Product classification
HS code for Printing cylinder: 8442.50
Plates, cylinders and other printing components, lithographic stones prepared for printing purposes (for example, planed, grained or polished).
Classification of printing cylinder under HS 8442.50
Printing cylinders are classified under HS code 8442.50. This classification falls within Chapter 84, which covers machinery and mechanical appliances. Heading 8442 specifically addresses machinery, apparatus, and equipment for preparing or making printing components, but it also explicitly includes the components themselves, such as plates and cylinders. Subheading 8442.50 is the designated code for plates, cylinders, and other printing components that have been prepared for printing purposes. This means the items have been engraved, etched, or otherwise treated to carry the specific image or text that will be transferred to the substrate. The classification is guided by GRI 1, as the heading text specifically names cylinders. It is essential to distinguish between a blank cylinder (which might be classified according to its constituent material, such as steel in Chapter 73) and a printing cylinder that has been "prepared." Preparation involves the application of a design or a surface treatment that makes it ready for use in a printing press. This code also includes lithographic stones and other surfaces that have been planed, grained, or polished for printing. The role of these items as an intermediary in the printing process, rather than as a part of the printer's mechanical drive system, confirms their placement in 8442.50.
- Covers
- Engraved gravure cylinders
- Etched flexographic cylinders
- Prepared lithographic stones
- Offset printing plates (prepared)
- Engraved rollers for textile printing
- Zinc plates prepared for photo-engraving
- Also under 8442.50
- FujiFilm CTP Plates
- Kodak Sonora Process Free Plates
- DuPont Cyrel Flexo Plates
- Flint Group Flexo Plates
- Xeikon Dry Toner Plates
Codes often confused with 8442.50
Common mistake. Printing cylinders are often misclassified under HS code 8443.91, which covers parts of printing machinery. While a cylinder is a part of a press, the specific mention of "cylinders... prepared for printing purposes" in heading 8442 takes precedence according to GRI 3(a). Another common error is using 8442.30, which is for the machinery that *makes* the cylinders, not the cylinders themselves.
Top exporters and importers of HS 844250 (the code used for printing cylinder), 2025
In 2025, the largest exporter of HS 844250 (the code used for printing cylinder) in UN Comtrade data was China, with 20% of world exports; the largest importer in UN Comtrade data was Germany, with 8.7% 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 844250, not only printing cylinder.
Top exporters 2025 · share of world exports
- 1 China $140M 20% of world exports
- 2 Germany $99M 14% of world exports
- 3 United States $57M 8.1% of world exports
World total: $698M Reported figures on UN Comtrade ↗
Top importers 2025 · share of world imports
- 1 Germany $59M 8.7% of world imports
- 2 India $53M 7.7% of world imports
- 3 France $32M 4.8% of world imports
World total: $682M 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 printing cylinder
Brazil classifies printing cylinder under NCM 8442.50.00: HS 8442.50 with 00 added.
Source: Siscomex NCM table, updated Oct 2026. The Portuguese text on each NCM page is the official one.
Questions about printing cylinder
What is the HS code for Printing cylinder?
The HS code for Printing cylinder is 844250 (Plates, cylinders and other printing components; lithographic stones prepared for printing purposes (for example, planed, grained or polished)).
How do I classify Printing cylinder for customs?
Printing cylinder is classified under HS code 844250 — Plates, cylinders and other printing components; lithographic stones prepared for printing purposes (for example, planed, grained or polished). This is a 6-digit subheading level code.
What is the HS code for an engraved printing cylinder?
The HS code for an engraved or prepared printing cylinder is 8442.50.
Are blank cylinders classified here?
No, blank cylinders that have not been prepared for printing are typically classified by their material (e.g., Chapter 73 for steel) or as general machinery parts under 8443.91.
Which countries are the top exporters of printing cylinder (HS 844250)?
In 2025, the top exporters of HS 844250 (the code used for printing cylinder) in UN Comtrade data were China ($140M, 20% of world exports), Germany ($99M) and the United States ($57M). World exports came to about $698M, 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 printing cylinder (HS 844250)?
In 2025, the top importers of HS 844250 (the code used for printing cylinder) in UN Comtrade data were Germany ($59M, 8.7% of world imports), India ($53M) and France ($32M). World imports came to about $682M, 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 Printing cylinder the same in all countries?
The base HS code 844250 for Printing cylinder 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 printing cylinder in Brazil?
In Brazil, printing cylinder (HS 844250) is classified under NCM 8442.50.00.