Product classification
HS code for Instant print film: 3701.20
Photographic plates and film, instant print film, in the flat, sensitised, unexposed, whether or not in packs.
Classification of instant print film under HS 3701.20
Instant print film is classified under HS code 3701.20. This classification is determined by the physical format and the chemical properties of the product. Chapter 37 covers photographic or cinematographic goods. Heading 3701 is designated for photographic plates and film in the flat, which are sensitised and unexposed. Subheading 3701.20 specifically identifies "instant print film." This product is unique because it contains all the necessary chemicals for developing and finishing a photograph within the film unit itself. The classification applies to film that is "in the flat," meaning it is not provided in a continuous roll. This includes packs of film used in traditional instant cameras where the photo is ejected and develops in the user's hand. According to the Legal Notes to Chapter 37, photographic film must be sensitised to light or other forms of radiation. Instant print film meets this criteria and is distinguished from standard film by its integral developer layers that allow for immediate image production without external chemical baths.
- Covers
- Color instant print film packs
- Black and white instant print film sheets
- Sensitised unexposed instant film for integral back cameras
- Instant film for large format cameras in flat sheets
- Self-developing photographic film packs
- Also under 3701.20
- Fujifilm Instax Mini Film
- Polaroid i-Type Film
- Polaroid 600 Film
- Impossible Project Film (now Polaroid Originals)
- Kodak Printomatic Film
Codes often confused with 3701.20
Common mistake. The most common misclassification occurs with HS code 3702.32 or 3702.44, which covers photographic film in rolls. If the instant film is provided in a roll format rather than flat sheets or packs, it must be classified under 3702. Additionally, digital camera components or thermal paper used in portable digital printers are often confused with instant film. Thermal paper is generally classified under Chapter 48 (Paper), while instant film (3701.20) must be chemically sensitised for light exposure.
Top exporters and importers of HS 370120 (the code used for instant print film), 2025
In 2025, the largest exporter of HS 370120 (the code used for instant print film) in UN Comtrade data was Japan, with 59% 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 370120, not only instant print film.
Top exporters 2025 · share of world exports
- 1 Japan $376M 59% of world exports
- 2 Netherlands $108M 17% of world exports
- 3 Hong Kong $23M 3.7% of world exports
World total: $635M Reported figures on UN Comtrade ↗
Top importers 2025 · share of world imports
- 1 United States $140M 22% of world imports
- 2 Hong Kong $101M 16% of world imports
- 3 China $58M 9.3% of world imports
World total: $621M 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 codes for instant print film
Brazil splits HS 3701.20 into 2 NCM codes. Pick the one that matches your product:
- 3701.20.10Instant print flat film, colour
- 3701.20.20Instant print flat film, monochrome
Source: Siscomex NCM table, updated Oct 2026. The Portuguese text on each NCM page is the official one.
Questions about instant print film
What is the HS code for Instant print film?
The HS code for Instant print film is 370120 (Photographic plates and film; instant print film, in the flat, sensitised, unexposed, whether or not in packs). The specific HS code for instant print film in the flat, sensitised and unexposed, is 3701.20.
How do I classify Instant print film for customs?
Instant print film is classified under HS code 370120 — Photographic plates and film; instant print film, in the flat, sensitised, unexposed, whether or not in packs. This is a 6-digit subheading level code.
Is Polaroid film classified here?
Yes, standard Polaroid-style film packs that are flat and sensitised are classified under 3701.20.
Which countries are the top exporters of instant print film (HS 370120)?
In 2025, the top exporters of HS 370120 (the code used for instant print film) in UN Comtrade data were Japan ($376M, 59% of world exports), the Netherlands ($108M) and Hong Kong ($23M). World exports came to about $635M, 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 instant print film (HS 370120)?
In 2025, the top importers of HS 370120 (the code used for instant print film) in UN Comtrade data were the United States ($140M, 22% of world imports), Hong Kong ($101M) and China ($58M). World imports came to about $621M, 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 Instant print film the same in all countries?
The base HS code 370120 for Instant print film 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 instant print film in Brazil?
Brazil splits HS 370120 into 2 NCM codes, so the right one for instant print film depends on the product's details: 3701.20.10 (Instant print flat film, colour), 3701.20.20 (Instant print flat film, monochrome).