Product classification
HS code for Wood flour: 4405.00
Wood, wood wool and wood flour.
Classification of wood flour under HS 4405.00
Wood flour is classified under HS code 4405.00, a specific heading that encompasses both wood wool and wood flour. This classification is determined by the physical state of the wood material. According to the General Rules of Interpretation (GRI) 1, wood flour is defined as wood reduced to a fine powder, typically through grinding or milling processes, which can pass through a specific mesh screen (usually a 0.6 mm aperture). Unlike sawdust, which is a byproduct of sawing and classified under 4401, wood flour is a processed industrial product used primarily as a filler in the manufacture of plastics, explosives, and wood-plastic composites. The classification remains in 4405.00 provided the wood has not been chemically treated or mixed with other substances to the point where it loses its essential character as wood. This heading is unique because it groups two distinct forms of wood—the fibrous, ribbon-like wood wool and the pulverized wood flour—based on their specific mechanical processing levels within Chapter 44.
- Covers
- Finely ground wood powder
- Pulverized wood waste for industrial fillers
- Milled wood cellulose
- Softwood and hardwood flour
- Wood meal used in plastic molding
- Also under 4405.00
- Ecovative (mycelium composites using wood flour)
- various packaging companies
- animal bedding suppliers
Codes often confused with 4405.00
Common mistake. Wood flour is frequently misclassified under HS code 4401.39, which covers sawdust and wood waste. The distinction lies in the particle size and uniformity; sawdust is a coarse byproduct, whereas wood flour is a refined product. Additionally, if the wood flour is chemically activated, it may be confused with HS code 3802.10 (activated carbon), though wood flour is a raw material rather than a treated filtration medium.
Top exporters and importers of HS 440500 (the code used for wood flour), 2025
In 2025, the largest exporter of HS 440500 (the code used for wood flour) in UN Comtrade data was Germany, with 39% of world exports; the largest importer in UN Comtrade data was the Netherlands, with 12% 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 440500, not only wood flour.
Top exporters 2025 · share of world exports
- 1 Germany $33M 39% of world exports
- 2 Vietnam* ~$14M 17% of world exports · partner records ↗
- 3 Ukraine* ~$7.7M 9.0% of world exports · partner records ↗
World total: $85M Reported figures on UN Comtrade ↗
Top importers 2025 · share of world imports
- 1 Netherlands $11M 12% of world imports
- 2 Germany $9.0M 9.7% of world imports
- 3 South Korea $8.7M 9.5% of world imports
World total: $93M 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 wood flour
Brazil classifies wood flour under NCM 4405.00.00: HS 4405.00 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 wood flour
What is the HS code for Wood flour?
The HS code for Wood flour is 440500 (Wood; wood wool and wood flour). The HS code for wood flour is 4405.00, which also includes wood wool.
How do I classify Wood flour for customs?
Wood flour is classified under HS code 440500 — Wood; wood wool and wood flour. This is a 6-digit subheading level code.
How is wood flour distinguished from sawdust in the HS system?
Wood flour is distinguished by its fine, uniform particle size, typically achieved through secondary milling, whereas sawdust (4401) is the direct, coarse residue from primary timber sawing.
Which countries are the top exporters of wood flour (HS 440500)?
In 2025, the top exporters of HS 440500 (the code used for wood flour) in UN Comtrade data were Germany ($33M, 39% of world exports), Vietnam (about $14M) and Ukraine (about $7.7M). World exports came to about $85M, 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 wood flour (HS 440500)?
In 2025, the top importers of HS 440500 (the code used for wood flour) in UN Comtrade data were the Netherlands ($11M, 12% of world imports), Germany ($9.0M) and South Korea ($8.7M). World imports came to about $93M, 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 Wood flour the same in all countries?
The base HS code 440500 for Wood flour 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 wood flour in Brazil?
In Brazil, wood flour (HS 440500) is classified under NCM 4405.00.00.