Product classification
HS code for Optical lens: 9001.90
Optical elements, lenses n.e.c. in heading no. 9001, prisms, mirrors and other optical elements, unmounted, of any material (excluding elements of glass not optically worked).
Classification of optical lens under HS 9001.90
Optical lenses are classified under HS code 9001.90 when they are presented in an unmounted state. Heading 9001 is the primary heading for optical fibers, sheets of polarizing material, and optical elements of any material that have been optically worked but are not yet mounted. The classification 9001.90 is a sub-category for lenses, prisms, mirrors, and other elements that are not specifically listed in other sub-headings like 9001.10 (optical fibers) or 9001.40/50 (spectacle lenses). The defining characteristic for this code is that the lens must have undergone 'optical working,' which involves grinding and polishing the surfaces to precise curvatures to refract or focus light. Lenses that are merely molded from plastic or glass without subsequent polishing do not meet the criteria for 9001 and are instead classified based on their material composition. This code is vital for manufacturers of raw optical components that are sold to other companies for assembly into finished cameras, sensors, or medical devices.
- Covers
- Unmounted glass lenses for cameras
- Unmounted plastic lenses for sensors
- Fresnel lenses (unmounted)
- Unmounted prisms for binoculars
- Unmounted optical mirrors (front-surface)
- Diffraction gratings (unmounted)
- Also under 9001.90
- Edmund Optics plano-convex lenses
- Thorlabs right-angle prisms
- Schott optical glass blanks
- Newport dielectric mirrors
- Melles Griot cylindrical lenses
Codes often confused with 9001.90
Common mistake. The most common misclassification is with HS code 9002.11, which covers mounted objective lenses. If the lens is already inside a metal or plastic housing with a thread for attachment, it must be moved to 9002. Another error is using 7001.00 for glass lenses; however, 7001 is for cullet and waste glass, while 7014 is for signaling glass. If the lens is for spectacles (eyeglasses), it must be classified under 9001.40 (glass) or 9001.50 (other materials) rather than the general 9001.90 category. Finally, contact lenses have their own code, 9001.30.
Top exporters and importers of HS 900190 (the code used for optical lens), 2025
In 2025, the largest exporter of HS 900190 (the code used for optical lens) in UN Comtrade data was China, with 34% of world exports; the largest importer in UN Comtrade data was China, 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 900190, not only optical lens.
Top exporters 2025 · share of world exports
- 1 China $3.7B 34% of world exports
- 2 Hong Kong $1.2B 11% of world exports
- 3 Taiwan* ~$1.2B 11% of world exports · partner records ↗
World total: $10.9B Reported figures on UN Comtrade ↗
Top importers 2025 · share of world imports
- 1 China $2.8B 26% of world imports
- 2 Hong Kong $1.1B 11% of world imports
- 3 Vietnam* ~$1.0B 9.6% of world imports · partner records ↗
World total: $10.5B 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. UN Comtrade records Taiwan as "Other Asia, not elsewhere specified". Saudi Arabia's exports under that code are left out: they are far too large to be trade with Taiwan, so mostly undisclosed partners. 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 lens
Brazil splits HS 9001.90 into 2 NCM codes. Pick the one that matches your product:
- 9001.90.10Other unmounted lenses
- 9001.90.90Unmounted prisms, mirrors and optical elements
Source: Siscomex NCM table, updated Oct 2026. The Portuguese text on each NCM page is the official one.
Questions about optical lens
What is the HS code for Optical lens?
The HS code for Optical lens is 900190 (Optical elements; lenses n.e.c. in heading no. 9001, prisms, mirrors and other optical elements, unmounted, of any material (excluding elements of glass not optically worked)). Unmounted optical lenses are classified under HS code 9001.90. If they are mounted, they are classified under 9002.11 or 9002.19.
How do I classify Optical lens for customs?
Optical lens is classified under HS code 900190 — Optical elements; lenses n.e.c. in heading no. 9001, prisms, mirrors and other optical elements, unmounted, of any material (excluding elements of glass not optically worked). This is a 6-digit subheading level code.
Does 9001.90 include plastic lenses?
Yes, HS code 9001.90 includes lenses made of any material, including plastic and glass, provided they are unmounted and have been optically worked.
Which countries are the top exporters of optical lens (HS 900190)?
In 2025, the top exporters of HS 900190 (the code used for optical lens) in UN Comtrade data were China ($3.7B, 34% of world exports), Hong Kong ($1.2B) and Taiwan (about $1.2B). World exports came to about $10.9B, 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 lens (HS 900190)?
In 2025, the top importers of HS 900190 (the code used for optical lens) in UN Comtrade data were China ($2.8B, 26% of world imports), Hong Kong ($1.1B) and Vietnam (about $1.0B). World imports came to about $10.5B, 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 lens the same in all countries?
The base HS code 900190 for Optical lens 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 lens in Brazil?
Brazil splits HS 900190 into 2 NCM codes, so the right one for optical lens depends on the product's details: 9001.90.10 (Other unmounted lenses), 9001.90.90 (Unmounted prisms, mirrors and optical elements).