Product classification
HS code for Prepress equipment: 8442.30
Machinery, apparatus and equipment (excluding machines of heading no. 8456 to 8465) for preparing or making printing components.
Classification of prepress equipment under HS 8442.30
Prepress equipment is classified under HS code 8442.30 as machinery and apparatus for preparing or making printing components. This classification is determined by the function of the machine in the printing workflow, specifically the stage occurring before the actual printing process. Heading 8442 covers machinery used to create plates, cylinders, and other media that carry the image to be printed. Subheading 8442.30 is the specific category for the machinery itself, excluding the parts (8442.40) and the actual printing plates or cylinders (8442.50). This equipment is essential for converting digital or physical designs into a format suitable for use on a printing press. The classification remains here regardless of whether the technology is mechanical, photographic, or laser-based, as long as the primary purpose is the preparation of printing elements. This distinction is vital for customs purposes to separate the tools of production from the final printing machinery.
- Covers
- Phototypesetting machines
- Laser plate-makers
- Computer-to-Plate (CTP) systems
- Engraving machines for printing cylinders
- Type-founding machinery
- Equipment for preparing 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. This equipment is often confused with HS code 8443, which covers the actual printing machinery (the presses). Another common misclassification is HS code 8471, which covers automatic data processing machines. While prepress equipment often uses computers, the specialized hardware for plate-making belongs in 8442.30.
Top exporters and importers of HS 844230 (the code used for prepress equipment), 2025
In 2025, the largest exporter of HS 844230 (the code used for prepress equipment) 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 prepress equipment.
Top exporters 2025 · share of world exports
- 1 Germany $123M 29% of world exports
- 2 China $74M 18% of world exports
- 3 South Korea $45M 11% of world exports
World total: $424M Reported figures on UN Comtrade ↗
Top importers 2025 · share of world imports
- 1 United States $34M 8.8% of world imports
- 2 China $28M 7.2% of world imports
- 3 India $22M 5.8% of world imports
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 prepress equipment
Brazil splits HS 8442.30 into 3 NCM codes. Pick the one that matches your product:
- 8442.30.10Phototypesetting machines
- 8442.30.20Other typesetting machines
- 8442.30.90Other printing plate-making machinery
Source: Siscomex NCM table, updated Oct 2026. The Portuguese text on each NCM page is the official one.
Questions about prepress equipment
What is the HS code for Prepress equipment?
The HS code for Prepress equipment is 844230 (Machinery, apparatus and equipment (excluding machines of heading no. 8456 to 8465) for preparing or making printing components). The correct HS code for machinery used in prepress operations is 8442.30.
How do I classify Prepress equipment for customs?
Prepress equipment 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.
Does this include printing plates?
No, the actual plates, cylinders, and other printing components are classified under HS code 8442.50.
Which countries are the top exporters of prepress equipment (HS 844230)?
In 2025, the top exporters of HS 844230 (the code used for prepress equipment) 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 prepress equipment (HS 844230)?
In 2025, the top importers of HS 844230 (the code used for prepress equipment) 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 Prepress equipment the same in all countries?
The base HS code 844230 for Prepress equipment 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 prepress equipment in Brazil?
Brazil splits HS 844230 into 3 NCM codes, so the right one for prepress equipment 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).