Product classification
HS code for Mechanical wood pulp: 4701.00
Wood pulp, mechanical wood pulp.
Classification of mechanical wood pulp under HS 4701.00
Mechanical wood pulp is classified under HS code 470100. This code is situated in Chapter 47, which covers pulp of wood or of other fibrous cellulosic material, as well as recovered (waste and scrap) paper or paperboard. The classification 470100 is specific to wood pulp obtained entirely by mechanical processes. Unlike chemical pulps, mechanical pulp is produced by grinding wood logs or chips against an abrasive surface or in a refiner, retaining most of the lignin from the original wood. This process is distinct from chemical or semi-chemical methods, which use heat and chemicals to dissolve the lignin. Mechanical pulp is primarily used for products where high strength is not required but opacity and printability are important, such as newsprint and directory papers. The classification is straightforward as it covers all wood pulp produced through mechanical means, including stone groundwood and thermo-mechanical pulp, provided no chemical treatment has altered the fiber structure significantly.
- Covers
- Stone groundwood pulp (SGW)
- Refiner mechanical pulp (RMP)
- Thermo-mechanical pulp (TMP)
- Chemi-thermomechanical pulp (CTMP) where mechanical action is primary
- Pressurized groundwood pulp (PGW)
- Also under 4701.00
- UPM (Finnish pulp producer)
- Stora Enso (Swedish/Finnish pulp and paper company)
- Canfor Pulp (Canadian producer)
- Resolute Forest Products (North American producer)
- SCA
Codes often confused with 4701.00
Common mistake. Mechanical wood pulp is often confused with chemical wood pulp, which is classified under headings 4703 (soda or sulfate) or 4704 (sulfite). It is also sometimes confused with semi-chemical wood pulp, which falls under 470500. The key distinction is the yield and the presence of lignin; mechanical pulp has a very high yield (90-95%) because the lignin is not removed, whereas chemical pulps have much lower yields.
Top exporters and importers of HS 470100 (the code used for mechanical wood pulp), 2025
In 2025, the largest exporter of HS 470100 (the code used for mechanical wood pulp) in UN Comtrade data was New Zealand, with 40% of world exports; the largest importer in UN Comtrade data was Germany, with 16% 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 470100, not only mechanical wood pulp.
Top exporters 2025 · share of world exports
- 1 New Zealand $93M 40% of world exports
- 2 Germany $41M 18% of world exports
- 3 Norway $29M 12% of world exports
World total: $230M Reported figures on UN Comtrade ↗
Top importers 2025 · share of world imports
- 1 Germany $25M 16% of world imports
- 2 Italy $17M 11% of world imports
- 3 France $17M 10% of world imports
World total: $158M 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 mechanical wood pulp
Brazil classifies mechanical wood pulp under NCM 4701.00.00: HS 4701.00 with 00 added.
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 mechanical wood pulp
What is the HS code for Mechanical wood pulp?
The HS code for Mechanical wood pulp is 470100 (Wood pulp; mechanical wood pulp). The HS code for mechanical wood pulp is 470100.
How do I classify Mechanical wood pulp for customs?
Mechanical wood pulp is classified under HS code 470100 — Wood pulp; mechanical wood pulp. This is a 6-digit subheading level code.
Does this code include recycled paper pulp?
No, pulp derived from recovered (waste and scrap) paper or paperboard is classified under HS code 4707.
Which countries are the top exporters of mechanical wood pulp (HS 470100)?
In 2025, the top exporters of HS 470100 (the code used for mechanical wood pulp) in UN Comtrade data were New Zealand ($93M, 40% of world exports), Germany ($41M) and Norway ($29M). World exports came to about $230M, 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 mechanical wood pulp (HS 470100)?
In 2025, the top importers of HS 470100 (the code used for mechanical wood pulp) in UN Comtrade data were Germany ($25M, 16% of world imports), Italy ($17M) and France ($17M). World imports came to about $158M, 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 Mechanical wood pulp the same in all countries?
The base HS code 470100 for Mechanical wood pulp 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 mechanical wood pulp in Brazil?
In Brazil, mechanical wood pulp (HS 470100) is classified under NCM 4701.00.00.