Product classification
HS code for Pencil sharpeners: 8214.10
Cutlery, paper knives, letter openers, erasing knives, pencil sharpeners and blades therefore.
Classification of pencil sharpeners under HS 8214.10
Pencil sharpeners are classified under HS code 8214.10. This code is situated within Chapter 82, which encompasses tools, implements, cutlery, spoons, and forks of base metal. Heading 8214 specifically covers "other articles of cutlery," and subheading 8214.10 explicitly mentions paper knives, letter openers, erasing knives, and pencil sharpeners (including their blades). The classification is driven by the presence of a cutting blade, which is the primary functional component of the sharpener. This applies to manual sharpeners regardless of whether the body is made of plastic, wood, or metal, as the essential character of the tool is provided by the steel blade. Even if the sharpener has a reservoir for shavings, it remains under this heading as long as it is a hand-operated tool. This classification ensures that all manual sharpening devices used for stationery purposes are grouped together for international trade monitoring.
- Covers
- Manual pocket pencil sharpeners
- Desk-mounted hand-crank pencil sharpeners
- Cosmetic pencil sharpeners for makeup pencils
- Replacement blades for pencil sharpeners
- Double-hole sharpeners for standard and jumbo pencils
- Also under 8214.10
- X-Acto pencil sharpeners
- Helix pencil sharpeners
- Muji letter openers
- Faber-Castell sharpeners
- Maped sharpeners
Codes often confused with 8214.10
Common mistake. A common error is classifying electric pencil sharpeners under this code. Electric models are properly classified under HS code 8472.90 as "other office machines." Another misclassification involves HS code 9503.00 if the sharpener is integrated into a toy; however, if the primary function is sharpening, 8214.10 usually prevails unless the item is clearly a plaything. Some importers also mistakenly use 8205.59 (other hand tools), but 8214.10 is more specific and thus correct under GRI 3(a).
Top exporters and importers of HS 821410 (the code used for pencil sharpeners), 2025
In 2025, the largest exporter of HS 821410 (the code used for pencil sharpeners) in UN Comtrade data was China, with 79% of world exports; the largest importer in UN Comtrade data was Germany, with 6.8% 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 821410, not only pencil sharpeners.
Top exporters 2025 · share of world exports
- 1 China $241M 79% of world exports
- 2 Germany $24M 7.7% of world exports
- 3 France $4.7M 1.5% of world exports
World total: $307M Reported figures on UN Comtrade ↗
Top importers 2025 · share of world imports
- 1 Germany $15M 6.8% of world imports
- 2 United States $15M 6.7% of world imports
- 3 South Korea $10M 4.5% of world imports
World total: $226M 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 pencil sharpeners
Brazil classifies pencil sharpeners under NCM 8214.10.00: HS 8214.10 with 00 added.
Source: Siscomex NCM table, updated Oct 2026. The Portuguese text on each NCM page is the official one.
Questions about pencil sharpeners
What is the HS code for Pencil sharpeners?
The HS code for Pencil sharpeners is 821410 (Cutlery; paper knives, letter openers, erasing knives, pencil sharpeners and blades therefore). The HS code for manual pencil sharpeners and their blades is 8214.10.
How do I classify Pencil sharpeners for customs?
Pencil sharpeners is classified under HS code 821410 — Cutlery; paper knives, letter openers, erasing knives, pencil sharpeners and blades therefore. This is a 6-digit subheading level code.
Are battery-operated sharpeners under the same code?
No, battery-operated or electric pencil sharpeners are classified under HS code 8472.90 as office machinery.
Which countries are the top exporters of pencil sharpeners (HS 821410)?
In 2025, the top exporters of HS 821410 (the code used for pencil sharpeners) in UN Comtrade data were China ($241M, 79% of world exports), Germany ($24M) and France ($4.7M). World exports came to about $307M, 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 sharpeners (HS 821410)?
In 2025, the top importers of HS 821410 (the code used for pencil sharpeners) in UN Comtrade data were Germany ($15M, 6.8% of world imports), the United States ($15M) and South Korea ($10M). World imports came to about $226M, 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 sharpeners the same in all countries?
The base HS code 821410 for Pencil sharpeners 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 sharpeners in Brazil?
In Brazil, pencil sharpeners (HS 821410) is classified under NCM 8214.10.00.