Product classification
HS code for Paperboard machine: 8439.20
Machinery, for making paper or paperboard.
Classification of paperboard machine under HS 8439.20
Paperboard machines are classified under HS code 8439.20. This code is situated within heading 8439, which covers machinery for making pulp of fibrous cellulosic material or for making or finishing paper or paperboard. Subheading 8439.20 specifically targets the machinery used for the actual formation of the paper or paperboard sheet from pulp. This classification is based on the fundamental industrial process of creating a continuous web of paperboard. These machines are typically large-scale industrial installations that involve the drainage of water from a fiber suspension, followed by pressing and drying. The classification is distinct from the machinery used to create the pulp itself (8439.10) and the machinery used to convert the finished paperboard into specific articles (8441).
- Covers
- Fourdrinier machines for paperboard production
- Cylinder mold machines
- Multi-ply board forming machines
- Board drying sections (when part of the forming machine)
- Wet-end sections of paperboard mills
- Also under 8439.20
- Valmet paper machines
- Voith paper machines
- Andritz paper production lines
- Toscotec tissue machines
Codes often confused with 8439.20
Common mistake. The most common misclassification is with HS code 8441.80, which covers converting machinery. The rule of thumb is that 8439.20 is for machines that produce the paperboard in its bulk form (rolls or sheets), while 8441 is for machines that take that bulk material and turn it into boxes, bags, or other products. Another error involves 8439.30, which is for machinery for finishing paper or paperboard (such as coating or calendering machines). If a machine performs both forming and finishing, it is generally classified under 8439.20 as the primary manufacturing unit.
Top exporters and importers of HS 843920 (the code used for paperboard machine), 2025
In 2025, the largest exporter of HS 843920 (the code used for paperboard machine) in UN Comtrade data was Finland, with 32% of world exports; the largest importer in UN Comtrade data was Indonesia, with 16% 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 843920, not only paperboard machine.
Top exporters 2025 · share of world exports
- 1 Finland $268M 32% of world exports
- 2 Italy $143M 17% of world exports
- 3 Germany $120M 14% of world exports
World total: $841M Reported figures on UN Comtrade ↗
Top importers 2025 · share of world imports
- 1 Indonesia $125M 16% of world imports
- 2 India $63M 8.2% of world imports
- 3 United Kingdom $52M 6.7% of world imports
World total: $774M 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 paperboard machine
Brazil classifies paperboard machine under NCM 8439.20.00: HS 8439.20 with 00 added.
Source: Siscomex NCM table, updated Oct 2026. The Portuguese text on each NCM page is the official one.
Questions about paperboard machine
What is the HS code for Paperboard machine?
The HS code for Paperboard machine is 843920 (Machinery; for making paper or paperboard). The HS code for machinery used for making paper or paperboard is 8439.20.
How do I classify Paperboard machine for customs?
Paperboard machine is classified under HS code 843920 — Machinery; for making paper or paperboard. This is a 6-digit subheading level code.
Does this code include machines that make paper pulp?
No, machinery for making pulp of fibrous cellulosic material is classified under HS code 8439.10.
Which countries are the top exporters of paperboard machine (HS 843920)?
In 2025, the top exporters of HS 843920 (the code used for paperboard machine) in UN Comtrade data were Finland ($268M, 32% of world exports), Italy ($143M) and Germany ($120M). World exports came to about $841M, 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 paperboard machine (HS 843920)?
In 2025, the top importers of HS 843920 (the code used for paperboard machine) in UN Comtrade data were Indonesia ($125M, 16% of world imports), India ($63M) and the United Kingdom ($52M). World imports came to about $774M, 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 Paperboard machine the same in all countries?
The base HS code 843920 for Paperboard machine 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 paperboard machine in Brazil?
In Brazil, paperboard machine (HS 843920) is classified under NCM 8439.20.00.