Product classification
HS code for Postcards: 4909.00
Printed or illustrated postcards, printed cards bearing personal greetings, messages or announcements, whether or not illustrated, with or without envelopes or trimmings.
Classification of postcards under HS 4909.00
Postcards are classified under HS code 4909.00. This heading specifically covers printed or illustrated postcards and cards bearing personal greetings, messages, or announcements. The classification is situated in Chapter 49, which deals with the products of the printing industry, manuscripts, typescripts, and plans. The defining characteristic for 4909.00 is that the cards must be printed with illustrations or text that indicates their use as postcards or greeting cards. This includes items like birthday cards, Christmas cards, and scenic postcards. The presence of envelopes, ribbons, or other trimmings does not change this classification, provided the essential character of the item remains a printed card. The distinction is made based on the printed content and the intended purpose of the stationery. Unlike plain stationery, these items are considered "products of the printing industry" because the value and function are derived from the printed images or messages. The Harmonized System Explanatory Notes specify that this heading includes cards where the printing is the primary feature, even if they have space for writing. This code is used globally to track the trade of social expression products and souvenir stationery.
- Covers
- Illustrated picture postcards
- Printed greeting cards (Birthday, Holiday, etc.)
- Announcement cards (Wedding, Birth, etc.)
- Musical greeting cards (with electronic components)
- Postcards with decorative trimmings or envelopes
- Also under 4909.00
- Hallmark greeting cards
- Papyrus cards
- National Geographic postcards
- local tourist postcards
- custom printed invitations
Codes often confused with 4909.00
Common mistake. Postcards are frequently misclassified under HS code 4817.20, which covers letter cards and plain (unprinted) postcards made of paper or paperboard. The key difference is the presence of printing; if the card is blank, it belongs in Chapter 48. Another misclassification is 4911.91, which covers printed pictures and photographs that are not in the form of a postcard or greeting card.
Top exporters and importers of HS 490900 (the code used for postcards), 2025
In 2025, the largest exporter of HS 490900 (the code used for postcards) in UN Comtrade data was China, with 42% of world exports; the largest importer in UN Comtrade data was the United States, with 32% 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 490900, not only postcards.
Top exporters 2025 · share of world exports
- 1 China $349M 42% of world exports
- 2 Vietnam* ~$94M 11% of world exports · partner records ↗
- 3 United Kingdom $74M 8.9% of world exports
World total: $836M Reported figures on UN Comtrade ↗
Top importers 2025 · share of world imports
- 1 United States $265M 32% of world imports
- 2 Germany $81M 9.7% of world imports
- 3 United Kingdom $80M 9.6% of world imports
World total: $839M 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 postcards
Brazil classifies postcards under NCM 4909.00.00: HS 4909.00 with 00 added.
Source: Siscomex NCM table, updated Oct 2026. The Portuguese text on each NCM page is the official one.
EU Regulatory Requirements
This product category is subject to the EU Deforestation Regulation (EUDR). Importers must provide due diligence statements proving the product was not produced on deforested land after December 31, 2020.
This product is covered by the EU Timber Regulation (EUTR), requiring operators to exercise due diligence to minimize the risk of placing illegally harvested timber on the EU market.
Questions about postcards
What is the HS code for Postcards?
The HS code for Postcards is 490900 (Printed or illustrated postcards; printed cards bearing personal greetings, messages or announcements, whether or not illustrated, with or without envelopes or trimmings). The HS code for printed or illustrated postcards and greeting cards is 4909.00.
How do I classify Postcards for customs?
Postcards is classified under HS code 490900 — Printed or illustrated postcards; printed cards bearing personal greetings, messages or announcements, whether or not illustrated, with or without envelopes or trimmings. This is a 6-digit subheading level code.
Do cards with a small electronic music chip fall under this code?
Yes, musical greeting cards are still classified under 4909.00, as the printed card remains the essential character of the product.
Which countries are the top exporters of postcards (HS 490900)?
In 2025, the top exporters of HS 490900 (the code used for postcards) in UN Comtrade data were China ($349M, 42% of world exports), Vietnam (about $94M) and the United Kingdom ($74M). World exports came to about $836M, 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 postcards (HS 490900)?
In 2025, the top importers of HS 490900 (the code used for postcards) in UN Comtrade data were the United States ($265M, 32% of world imports), Germany ($81M) and the United Kingdom ($80M). World imports came to about $839M, 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 Postcards the same in all countries?
The base HS code 490900 for Postcards 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 postcards in Brazil?
In Brazil, postcards (HS 490900) is classified under NCM 4909.00.00.