Product classification
HS code for Paper stationery: 4820.90
Paper or paperboard, stationery n.e.c. in heading no. 4820.
Classification of paper stationery under HS 4820.90
Paper stationery is classified under HS code 4820.90. This classification is part of Chapter 48, which covers paper and paperboard articles. Heading 4820 includes registers, account books, notebooks, order books, receipt books, letter pads, memorandum pads, diaries, and similar articles. It also covers exercise books, blotting-pads, binders, folders, and file covers. Subheading 4820.90 serves as the residual category for stationery items that do not fall into the more specific subheadings like 4820.10 (registers and notebooks) or 4820.30 (binders and folders). This classification is crucial for items that are used for writing, organizing, or protecting documents but do not meet the criteria for "printed matter" under Chapter 49. The primary material must be paper or paperboard to qualify for this heading. If the stationery is heavily printed with information (like a book), it might move to Chapter 49, but if it is intended for the user to write upon or for organizational use, 4820.90 is the correct application. This includes various desk accessories and specialized paper forms used in business and education.
- Covers
- Blotting pads
- Paper book covers
- Manifold business forms
- Interleaved carbon sets
- Paper desk sets and organizers
- Also under 4820.90
- Moleskine notebooks
- Leuchtturm1917 journals
- Oxford spiral notebooks
- Avery binders
Codes often confused with 4820.90
Common mistake. Common misclassifications include 4817.30, which covers boxes or pouches containing a collection of stationery. If the items are sold as a set in a box, 4817.30 applies. Additionally, notebooks are often wrongly placed in 4820.90 when they should be in 4820.10. Printed calendars are also confused with stationery but belong in 4910.00.
Top exporters and importers of HS 482090 (the code used for paper stationery), 2025
In 2025, the largest exporter of HS 482090 (the code used for paper stationery) in UN Comtrade data was China, with 29% of world exports; the largest importer in UN Comtrade data was the Netherlands, with 18% 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 482090, not only paper stationery.
Top exporters 2025 · share of world exports
- 1 China $68M 29% of world exports
- 2 United Kingdom $21M 8.8% of world exports
- 3 Germany $16M 6.5% of world exports
World total: $239M Reported figures on UN Comtrade ↗
Top importers 2025 · share of world imports
- 1 Netherlands $58M 18% of world imports
- 2 Nigeria $31M 9.9% of world imports
- 3 United States $19M 6.1% of world imports
World total: $319M 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 paper stationery
Brazil classifies paper stationery under NCM 4820.90.00: HS 4820.90 with 00 added.
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 paper stationery
What is the HS code for Paper stationery?
The HS code for Paper stationery is 482090 (Paper or paperboard; stationery n.e.c. in heading no. 4820). The HS code for miscellaneous paper stationery is 4820.90.
How do I classify Paper stationery for customs?
Paper stationery is classified under HS code 482090 — Paper or paperboard; stationery n.e.c. in heading no. 4820. This is a 6-digit subheading level code.
Does this code include envelopes?
No, envelopes are specifically classified under HS code 4817.10.
Which countries are the top exporters of paper stationery (HS 482090)?
In 2025, the top exporters of HS 482090 (the code used for paper stationery) in UN Comtrade data were China ($68M, 29% of world exports), the United Kingdom ($21M) and Germany ($16M). World exports came to about $239M, 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 paper stationery (HS 482090)?
In 2025, the top importers of HS 482090 (the code used for paper stationery) in UN Comtrade data were the Netherlands ($58M, 18% of world imports), Nigeria ($31M) and the United States ($19M). World imports came to about $319M, 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 Paper stationery the same in all countries?
The base HS code 482090 for Paper stationery 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 paper stationery in Brazil?
In Brazil, paper stationery (HS 482090) is classified under NCM 4820.90.00.