Product classification
HS code for Plate printing machine: 8443.19
Printing machinery, used for printing by means of plates, cylinders and other printing components of heading 84.42, n.e.c. in item no. 8443.1.
Classification of plate printing machine under HS 8443.19
Plate printing machines are categorized under HS code 8443.19. This classification is part of Chapter 84, which encompasses nuclear reactors, boilers, machinery, and mechanical appliances. Heading 8443 is dedicated to printing machinery used for printing by means of plates, cylinders, and other printing components. While specific subheadings like 8443.11 cover offset printing and 8443.13 cover flexographic printing, 8443.19 serves as a residual category for other types of plate-based printing machinery that do not fit into the more specific preceding subheadings. This includes specialized industrial machines that utilize traditional mechanical printing methods rather than digital or inkjet technologies. The classification depends on the machine's primary function of transferring an image from a physical medium (the plate or cylinder) onto a substrate such as paper, plastic, or metal. It is important to distinguish these from auxiliary machinery used for plate-making or finishing, which may fall under 8442 or other parts of 8443. The machinery in this category is typically used in large-scale industrial printing operations where high-volume output and specific mechanical transfer methods are required.
- Covers
- Letterpress printing machinery (excluding flexographic)
- Screen printing machinery for industrial applications
- Gravure printing machines not elsewhere specified
- Pad printing machines for 3D objects
- Rotary plate printing machines for specialized substrates
- Also under 8443.19
- M&R Gauntlet (industrial screen printing)
- Teca-Print (industrial pad printing)
- specific industrial textile printers from Zimmer Austria
- specialized industrial coding and marking systems
Codes often confused with 8443.19
Common mistake. Plate printing machines are often misclassified under 8443.31 or 8443.32, which are reserved for digital printers, inkjet machines, and electrostatic photocopiers. They may also be confused with 8443.11 (offset printing) if the user does not distinguish between the transfer method. Additionally, machines used to prepare the plates themselves belong in 8442.30, not 8443.19.
Top exporters and importers of HS 844319 (the code used for plate printing machine), 2025
In 2025, the largest exporter of HS 844319 (the code used for plate printing machine) in UN Comtrade data was China, with 20% of world exports; the largest importer in UN Comtrade data was the United States, 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 844319, not only plate printing machine.
Top exporters 2025 · share of world exports
- 1 China $308M 20% of world exports
- 2 Israel $261M 17% of world exports
- 3 Italy $115M 7.3% of world exports
World total: $1.6B Reported figures on UN Comtrade ↗
Top importers 2025 · share of world imports
- 1 United States $217M 16% of world imports
- 2 India $97M 7.0% of world imports
- 3 Vietnam* ~$86M 6.2% of world imports · partner records ↗
World total: $1.4B 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 codes for plate printing machine
Brazil splits HS 8443.19 into 2 NCM codes. Pick the one that matches your product:
- 8443.19.10Screen printing machinery
- 8443.19.90Other printing machinery using plates or cylinders
Source: Siscomex NCM table, updated Oct 2026. The Portuguese text on each NCM page is the official one.
Questions about plate printing machine
What is the HS code for Plate printing machine?
The HS code for Plate printing machine is 844319 (Printing machinery; used for printing by means of plates, cylinders and other printing components of heading 84.42, n.e.c. in item no. 8443.1). The HS code for printing machinery using plates, cylinders, and other components, not elsewhere specified, is 8443.19.
How do I classify Plate printing machine for customs?
Plate printing machine is classified under HS code 844319 — Printing machinery; used for printing by means of plates, cylinders and other printing components of heading 84.42, n.e.c. in item no. 8443.1. This is a 6-digit subheading level code.
Does this code include 3D printers?
No, 3D printers are generally classified under 8485.10 through 8485.90 depending on the material used (additive manufacturing), rather than 8443 which is for traditional 2D printing.
Which countries are the top exporters of plate printing machine (HS 844319)?
In 2025, the top exporters of HS 844319 (the code used for plate printing machine) in UN Comtrade data were China ($308M, 20% of world exports), Israel ($261M) and Italy ($115M). World exports came to about $1.6B, 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 printing machine (HS 844319)?
In 2025, the top importers of HS 844319 (the code used for plate printing machine) in UN Comtrade data were the United States ($217M, 16% of world imports), India ($97M) and Vietnam (about $86M). World imports came to about $1.4B, 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 printing machine the same in all countries?
The base HS code 844319 for Plate printing 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 printing machine in Brazil?
Brazil splits HS 844319 into 2 NCM codes, so the right one for plate printing machine depends on the product's details: 8443.19.10 (Screen printing machinery), 8443.19.90 (Other printing machinery using plates or cylinders).