Product classification
HS code for Pencil lead: 9609.20
Pencil leads, black or coloured.
Classification of pencil lead under HS 9609.20
Pencil leads, whether black or colored, are classified under HS code 9609.20. Chapter 96 covers miscellaneous manufactured articles. Heading 9609 includes pencils (other than pencils of heading 9608), crayons, pencil leads, pastels, drawing charcoals, writing or drawing chalks, and tailors' chalks. Subheading 9609.20 specifically isolates the "leads" themselves, which are the core writing components usually made of graphite mixed with a clay binder or colored pigments with wax. This classification applies to the leads when they are imported or exported as separate components, such as refills for mechanical pencils or cores intended for the manufacture of traditional wooden pencils. The classification is determined by the product's final form as a prepared writing instrument component, rather than the raw materials (like bulk graphite) used to create it.
- Covers
- Graphite leads for mechanical pencils
- Colored pencil lead refills
- Thick graphite cores for carpenter pencils
- Leads for compasses and technical drawing tools
- Water-soluble pencil leads
- Also under 9609.20
- Pentel Ain Stein leads
- Uni Kuru Toga leads
- Faber-Castell Polychromos leads
- Rotring Tikky leads
- Pilot Neox Graphite leads
Codes often confused with 9609.20
Common mistake. Pencil leads are frequently misclassified under HS code 9609.10, which is the code for complete pencils with leads encased in a rigid sheath (like standard wooden pencils). It is vital to distinguish between the finished pencil and the loose lead. Another error involves HS code 3801.10, which covers artificial graphite in bulk or powder form. While pencil leads contain graphite, once they are shaped and fired into leads, they move from the chemical/mineral category of Chapter 38 to the manufactured goods category of Chapter 96. Similarly, drawing charcoals are classified under 9609.90, not 9609.20.
Top exporters and importers of HS 960920 (the code used for pencil lead), 2025
In 2025, the largest exporter of HS 960920 (the code used for pencil lead) in UN Comtrade data was China, with 40% of world exports; the largest importer in UN Comtrade data was Türkiye, with 7.8% 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 960920, not only pencil lead.
Top exporters 2025 · share of world exports
- 1 China $32M 40% of world exports
- 2 Japan $12M 15% of world exports
- 3 Germany $10M 13% of world exports
World total: $80M Reported figures on UN Comtrade ↗
Top importers 2025 · share of world imports
- 1 Türkiye $6.6M 7.8% of world imports
- 2 United States $6.4M 7.5% of world imports
- 3 Vietnam* ~$6.1M 7.2% of world imports · partner records ↗
World total: $84M 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. 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 pencil lead
Brazil classifies pencil lead under NCM 9609.20.00: HS 9609.20 with 00 added.
Source: Siscomex NCM table, updated Oct 2026. The Portuguese text on each NCM page is the official one.
Questions about pencil lead
What is the HS code for Pencil lead?
The HS code for Pencil lead is 960920 (Pencil leads; black or coloured). The HS code for pencil leads (black or colored) is 9609.20.
How do I classify Pencil lead for customs?
Pencil lead is classified under HS code 960920 — Pencil leads; black or coloured. This is a 6-digit subheading level code.
Does this code include the wooden casing of a pencil?
No, if the lead is encased in wood or another rigid sheath, the entire product is classified under HS code 9609.10. Code 9609.20 is only for the leads themselves.
Which countries are the top exporters of pencil lead (HS 960920)?
In 2025, the top exporters of HS 960920 (the code used for pencil lead) in UN Comtrade data were China ($32M, 40% of world exports), Japan ($12M) and Germany ($10M). World exports came to about $80M, 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 pencil lead (HS 960920)?
In 2025, the top importers of HS 960920 (the code used for pencil lead) in UN Comtrade data were Türkiye ($6.6M, 7.8% of world imports), the United States ($6.4M) and Vietnam (about $6.1M). World imports came to about $84M, 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 Pencil lead the same in all countries?
The base HS code 960920 for Pencil lead 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 pencil lead in Brazil?
In Brazil, pencil lead (HS 960920) is classified under NCM 9609.20.00.