Product classification
HS code for Optical filter: 9002.20
Filters, mounted as parts or fittings for instruments or apparatus, of any material (excluding elements of glass not optically worked).
Classification of optical filter under HS 9002.20
Optical filters are classified under HS code 9002.20 because they represent mounted optical elements that have undergone precise optical working. According to the Harmonized System Explanatory Notes, heading 9002 covers lenses, prisms, mirrors, and other optical elements, of any material, which are mounted and serve as parts or fittings for instruments or apparatus. To qualify for this specific code, the filter must be 'optically worked,' meaning its surfaces have been ground and polished to achieve specific optical properties, rather than being merely molded or cast. Furthermore, the 'mounted' requirement implies that the filter is set in a frame, ring, or holder that allows it to be attached to a camera, projector, or scientific instrument. This classification applies regardless of the material, whether it be glass, plastic, or quartz, provided the optical working and mounting criteria are met. The code 9002.20 is specifically reserved for filters, which are devices used to selectively transmit or block specific wavelengths of light, such as ultraviolet, infrared, or specific color bands.
- Covers
- Mounted color filters for photography
- Polarizing filters for microscopes
- Interference filters for spectrometers
- Infrared (IR) cut-off filters for digital cameras
- Neutral density (ND) filters in threaded mounts
- Ultraviolet (UV) absorption filters for laboratory equipment
- Also under 9002.20
- Hoya Pro1 Digital UV filter
- Tiffen Variable ND filter
- Thorlabs mounted bandpass filters
- Chroma Technology fluorescence filter sets
- B+W Circular Polarizer filter
Codes often confused with 9002.20
Common mistake. Optical filters are frequently misclassified under HS code 9001.20, which covers sheets and plates of polarizing material that are unmounted. The primary distinction is the mounting; if the filter is a simple sheet without a frame, it belongs in 9001. Another common error is using HS code 7014.00, which applies to signaling glassware and optical elements of glass that are not optically worked. If a glass filter is molded and used for simple light diffusion or signaling without precision grinding, 7014 is more appropriate. Additionally, filters that are part of eyewear are classified under 9004.
Top exporters and importers of HS 900220 (the code used for optical filter), 2025
In 2025, the largest exporter of HS 900220 (the code used for optical filter) in UN Comtrade data was the United States, with 27% of world exports; the largest importer in UN Comtrade data was South Korea, with 26% 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 900220, not only optical filter.
Top exporters 2025 · share of world exports
- 1 United States $115M 27% of world exports
- 2 China $68M 16% of world exports
- 3 Germany $50M 12% of world exports
World total: $430M Reported figures on UN Comtrade ↗
Top importers 2025 · share of world imports
- 1 South Korea $200M 26% of world imports
- 2 Nigeria $72M 9.3% of world imports
- 3 Saudi Arabia $57M 7.4% of world imports
World total: $776M 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 optical filter
Brazil splits HS 9002.20 into 2 NCM codes. Pick the one that matches your product:
- 9002.20.10Mounted polarising filters
- 9002.20.90Other mounted optical filters
Source: Siscomex NCM table, updated Oct 2026. The Portuguese text on each NCM page is the official one.
Questions about optical filter
What is the HS code for Optical filter?
The HS code for Optical filter is 900220 (Filters; mounted as parts or fittings for instruments or apparatus, of any material (excluding elements of glass not optically worked)). The HS code for a mounted optical filter that has been optically worked is 9002.20. If the filter is unmounted, it typically falls under 9001.90.
How do I classify Optical filter for customs?
Optical filter is classified under HS code 900220 — Filters; mounted as parts or fittings for instruments or apparatus, of any material (excluding elements of glass not optically worked). This is a 6-digit subheading level code.
Does the material of the filter change the HS code?
No, HS code 9002.20 applies to filters made of any material, including glass, plastics, or crystals, as long as they are optically worked and mounted.
Which countries are the top exporters of optical filter (HS 900220)?
In 2025, the top exporters of HS 900220 (the code used for optical filter) in UN Comtrade data were the United States ($115M, 27% of world exports), China ($68M) and Germany ($50M). World exports came to about $430M, 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 optical filter (HS 900220)?
In 2025, the top importers of HS 900220 (the code used for optical filter) in UN Comtrade data were South Korea ($200M, 26% of world imports), Nigeria ($72M) and Saudi Arabia ($57M). World imports came to about $776M, 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 Optical filter the same in all countries?
The base HS code 900220 for Optical filter 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 optical filter in Brazil?
Brazil splits HS 900220 into 2 NCM codes, so the right one for optical filter depends on the product's details: 9002.20.10 (Mounted polarising filters), 9002.20.90 (Other mounted optical filters).