Product classification
HS code for Original prints: 9702.90
Engravings, prints and lithographs, original of an age not exceeding 100 years.
Classification of original prints under HS 9702.90
Original prints, including engravings and lithographs, are classified under HS code 9702.90, provided they are less than 100 years old. This classification is part of Chapter 97, which covers works of art, collectors' pieces, and antiques. To qualify as an "original" print under this heading, the work must be printed directly from plates, blocks, or other surfaces that have been entirely executed by hand by the artist. This means the artist must have personally engraved, etched, or otherwise prepared the master surface. The classification excludes any mechanical or photomechanical processes. The subheading 9702.90 is specifically for modern and contemporary works; if the print is older than 100 years, it would typically move to the antique category. This distinction is vital for customs purposes as original works of art often enjoy duty-free status or reduced tax rates compared to commercial printed matter.
- Covers
- Original hand-signed lithographs
- Limited edition etchings and drypoints
- Woodcut and linocut prints created by the artist
- Original copper-plate engravings
- Serigraphs (silk-screen prints) produced as original art
- Monotypes where the artist works directly on the plate
- Also under 9702.90
- Andy Warhol screenprints
- Banksy limited edition prints
- David Hockney etchings
- Roy Lichtenstein lithographs
Codes often confused with 9702.90
Common mistake. The most common misclassification for original prints is HS code 4911, which covers other printed matter, including commercial posters, calendars, and mass-produced reproductions. If a print is made using a photomechanical process or is a simple reproduction of a painting, it belongs in 4911, not 9702. Another error involves HS code 9706, which is reserved for antiques exceeding 100 years of age. If an original print is 110 years old, it should be classified under 9706 rather than 9702.90.
Top exporters and importers of HS 970290 (the code used for original prints), 2025
In 2025, the largest exporter of HS 970290 (the code used for original prints) in UN Comtrade data was the United States, with 45% of world exports; the largest importer in UN Comtrade data was the United States, with 35% 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 970290, not only original prints.
Top exporters 2025 · share of world exports
- 1 United States $265M 45% of world exports
- 2 United Kingdom $161M 27% of world exports
- 3 France $26M 4.5% of world exports
World total: $588M Reported figures on UN Comtrade ↗
Top importers 2025 · share of world imports
- 1 United States $174M 35% of world imports
- 2 United Kingdom $108M 22% of world imports
- 3 France $30M 6.0% of world imports
World total: $495M 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 original prints
Brazil classifies original prints under NCM 9702.90.00: HS 9702.90 with 00 added.
Source: Siscomex NCM table, updated Oct 2026. The Portuguese text on each NCM page is the official one.
Questions about original prints
What is the HS code for Original prints?
The HS code for Original prints is 970290 (Engravings, prints and lithographs; original of an age not exceeding 100 years). Original prints, engravings, and lithographs under 100 years old are classified under HS code 9702.90.
How do I classify Original prints for customs?
Original prints is classified under HS code 970290 — Engravings, prints and lithographs; original of an age not exceeding 100 years. This is a 6-digit subheading level code.
Are digital prints considered original prints under 9702?
Generally, no. Most digital or giclée prints are considered mechanical reproductions and are classified under HS code 4911 unless they meet very specific criteria for original art.
Which countries are the top exporters of original prints (HS 970290)?
In 2025, the top exporters of HS 970290 (the code used for original prints) in UN Comtrade data were the United States ($265M, 45% of world exports), the United Kingdom ($161M) and France ($26M). World exports came to about $588M, 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 original prints (HS 970290)?
In 2025, the top importers of HS 970290 (the code used for original prints) in UN Comtrade data were the United States ($174M, 35% of world imports), the United Kingdom ($108M) and France ($30M). World imports came to about $495M, 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 Original prints the same in all countries?
The base HS code 970290 for Original prints 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 original prints in Brazil?
In Brazil, original prints (HS 970290) is classified under NCM 9702.90.00.