is situated within Chapter 82, which covers tools, implements, and cutlery of base metal. Heading 8203 includes files, rasps, pliers, and similar hand tools. Subheading 820340 specifically identifies pipe-cutters, bolt croppers, and perforating punches. The classification is determined by the tool's primary function—perforating or punching holes—and its manual operation. These tools are typically made of steel or other base metals and are designed to be held in the hand or used on a desktop without a permanent power source. The classification applies regardless of the material being punched, whether it be paper, leather, or thin metal, provided the tool remains a manual implement of the type described in heading 8203.
- Covers
- Handheld paper hole punches
- Leather revolving punch pliers
- Manual metal sheet perforators
- Ticket punches used by conductors
- Eyelet pliers with punching function
- Also under 8203.40
- Ridgid Pipe Cutters
- Knipex Bolt Croppers
- Greenlee Punches
- Rothenberger Tube Cutters
Codes often confused with 8203.40
Common mistake. Hole punches are frequently misclassified under 847290, which covers other office machines. While desktop paper punches are used in offices, 820340 is preferred for simple manual tools, whereas 8472 is for more complex mechanical office equipment. They may also be confused with 844110 if they are part of a larger paper-cutting machine or 820559 if they are considered general hand tools not elsewhere specified.
Top exporters and importers of HS 820340 (the code used for hole punches), 2025
In 2025, the largest exporter of HS 820340 (the code used for hole punches) in UN Comtrade data was China, with 22% of world exports; the largest importer in UN Comtrade data was the United States, with 22% 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 820340, not only hole punches.
Top exporters 2025 · share of world exports
- 1 China $62M 22% of world exports
- 2 Germany $43M 15% of world exports
- 3 Taiwan* ~$34M 12% of world exports · partner records ↗
World total: $278M Reported figures on UN Comtrade ↗
Top importers 2025 · share of world imports
- 1 United States $73M 22% of world imports
- 2 Germany $29M 8.7% of world imports
- 3 Thailand $18M 5.4% of world imports
World total: $337M 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 marked * did not, so their figures add up what other countries recorded trading with them, and their exports are valued at buyers' CIF prices. 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. UN Comtrade records Taiwan as "Other Asia, not elsewhere specified". Saudi Arabia's exports under that code are left out: they are far too large to be trade with Taiwan, so mostly undisclosed partners. 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 hole punches
Brazil classifies hole punches under NCM 8203.40.00: HS 8203.40 with 00 added.
Source: Siscomex NCM table, updated Oct 2026. The Portuguese text on each NCM page is the official one.
Questions about hole punches
What is the HS code for Hole punches?
The HS code for Hole punches is 820340 (Tools, hand; pipe-cutters, bolt croppers, perforating punches and similar tools). The HS code for manual perforating hole punches is 820340.
How do I classify Hole punches for customs?
Hole punches is classified under HS code 820340 — Tools, hand; pipe-cutters, bolt croppers, perforating punches and similar tools. This is a 6-digit subheading level code.
Are electric hole punches classified here?
No, electric or motorized hole punches used in office environments are generally classified under HS code 847290 as office machinery.
Which countries are the top exporters of hole punches (HS 820340)?
In 2025, the top exporters of HS 820340 (the code used for hole punches) in UN Comtrade data were China ($62M, 22% of world exports), Germany ($43M) and Taiwan (about $34M). World exports came to about $278M, 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 hole punches (HS 820340)?
In 2025, the top importers of HS 820340 (the code used for hole punches) in UN Comtrade data were the United States ($73M, 22% of world imports), Germany ($29M) and Thailand ($18M). World imports came to about $337M, 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 Hole punches the same in all countries?
The base HS code 820340 for Hole punches 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 hole punches in Brazil?
In Brazil, hole punches (HS 820340) is classified under NCM 8203.40.00.