Product classification

HS code for Lightweight printing paper: 4802.54

Uncoated paper and paperboard (not 4801 or 4803), printing, writing or graphic, 10% or less by weight of mechanical or chemi-mechanical processed fibre, weighing less than 40g/m2, in rolls or sheets.

Classification of lightweight printing paper under HS 4802.54

Classification under HS code 4802.54 is reserved for uncoated paper and paperboard used for writing, printing, or other graphic purposes. To qualify for this specific subheading, the material must meet three strict criteria. First, it must be uncoated, meaning it has not undergone the surface treatment with kaolin or inorganic substances found in heading 4810. Second, the fiber composition must consist of 10% or less by weight of mechanical or chemi-mechanical processed fibers, which classifies it as 'woodfree' or high-quality chemical pulp paper. Third, the weight of the paper must be less than 40 g/m2. This extremely low weight is characteristic of specialized thin papers used in the publishing industry where bulk must be minimized without sacrificing opacity or strength. The classification excludes newsprint (heading 4801) and household papers like tissue (heading 4803), even if they meet the weight requirements, due to their different fiber structures and intended uses.

Covers
  • Bible paper
  • Dictionary paper
  • Lightweight offset printing paper
  • Thin manifold paper
  • Religious text paper
Also under 4802.54
  • Domtar lightweight opaque paper
  • Sappi lightweight coated paper (base)
  • UPM lightweight printing paper
  • ArjoWiggins Conqueror (some lightweight grades).

Codes often confused with 4802.54

Common mistake. This code is often confused with 4802.55, which covers the same type of paper but in the weight range of 40 g/m2 to 150 g/m2. Precise measurement of the grammage is required. It is also frequently misclassified as 4801.00 (newsprint). While both can be lightweight, newsprint is defined by a much higher mechanical fiber content (usually over 65%). Furthermore, thin papers used for cigarettes are excluded and must be classified under heading 4813, regardless of their weight or fiber composition.

4802.55Uncoated paper and paperboard (not 4801 or 4803); printing, writing or graphic, 10% or less by weight of mechanical or chemi-mechanical processed fibre, weighing 40g/m2 to 150g/m2, in rolls4801.00Newsprint; made of fibres obtained essentially by a chemi-mechanical process or of a weight, per m2, of more than 57g but not more than 65g, in rolls or sheets48.13Cigarette paper, whether or not cut to size or in the form of booklets or tubes

Top exporters and importers of HS 480254 (the code used for lightweight printing paper), 2025

In 2025, the largest exporter of HS 480254 (the code used for lightweight printing paper) in UN Comtrade data was Germany, with 32% of world exports; the largest importer in UN Comtrade data was the United States, with 11% 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 480254, not only lightweight printing paper.

Top exporters 2025 · share of world exports

  1. 1 Germany $90M
  2. 2 Finland $44M
  3. 3 China $29M

World total: $284M Reported figures on UN Comtrade ↗

Top importers 2025 · share of world imports

  1. 1 United States $37M
  2. 2 Nigeria $34M
  3. 3 Netherlands $28M

World total: $335M 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 lightweight printing paper

Brazil splits HS 4802.54 into 3 NCM codes. Pick the one that matches your product:

  • 4802.54.10Woodfree paper under 40 g/m², max 15 cm/360 mm
  • 4802.54.91Woodfree paper under 19 g/m², bleached/mech. pulp
  • 4802.54.99Other woodfree paper under 40 g/m²

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.

This product is covered by the EU Timber Regulation (EUTR), requiring operators to exercise due diligence to minimize the risk of placing illegally harvested timber on the EU market.

Questions about lightweight printing paper

What is the HS code for Lightweight printing paper?

The HS code for Lightweight printing paper is 480254 (Uncoated paper and paperboard (not 4801 or 4803); printing, writing or graphic, 10% or less by weight of mechanical or chemi-mechanical processed fibre, weighing less than 40g/m2, in rolls or sheets). The HS code for lightweight printing paper that is uncoated, woodfree, and weighs less than 40 g/m2 is 4802.54.

How do I classify Lightweight printing paper for customs?

Lightweight printing paper is classified under HS code 480254 — Uncoated paper and paperboard (not 4801 or 4803); printing, writing or graphic, 10% or less by weight of mechanical or chemi-mechanical processed fibre, weighing less than 40g/m2, in rolls or sheets. This is a 6-digit subheading level code.

Can newsprint be classified here?

No, newsprint is specifically classified under heading 4801.00, as it typically contains a much higher percentage of mechanical fibers and has different physical standards than the graphic papers in 4802.

Which countries are the top exporters of lightweight printing paper (HS 480254)?

In 2025, the top exporters of HS 480254 (the code used for lightweight printing paper) in UN Comtrade data were Germany ($90M, 32% of world exports), Finland ($44M) and China ($29M). World exports came to about $284M, 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 lightweight printing paper (HS 480254)?

In 2025, the top importers of HS 480254 (the code used for lightweight printing paper) in UN Comtrade data were the United States ($37M, 11% of world imports), Nigeria ($34M) and the Netherlands ($28M). World imports came to about $335M, 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 Lightweight printing paper the same in all countries?

The base HS code 480254 for Lightweight printing paper 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 lightweight printing paper in Brazil?

Brazil splits HS 480254 into 3 NCM codes, so the right one for lightweight printing paper depends on the product's details: 4802.54.10 (Woodfree paper under 40 g/m², max 15 cm/360 mm), 4802.54.91 (Woodfree paper under 19 g/m², bleached/mech. pulp), 4802.54.99 (Other woodfree paper under 40 g/m²).