Product classification
HS code for Pruning shears: 8201.60
Tools, hand, hedge shears, two-handed pruning shears and similar two-handed shears.
Classification of pruning shears under HS 8201.60
Pruning shears, specifically those designed for two-handed operation such as loppers or hedge shears, are classified under HS code 8201.60. This heading is reserved for hand tools used in agriculture, horticulture, or forestry. The classification is based on the physical construction and the mechanical advantage provided by the tool. Heading 8201.60 specifically includes hedge shears, two-handed pruning shears, and similar two-handed shears. These tools are distinguished from smaller hand pruners by their long handles, which allow the user to apply significant leverage to cut through thick branches or dense hedges. The blades may be bypass (where two blades pass each other) or anvil (where one blade closes against a flat surface). Because these are manually operated tools made of base metal, they fall squarely within Chapter 82. The classification ensures that heavy-duty manual cutting tools are separated from smaller one-handed garden tools and from powered machinery.
- Covers
- Two-handed loppers for tree branches
- Manual hedge shears with long handles
- Long-reach pruning shears
- Bypass loppers for green wood
- Anvil loppers for dead wood
- Also under 8201.60
- Fiskars PowerGear Lopper
- Felco 210-60 Lopper
- Corona SL 3260 Lopper
- Spear & Jackson Razorsharp Hedge Shears
- Gardena Comfort Hedge Clippers
Codes often confused with 8201.60
Common mistake. The most frequent misclassification is with HS code 8201.50, which covers one-handed secateurs and similar pruners. The primary difference is the number of hands required for operation; 8201.60 is strictly for two-handed tools. Another error involves HS code 8467.19 or 8467.89, which covers tools with a self-contained electric or non-electric motor. If the pruning shears are pneumatic, hydraulic, or battery-powered, they must be moved to Chapter 84, as Chapter 82 only covers manual hand tools.
Top exporters and importers of HS 820160 (the code used for pruning shears), 2025
In 2025, the largest exporter of HS 820160 (the code used for pruning shears) in UN Comtrade data was China, with 34% of world exports; the largest importer in UN Comtrade data was the United States, with 17% 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 820160, not only pruning shears.
Top exporters 2025 · share of world exports
- 1 China $92M 34% of world exports
- 2 Taiwan* ~$32M 12% of world exports · partner records ↗
- 3 Vietnam* ~$27M 10% of world exports · partner records ↗
World total: $269M Reported figures on UN Comtrade ↗
Top importers 2025 · share of world imports
- 1 United States $46M 17% of world imports
- 2 Germany $28M 10% of world imports
- 3 France $25M 9.2% of world imports
World total: $275M 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. UN Comtrade records Taiwan as "Other Asia, not elsewhere specified". Saudi Arabia's exports under that code are left out: they are far too large to be trade with Taiwan, so mostly undisclosed partners. 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 pruning shears
Brazil classifies pruning shears under NCM 8201.60.00: HS 8201.60 with 00 added.
Source: Siscomex NCM table, updated Oct 2026. The Portuguese text on each NCM page is the official one.
Questions about pruning shears
What is the HS code for Pruning shears?
The HS code for Pruning shears is 820160 (Tools, hand; hedge shears, two-handed pruning shears and similar two-handed shears). Two-handed pruning shears and loppers are classified under HS code 8201.60. One-handed versions are 8201.50.
How do I classify Pruning shears for customs?
Pruning shears is classified under HS code 820160 — Tools, hand; hedge shears, two-handed pruning shears and similar two-handed shears. This is a 6-digit subheading level code.
Are battery-powered loppers classified here?
No, battery-powered or motorized pruning tools are classified under heading 8467 because they contain a motor, whereas 8201 is for manual hand tools only.
Which countries are the top exporters of pruning shears (HS 820160)?
In 2025, the top exporters of HS 820160 (the code used for pruning shears) in UN Comtrade data were China ($92M, 34% of world exports), Taiwan (about $32M) and Vietnam (about $27M). World exports came to about $269M, 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 pruning shears (HS 820160)?
In 2025, the top importers of HS 820160 (the code used for pruning shears) in UN Comtrade data were the United States ($46M, 17% of world imports), Germany ($28M) and France ($25M). World imports came to about $275M, 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 Pruning shears the same in all countries?
The base HS code 820160 for Pruning shears 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 pruning shears in Brazil?
In Brazil, pruning shears (HS 820160) is classified under NCM 8201.60.00.