Product classification

HS code for Plate making machine: 8442.30

Machinery, apparatus and equipment (excluding machines of heading no. 8456 to 8465) for preparing or making printing components.

Classification of plate making machine under HS 8442.30

HS code 844230 is designated for machinery, apparatus, and equipment used for preparing or making printing components, such as plates, cylinders, or lithographic stones. This classification is part of Chapter 84, which covers mechanical appliances. The specific heading 8442 excludes machine tools that work by removing material (headings 8456 to 8465) and focuses on the specialized equipment used in the pre-press stage of the printing process. The logic behind this classification is to separate the creation of the "master" image carrier from the actual printing process. Modern equipment like Computer-to-Plate (CTP) systems are included here because their primary function is the preparation of the printing surface. The classification remains consistent regardless of whether the process is mechanical, chemical, or laser-based, provided the end result is a component ready for use in a printing press. This code is vital for the printing industry as it distinguishes pre-press hardware from the presses themselves and from general-purpose metalworking machinery. It covers the technological transition from traditional phototypesetting to modern digital plate-making solutions, ensuring that all equipment dedicated to the creation of printing forms is captured under a single, specific subheading.

Covers
  • Computer-to-Plate (CTP) machines
  • Phototypesetting and composing machines
  • Engraving machines for printing cylinders
  • Equipment for sensitizing printing plates
  • Machines for etching lithographic stones
Also under 8442.30
  • Kodak Magnus Q800 CtP System
  • Heidelberg Suprasetter A75
  • Agfa Avalon N8-90 CtP
  • Esko CDI Spark Flexo Imager
  • Hell Gravure K500 Engraver

Codes often confused with 8442.30

Common mistake. Plate making machines are often confused with HS code 8443, which covers the actual printing machinery (presses). While they work together, 8442 is strictly for the preparation of the plates. Another misclassification occurs with HS codes 8456 through 8465, which cover machine tools for working metal or other hard materials. If the machine's primary purpose is specifically to create a printing component, 844230 takes precedence over general-purpose machine tool codes.

84.43Printing machinery; used for printing by means of plates, cylinders and other printing components of heading 84.42; other printers, copying machines and facsimile machines, whether or not combined; parts and accessories thereof84.42Machinery, apparatus and equipment (excluding machines of headings 8456 to 8465) for preparing or making printing components; plates, cylinders and other printing components; lithographic stones prepared for printing purposes84.56Machine-tools; for working any material by removal of material, by laser or other light or photon beam, ultrasonic, electro-discharge, electro-chemical, electron beam, ionic-beam, or plasma arc processes; water-jet cutting machines84.65Machine-tools; (including machines for nailing, stapling, glueing or otherwise assembling) for working wood, cork, bone, hard plastics or rubber or similar hard materials

Top exporters and importers of HS 844230 (the code used for plate making machine), 2025

In 2025, the largest exporter of HS 844230 (the code used for plate making machine) in UN Comtrade data was Germany, with 29% of world exports; the largest importer in UN Comtrade data was the United States, with 8.8% 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 844230, not only plate making machine.

Top exporters 2025 · share of world exports

  1. 1 Germany $123M
  2. 2 China $74M
  3. 3 South Korea $45M

World total: $424M Reported figures on UN Comtrade ↗

Top importers 2025 · share of world imports

  1. 1 United States $34M
  2. 2 China $28M
  3. 3 India $22M

World total: $383M 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 codes for plate making machine

Brazil splits HS 8442.30 into 3 NCM codes. Pick the one that matches your product:

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

Questions about plate making machine

What is the HS code for Plate making machine?

The HS code for Plate making machine is 844230 (Machinery, apparatus and equipment (excluding machines of heading no. 8456 to 8465) for preparing or making printing components). The HS code for machinery used for preparing or making printing components is 844230.

How do I classify Plate making machine for customs?

Plate making machine is classified under HS code 844230 — Machinery, apparatus and equipment (excluding machines of heading no. 8456 to 8465) for preparing or making printing components. This is a 6-digit subheading level code.

Are printing plates themselves classified here?

No, the actual plates, cylinders, and other printing components are classified under HS code 844250; 844230 is reserved for the machinery that makes them.

Which countries are the top exporters of plate making machine (HS 844230)?

In 2025, the top exporters of HS 844230 (the code used for plate making machine) in UN Comtrade data were Germany ($123M, 29% of world exports), China ($74M) and South Korea ($45M). World exports came to about $424M, 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 plate making machine (HS 844230)?

In 2025, the top importers of HS 844230 (the code used for plate making machine) in UN Comtrade data were the United States ($34M, 8.8% of world imports), China ($28M) and India ($22M). World imports came to about $383M, 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 Plate making machine the same in all countries?

The base HS code 844230 for Plate making 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 plate making machine in Brazil?

Brazil splits HS 844230 into 3 NCM codes, so the right one for plate making machine depends on the product's details: 8442.30.10 (Phototypesetting machines), 8442.30.20 (Other typesetting machines), 8442.30.90 (Other printing plate-making machinery).