Product classification

HS code for Metal shelving: 9403.20

Furniture, metal, other than for office use.

Classification of metal shelving under HS 9403.20

Metal shelving is classified under HS code 9403.20, which covers "Other metal furniture." This classification is determined by the material of construction (base metal) and the primary function of the item (furniture). Chapter 94 includes furniture, bedding, and similar furnished equipment. Shelving units are considered furniture because they are designed for placing on the floor or ground and are used for the storage of various objects in homes, shops, or warehouses. The sub-heading 9403.20 is specifically for metal furniture that is not intended for office use, which distinguishes it from the 9403.10 category. The classification remains 9403.20 regardless of whether the shelving is imported assembled or unassembled (knocked down), provided it has the essential character of finished furniture.

Covers
  • Industrial steel shelving units
  • Garage storage racks made of metal
  • Retail gondola shelving systems
  • Chrome-plated wire shelving for kitchens
  • Boltless metal shelving kits
  • Wall-mounted metal shelving (if floor-standing)
Also under 9403.20
  • IKEA (metal beds, shelving)
  • Target Room Essentials (metal chairs)
  • Wayfair (various metal furniture)
  • Fermob (outdoor metal furniture)
  • Restoration Hardware (industrial metal pieces)

Codes often confused with 9403.20

Common mistake. The most common misclassification occurs with HS code 9403.10, which is strictly for metal furniture of a kind used in offices. If the shelving is specifically marketed or designed for an office environment (e.g., filing shelves), it moves to 9403.10. Another error involves HS code 7308, which covers structures and parts of structures of iron or steel. While heavy-duty racking systems that are bolted to the building structure might occasionally be argued as 7308, standard free-standing shelving is always 9403.20.

9403.10Furniture; metal, for office use73.08Structures of iron or steel and parts thereof; plates, rods, angles, shapes, sections, tubes and the like, prepared for use in structures

Top exporters and importers of HS 940320 (the code used for metal shelving), 2025

In 2025, the largest exporter of HS 940320 (the code used for metal shelving) in UN Comtrade data was China, with 46% of world exports; the largest importer in UN Comtrade data was the United States, with 24% 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 940320, not only metal shelving.

Top exporters 2025 · share of world exports

  1. 1 China $11.1B
  2. 2 Germany $1.9B
  3. 3 Vietnam* ~$1.3B

World total: $24.1B Reported figures on UN Comtrade ↗

Top importers 2025 · share of world imports

  1. 1 United States $5.3B
  2. 2 Germany $1.8B
  3. 3 United Kingdom $1.2B

World total: $22.2B 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 marked * did not, so their figures add up what other countries recorded trading with them, and their exports are valued at buyers' CIF prices. 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 metal shelving

Brazil splits HS 9403.20 into 2 NCM codes. Pick the one that matches your product:

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 metal shelving

What is the HS code for Metal shelving?

The HS code for Metal shelving is 940320 (Furniture; metal, other than for office use). The HS code for general-purpose metal shelving is 9403.20.

How do I classify Metal shelving for customs?

Metal shelving is classified under HS code 940320 — Furniture; metal, other than for office use. This is a 6-digit subheading level code.

Does the HS code change if the shelving is for a warehouse?

Generally, no. Most warehouse metal shelving is classified under 9403.20, unless it is considered a permanent part of the building structure.

Which countries are the top exporters of metal shelving (HS 940320)?

In 2025, the top exporters of HS 940320 (the code used for metal shelving) in UN Comtrade data were China ($11.1B, 46% of world exports), Germany ($1.9B) and Vietnam (about $1.3B). World exports came to about $24.1B, 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 metal shelving (HS 940320)?

In 2025, the top importers of HS 940320 (the code used for metal shelving) in UN Comtrade data were the United States ($5.3B, 24% of world imports), Germany ($1.8B) and the United Kingdom ($1.2B). World imports came to about $22.2B, 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 Metal shelving the same in all countries?

The base HS code 940320 for Metal shelving 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 metal shelving in Brazil?

Brazil splits HS 940320 into 2 NCM codes, so the right one for metal shelving depends on the product's details: 9403.20.10 (Metal kitchen furniture), 9403.20.90 (Other metal furniture).