Product classification

HS code for Lithographic stone: 8442.50

Plates, cylinders and other printing components, lithographic stones prepared for printing purposes (for example, planed, grained or polished).

Classification of lithographic stone under HS 8442.50

Lithographic stones are classified under HS code 8442.50. This code is designated for plates, cylinders, and other printing components that have been prepared for printing purposes. For a stone to fall under this heading, it must have undergone processing such as planing, graining, or polishing to make it suitable for use in a lithographic press. This classification reflects the stone's status as a tool or component of printing machinery rather than a raw mineral product. Heading 8442 covers machinery, apparatus, and equipment for preparing or making plates, as well as the plates and stones themselves. The essential character of the item is that it is ready to receive an image for the lithographic process. If the stone is merely a block of limestone without the specific surface preparation required for printing, it would not qualify for this code.

Covers
  • Polished Bavarian limestone for lithography
  • Grained lithographic stones
  • Planed stone slabs prepared for offset printing
  • Manual lithographic printing stones
  • Polished lithographic stones for fine art
Also under 8442.50
  • FujiFilm CTP Plates
  • Kodak Sonora Process Free Plates
  • DuPont Cyrel Flexo Plates
  • Flint Group Flexo Plates
  • Xeikon Dry Toner Plates

Codes often confused with 8442.50

Common mistake. The most common misclassifications are 2515.11 or 2514.00. These codes cover raw marble, travertine, or slate. If the stone is in its natural, unworked state, it belongs in Chapter 25. However, once it is prepared for the printing process, it moves to Chapter 84. Another error is 6802.91, which covers worked monumental or building stone, but 8442.50 takes precedence for stones specifically prepared for printing.

2515.11Marble and travertine; having a specific gravity of 2.5 or more, crude or roughly trimmed by sawing or otherwise, into blocks or slabs of a rectangular (including square) shape2514.00Slate; whether or not roughly trimmed or merely cut, by sawing or otherwise, into blocks or slabs of a rectangular (including square) shape6802.91Marble, travertine and alabaster; articles thereof, (other than simply cut or sawn, with a flat or even surface)

Top exporters and importers of HS 844250 (the code used for lithographic stone), 2025

In 2025, the largest exporter of HS 844250 (the code used for lithographic stone) in UN Comtrade data was China, with 20% of world exports; the largest importer in UN Comtrade data was Germany, with 8.7% 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 844250, not only lithographic stone.

Top exporters 2025 · share of world exports

  1. 1 China $140M
  2. 2 Germany $99M
  3. 3 United States $57M

World total: $698M Reported figures on UN Comtrade ↗

Top importers 2025 · share of world imports

  1. 1 Germany $59M
  2. 2 India $53M
  3. 3 France $32M

World total: $682M 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 lithographic stone

Brazil classifies lithographic stone under NCM 8442.50.00: HS 8442.50 with 00 added.

Source: Siscomex NCM table, updated Oct 2026. The Portuguese text on each NCM page is the official one.

Questions about lithographic stone

What is the HS code for Lithographic stone?

The HS code for Lithographic stone is 844250 (Plates, cylinders and other printing components; lithographic stones prepared for printing purposes (for example, planed, grained or polished)). The HS code for a lithographic stone prepared for printing is 8442.50.

How do I classify Lithographic stone for customs?

Lithographic stone is classified under HS code 844250 — Plates, cylinders and other printing components; lithographic stones prepared for printing purposes (for example, planed, grained or polished). This is a 6-digit subheading level code.

Does this include metal lithographic plates?

Yes, metal plates prepared for printing are also classified under 8442.50, as the code covers various materials used for printing components.

Which countries are the top exporters of lithographic stone (HS 844250)?

In 2025, the top exporters of HS 844250 (the code used for lithographic stone) in UN Comtrade data were China ($140M, 20% of world exports), Germany ($99M) and the United States ($57M). World exports came to about $698M, 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 lithographic stone (HS 844250)?

In 2025, the top importers of HS 844250 (the code used for lithographic stone) in UN Comtrade data were Germany ($59M, 8.7% of world imports), India ($53M) and France ($32M). World imports came to about $682M, 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 Lithographic stone the same in all countries?

The base HS code 844250 for Lithographic stone 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 lithographic stone in Brazil?

In Brazil, lithographic stone (HS 844250) is classified under NCM 8442.50.00.