Product classification

HS code for PCBs: 8534.00

Circuits, printed.

Classification of PCBs under HS 8534.00

Printed circuits are classified under HS code 8534.00 because they consist of an insulating base on which conductor elements, contacts, or other printed components have been formed by a printing or etching process. According to the Harmonized System Explanatory Notes, this classification is strictly reserved for boards that contain only "passive" elements. These include resistors, capacitors, and inductors that are created during the printing process. The code excludes any board that has been fitted with "active" elements such as diodes, transistors, or integrated circuits. The classification logic rests on the distinction between a bare circuit carrier and a populated electronic assembly. If the board is populated with active components, it must be classified under the heading appropriate for the finished assembly or the specific machine it serves, such as 8542 or 8543. The manufacturing involves laminating copper to a substrate like FR-4 and removing unwanted material to create the circuit path. This code is vital for customs to distinguish between the raw electronic infrastructure and functional electronic devices.

Covers
  • Single-sided printed circuit boards
  • Double-sided printed circuit boards
  • Multi-layer printed circuit boards without active components
  • Flexible printed circuits (FPC)
  • Rigid-flex printed circuit boards
Also under 8534.00
  • FR-4 PCBs
  • Rogers high-frequency PCBs
  • DuPont Pyralux flexible circuits
  • TTM Technologies PCBs

Codes often confused with 8534.00

Common mistake. The most frequent misclassification occurs with HS code 8543.70 or 8542.31. This happens when a PCB is "populated" or "assembled" with active components like microchips or transistors. Once a PCB has active components, it is no longer a "printed circuit" under 8534.00 but becomes an electronic integrated circuit or a part of a specific machine. Additionally, 8538 is sometimes incorrectly used for PCB parts of switchgear.

8543.70Electrical machines and apparatus; having individual functions, not specified or included elsewhere in this chapter, n.e.c. in heading no. 85438542.31Electronic integrated circuits; processors and controllers, whether or not combined with memories, converters, logic circuits, amplifiers, clock and timing circuits, or other circuits85.38Electrical apparatus; parts suitable for use solely or principally with the apparatus of heading no. 8535, 8536 and 8537

Top exporters and importers of HS 853400 (the code used for PCBs), 2025

In 2025, the largest exporter of HS 853400 (the code used for PCBs) in UN Comtrade data was China, with 41% of world exports; the largest importer in UN Comtrade data was Hong Kong, with 13% 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 853400, not only PCBs.

Top exporters 2025 · share of world exports

  1. 1 China $26.0B
  2. 2 Hong Kong $10.1B
  3. 3 Taiwan* ~$5.4B

World total: $63.0B Reported figures on UN Comtrade ↗

Top importers 2025 · share of world imports

  1. 1 Hong Kong $8.2B
  2. 2 China $7.6B
  3. 3 Vietnam* ~$6.8B

World total: $62.5B 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 PCBs

Brazil splits HS 8534.00 into 12 NCM codes. Pick the one that matches your product:

  • 8534.00.11Single-sided rigid PCBs, phenolic resin and paper
  • 8534.00.12Single-sided rigid PCBs, epoxy resin and paper
  • 8534.00.13Single-sided rigid PCBs, epoxy-glass fibre
  • 8534.00.19Other single-sided rigid printed circuits
  • 8534.00.20Single-sided flexible printed circuits
  • 8534.00.31Double-sided rigid PCBs, phenolic resin and paper
  • 8534.00.32Double-sided rigid PCBs, epoxy resin and paper
  • 8534.00.33Double-sided rigid PCBs, epoxy-glass fibre
  • 8534.00.39Other double-sided rigid printed circuits
  • 8534.00.40Double-sided flexible printed circuits
  • 8534.00.51Multilayer PCBs, epoxy-glass fibre
  • 8534.00.59Other multilayer printed circuits

Source: Siscomex NCM table, updated Oct 2026. The Portuguese text on each NCM page is the official one.

Questions about PCBs

What is the HS code for PCBs?

The HS code for PCBs is 853400 (Circuits; printed). The HS code for bare printed circuits without active electronic components is 8534.00.

How do I classify PCBs for customs?

PCBs is classified under HS code 853400 — Circuits; printed. This is a 6-digit subheading level code.

Can a PCB with resistors be classified under 8534.00?

Yes, provided the resistors are passive elements formed during the printing process. If discrete resistors are soldered onto the board after printing, it may be classified as an assembly.

Which countries are the top exporters of PCBs (HS 853400)?

In 2025, the top exporters of HS 853400 (the code used for PCBs) in UN Comtrade data were China ($26.0B, 41% of world exports), Hong Kong ($10.1B) and Taiwan (about $5.4B). World exports came to about $63.0B, 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 PCBs (HS 853400)?

In 2025, the top importers of HS 853400 (the code used for PCBs) in UN Comtrade data were Hong Kong ($8.2B, 13% of world imports), China ($7.6B) and Vietnam (about $6.8B). World imports came to about $62.5B, 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 PCBs the same in all countries?

The base HS code 853400 for PCBs 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 PCBs in Brazil?

Brazil splits HS 853400 into 12 NCM codes, so the right one for PCBs depends on the product's details: 8534.00.11 (Single-sided rigid PCBs, phenolic resin and paper), 8534.00.12 (Single-sided rigid PCBs, epoxy resin and paper), 8534.00.13 (Single-sided rigid PCBs, epoxy-glass fibre), 8534.00.19 (Other single-sided rigid printed circuits), 8534.00.20 (Single-sided flexible printed circuits), 8534.00.31 (Double-sided rigid PCBs, phenolic resin and paper), and more.