Product classification

HS code for Mail sorter: 8472.30

Office machines, for sorting or folding mail or for inserting mail in envelopes or bands, machines for opening, closing or sealing mail and machines for affixing or cancelling postage stamps.

Classification of mail sorter under HS 8472.30

Mail sorters are classified under HS code 8472.30. This heading covers "other office machines," and the specific subheading 8472.30 is reserved for machines used for sorting or folding mail, inserting mail into envelopes or bands, opening, closing, or sealing mail, and machines for affixing or cancelling postage stamps. These machines are characterized by their function in processing physical correspondence within an office or postal environment. The classification is driven by the mechanical nature of the device and its specific application in mail handling. Even if the machine incorporates electronic components for control or data tracking, its primary function as a mechanical sorter or folder keeps it within this category rather than under data processing equipment. This code applies to both small desktop units and larger free-standing machines used in corporate mailrooms, provided they are not industrial-scale postal hub equipment.

Covers
  • Automatic letter folding machines
  • Envelope stuffing and inserting machines
  • Mechanical mail sorting machines
  • Postage meter base machines
  • Envelope sealing machines
Also under 8472.30
  • Pitney Bowes SendPro P1500
  • Quadient (Neopost) DS-75i inserter
  • Formax FD 6100 folder
  • Bell and Howell Criterion mail sorter

Codes often confused with 8472.30

Common mistake. Mail sorters are frequently misclassified under 8471, which covers automatic data processing machines. While modern sorters use software, their physical action on paper mail defines them as office machines under 8472. Another common error is using 8422.30, which covers machinery for filling or closing containers. However, because these machines are specifically designed for "mail" (envelopes and correspondence), the specific provision in 8472.30 takes precedence over the general packaging machinery codes in 8422.

84.71Automatic data processing machines and units thereof, magnetic or optical readers, machines for transcribing data onto data media in coded form and machines for processing such data, not elsewhere specified or included84.72Office machines; not elsewhere classified8422.30Machinery; for filling, closing, sealing, capsuling or labelling bottles, cans, bags or other containers, machinery for aerating beverages84.22Dish washing machines; machinery for cleaning, drying, filling, closing, sealing, capsuling or labelling bottles, cans, boxes, bags, etc, machinery for aerating beverages

Top exporters and importers of HS 847230 (the code used for mail sorter), 2025

In 2025, the largest exporter of HS 847230 (the code used for mail sorter) in UN Comtrade data was Germany, with 18% of world exports; the largest importer in UN Comtrade data was the United States, with 33% 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 847230, not only mail sorter.

Top exporters 2025 · share of world exports

  1. 1 Germany $33M
  2. 2 United Kingdom $30M
  3. 3 United States $28M

World total: $186M Reported figures on UN Comtrade ↗

Top importers 2025 · share of world imports

  1. 1 United States $69M
  2. 2 Germany $26M
  3. 3 France $16M

World total: $213M 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 mail sorter

Brazil splits HS 8472.30 into 4 NCM codes. Pick the one that matches your product:

  • 8472.30.10Automatic postage stamp cancelling machines
  • 8472.30.20Automatic mail sorters with postcode reading
  • 8472.30.30Automatic parcel sorters with postcode reading
  • 8472.30.90Other mail handling machines

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

Questions about mail sorter

What is the HS code for Mail sorter?

The HS code for Mail sorter is 847230 (Office machines; for sorting or folding mail or for inserting mail in envelopes or bands, machines for opening, closing or sealing mail and machines for affixing or cancelling postage stamps). The HS code for mail sorting, folding, and inserting machines is 8472.30.

How do I classify Mail sorter for customs?

Mail sorter is classified under HS code 847230 — Office machines; for sorting or folding mail or for inserting mail in envelopes or bands, machines for opening, closing or sealing mail and machines for affixing or cancelling postage stamps. This is a 6-digit subheading level code.

Are digital postage meters classified here?

Yes, machines for affixing or cancelling postage stamps, including the mechanical bases for postage meters, fall under HS code 8472.30.

Which countries are the top exporters of mail sorter (HS 847230)?

In 2025, the top exporters of HS 847230 (the code used for mail sorter) in UN Comtrade data were Germany ($33M, 18% of world exports), the United Kingdom ($30M) and the United States ($28M). World exports came to about $186M, 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 mail sorter (HS 847230)?

In 2025, the top importers of HS 847230 (the code used for mail sorter) in UN Comtrade data were the United States ($69M, 33% of world imports), Germany ($26M) and France ($16M). World imports came to about $213M, 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 Mail sorter the same in all countries?

The base HS code 847230 for Mail sorter 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 mail sorter in Brazil?

Brazil splits HS 847230 into 4 NCM codes, so the right one for mail sorter depends on the product's details: 8472.30.10 (Automatic postage stamp cancelling machines), 8472.30.20 (Automatic mail sorters with postcode reading), 8472.30.30 (Automatic parcel sorters with postcode reading), 8472.30.90 (Other mail handling machines).