Product classification
HS code for Hot stamping foil: 3212.10
Pigments, of a kind used in the manufacture of paints, stamping foils.
Classification of hot stamping foil under HS 3212.10
Hot stamping foils are classified under HS code 3212.10. This code covers pigments (including metallic powders and flakes) dispersed in a non-aqueous medium, in the form of liquid or paste, of a kind used in the manufacture of paints, but specifically identifies stamping foils as a distinct category. These products consist of a thin carrier film, usually polyester, coated with multiple layers including a release layer, a color or metallic layer, and a heat-activated adhesive layer. During the stamping process, heat and pressure transfer the decorative layer to a substrate. The classification is determined by the function of the product as a coloring and decorative medium rather than the material of the carrier film, following Note 6 to Chapter 32, which specifies that stamping foils consist of metallic powder or pigment bound by glue, gelatin, or other binders on a support of any material.
- Covers
- Metallic gold and silver stamping foils
- Pigment foils for leather and textiles
- Holographic hot stamping foils
- Date coding foils for packaging
- Woodgrain effect foils for furniture
- Also under 3212.10
- Kurz Stamping Foils (pigment component)
- Leonhard Kurz
- Crown Roll Leaf
- API Group
- ITW Foils
Codes often confused with 3212.10
Common mistake. Hot stamping foils are often misclassified under HS code 3920 or 3921, which cover plastic plates, sheets, and film. However, because the primary purpose is the delivery of a pigment or metallic layer, Chapter 32 takes precedence. Another common error is using HS code 7607 for aluminum foil; while stamping foils may contain aluminum powder, they are composite articles and not solid aluminum foil. Cold foils, which use UV-cured adhesives rather than heat, are also sometimes confused but generally follow the same classification if they meet the pigment-on-support criteria.
Top exporters and importers of HS 321210 (the code used for hot stamping foil), 2025
In 2025, the largest exporter of HS 321210 (the code used for hot stamping foil) in UN Comtrade data was Germany, with 22% of world exports; the largest importer in UN Comtrade data was the United States, with 10% 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 321210, not only hot stamping foil.
Top exporters 2025 · share of world exports
- 1 Germany $146M 22% of world exports
- 2 Taiwan* ~$77M 11% of world exports · partner records ↗
- 3 Malaysia $57M 8.4% of world exports
World total: $678M Reported figures on UN Comtrade ↗
Top importers 2025 · share of world imports
- 1 United States $85M 10% of world imports
- 2 China $60M 7.4% of world imports
- 3 Italy $52M 6.4% of world imports
World total: $814M 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 hot stamping foil
Brazil classifies hot stamping foil under NCM 3212.10.00: HS 3212.10 with 00 added.
Source: Siscomex NCM table, updated Oct 2026. The Portuguese text on each NCM page is the official one.
Questions about hot stamping foil
What is the HS code for Hot stamping foil?
The HS code for Hot stamping foil is 321210 (Pigments; of a kind used in the manufacture of paints, stamping foils). The HS code for hot stamping foil is 3212.10, which falls under the category of pigments and stamping foils.
How do I classify Hot stamping foil for customs?
Hot stamping foil is classified under HS code 321210 — Pigments; of a kind used in the manufacture of paints, stamping foils. This is a 6-digit subheading level code.
Is the plastic carrier film classified separately?
No, the plastic carrier is considered a support material for the pigment and is classified as a single integral product under 3212.10.
Which countries are the top exporters of hot stamping foil (HS 321210)?
In 2025, the top exporters of HS 321210 (the code used for hot stamping foil) in UN Comtrade data were Germany ($146M, 22% of world exports), Taiwan (about $77M) and Malaysia ($57M). World exports came to about $678M, 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 hot stamping foil (HS 321210)?
In 2025, the top importers of HS 321210 (the code used for hot stamping foil) in UN Comtrade data were the United States ($85M, 10% of world imports), China ($60M) and Italy ($52M). World imports came to about $814M, 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 Hot stamping foil the same in all countries?
The base HS code 321210 for Hot stamping foil 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 hot stamping foil in Brazil?
In Brazil, hot stamping foil (HS 321210) is classified under NCM 3212.10.00.