Product classification

HS code for Natural rubber blocks: 4001.29

Rubber, natural (excluding latex, technically specified natural rubber and smoked sheets), in primary forms or in plates, sheets or strip.

Classification of natural rubber blocks under HS 4001.29

Natural rubber blocks classified under HS code 4001.29 represent a specific stage of raw material processing within the rubber industry. Heading 4001 covers natural rubber in its various primary forms. To be classified under 4001.29, the rubber must be in a dry state and must not meet the specific technical requirements of other subheadings. Specifically, it excludes smoked sheets (4001.21) and technically specified natural rubber (TSNR, 4001.22). This category typically includes various types of crepe rubber, such as pale crepe or brown crepe, which are produced by passing the coagulated latex through heavy rollers to remove impurities and moisture. The classification depends on the physical form—blocks, plates, or sheets—and the absence of chemical vulcanization. Understanding this code is vital for logistics providers and tire manufacturers who source raw materials from plantations, as the tariff rates and regulatory requirements can vary significantly between different grades of natural rubber. The material must be in its raw, uncompounded state; once additives like carbon black or silica are introduced, the product shifts to heading 4005 for compounded rubber.

Covers
  • Pale crepe rubber blocks
  • Brown crepe and estate crepe
  • Air-dried sheets (ADS) not meeting smoked sheet standards
  • Scrap rubber in block or plate form
  • Natural rubber in primary forms not elsewhere specified
Also under 4001.29
  • Pale crepe rubber from Sri Lanka
  • Estate brown crepe from Indonesia
  • Sole crepe rubber for shoe manufacturing
  • Air-dried sheets from smallholder farms
  • Unsmoked sheet rubber for specialized products

Codes often confused with 4001.29

Common mistake. The most frequent misclassification occurs with HS code 4001.21 (Smoked sheets) and 4001.22 (Technically Specified Natural Rubber or TSNR). TSNR is defined by specific technical parameters like dirt content and plasticity, whereas 4001.29 is a residual category for non-TSNR blocks. Additionally, synthetic rubber blocks are classified under heading 4002. If the rubber has been vulcanized or mixed with fillers, it should be classified under 4005 (compounded rubber) or 4008 (plates and sheets of vulcanized rubber).

4001.21Rubber; natural (excluding latex), in smoked sheets4001.22Rubber; technically specified natural rubber (TSNR), in primary forms or in plates, sheets or strip (excluding latex and smoked sheets)40.02Synthetic rubber and factice derived from oils, in primary forms or in plates, sheets or strip; mixtures of heading no. 4001 and 4002, in primary forms or in plates, sheets or strip40.05Compounded rubber, unvulcanised, in primary forms or in plates, sheets or strip40.08Plates, sheets, strip, rods and profile shapes, of vulcanised rubber other than hard rubber

Top exporters and importers of HS 400129 (the code used for natural rubber blocks), 2025

In 2025, the largest exporter of HS 400129 (the code used for natural rubber blocks) in UN Comtrade data was Laos, with about 66% of world exports; the largest importer in UN Comtrade data was China, with 48% of world imports. Cambodia did not report 2025 data, and its estimate from partner records misses its trade with other countries that did not report: in 2024 that was 82% of its exports here ($213M, CEPII BACI), so it may also belong among the top exporters. Vietnam did not report 2025 data, and its estimate from partner records misses its trade with other countries that did not report: in 2024 that was 95% of its imports here ($213M, CEPII BACI), so it may also belong among the top importers.

Figures cover everything classified under HS 400129, not only natural rubber blocks.

Top exporters 2025 · share of world exports

  1. 1 Laos* ~$683M
  2. 2 Philippines $103M
  3. 3 Vietnam* ~$32M

Cambodia did not report 2025 data, and its estimate from partner records misses its trade with other countries that did not report: in 2024 that was 82% of its exports here ($213M, CEPII BACI), so it may also belong among the top exporters.

World total: $1.0B Reported figures on UN Comtrade ↗

Top importers 2025 · share of world imports

  1. 1 China $912M
  2. 2 Malaysia $584M
  3. 3 Spain $85M

Vietnam did not report 2025 data, and its estimate from partner records misses its trade with other countries that did not report: in 2024 that was 95% of its imports here ($213M, CEPII BACI), so it may also belong among the top importers.

World total: $1.9B 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 natural rubber blocks

Brazil splits HS 4001.29 into 3 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.

Questions about natural rubber blocks

What is the HS code for Natural rubber blocks?

The HS code for Natural rubber blocks is 400129 (Rubber; natural (excluding latex, technically specified natural rubber and smoked sheets), in primary forms or in plates, sheets or strip). Natural rubber blocks that are not smoked sheets or technically specified (TSNR) are classified under HS code 4001.29.

How do I classify Natural rubber blocks for customs?

Natural rubber blocks is classified under HS code 400129 — Rubber; natural (excluding latex, technically specified natural rubber and smoked sheets), in primary forms or in plates, sheets or strip. This is a 6-digit subheading level code.

What is the difference between 4001.22 and 4001.29?

HS code 4001.22 is for rubber that meets specific technical standards (TSNR), while 4001.29 is for other forms of natural rubber like crepe blocks that do not meet those specific technical criteria.

Which countries are the top exporters of natural rubber blocks (HS 400129)?

In 2025, the top exporters of HS 400129 (the code used for natural rubber blocks) in UN Comtrade data were Laos (about $683M, 66% of world exports), the Philippines ($103M) and Vietnam (about $32M). World exports came to about $1.0B, adding countries' reported figures and partner-based estimates for those that did not report (UN Comtrade data). Cambodia did not report 2025 data, and its estimate from partner records misses its trade with other countries that did not report: in 2024 that was 82% of its exports here ($213M, CEPII BACI), so it may also belong among the top exporters.

Which countries are the top importers of natural rubber blocks (HS 400129)?

In 2025, the top importers of HS 400129 (the code used for natural rubber blocks) in UN Comtrade data were China ($912M, 48% of world imports), Malaysia ($584M) and Spain ($85M). World imports came to about $1.9B, adding countries' reported figures and partner-based estimates for those that did not report (UN Comtrade data). Vietnam did not report 2025 data, and its estimate from partner records misses its trade with other countries that did not report: in 2024 that was 95% of its imports here ($213M, CEPII BACI), so it may also belong among the top importers.

Is the HS code for Natural rubber blocks the same in all countries?

The base HS code 400129 for Natural rubber blocks 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 natural rubber blocks in Brazil?

Brazil splits HS 400129 into 3 NCM codes, so the right one for natural rubber blocks depends on the product's details: 4001.29.10 (Natural rubber crepe), 4001.29.20 (Granulated or pressed natural rubber), 4001.29.90 (Other natural rubber in primary forms or sheets).