Product classification
HS code for Wood waste: 4401.49
Wood, for fuel, sawdust and wood waste and scrap, not agglomerated and not including sawdust.
Classification of wood waste under HS 4401.49
HS code 4401.49 is designated for wood waste and scrap that has not been agglomerated into logs, briquettes, pellets, or similar forms. Chapter 44 covers wood and articles of wood, and heading 4401 specifically deals with fuel wood and wood waste. While 4401.31 and 4401.32 cover pellets and briquettes (agglomerated waste), 4401.49 is the residual category for non-agglomerated waste that is not sawdust. This includes wood chips, shavings, and broken planks that are intended for fuel or industrial use but have not undergone significant processing. The classification requires that the material be recognizable as waste or scrap resulting from the primary processing of wood or from the demolition of wooden structures. It is a critical code for the biomass industry and the manufacturing of particle board, as it identifies the raw, unprocessed state of the wood byproduct. If the wood has been treated with paint, stains, or preservatives, it still remains under this code provided it is intended for use as fuel or for recovery of the wood fiber.
- Covers
- Non-agglomerated wood shavings
- Wood chips not intended for pulping
- Broken wooden pallets intended for scrap
- Wood waste from construction and demolition
- Tree trimmings and brushwood waste
- Also under 4401.49
- Valmet (biomass energy solutions)
- Georgia-Pacific (wood products)
- West Fraser Timber (lumber byproducts)
- Stora Enso (biomaterials)
Codes often confused with 4401.49
Common mistake. A frequent error is classifying wood waste under 4401.41, which is specifically for sawdust. While sawdust is a form of wood waste, it has its own dedicated subheading. Another common misclassification is 4401.31 or 4401.39, which are for agglomerated wood waste like pellets. If the waste has been pressed into a specific shape using a binder or high pressure, it must be moved to the agglomerated categories. Furthermore, wood chips intended specifically for the manufacture of paper pulp are often classified under 4401.21 or 4401.22, depending on the wood species, rather than the waste category.
Top exporters and importers of HS 440149 (the code used for wood waste), 2025
In 2025, the largest exporter of HS 440149 (the code used for wood waste) in UN Comtrade data was Germany, with 14% of world exports; the largest importer in UN Comtrade data was Austria, with 16% 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 440149, not only wood waste.
Top exporters 2025 · share of world exports
- 1 Germany $40M 14% of world exports
- 2 Canada $29M 10% of world exports
- 3 France $26M 9.3% of world exports
World total: $283M Reported figures on UN Comtrade ↗
Top importers 2025 · share of world imports
- 1 Austria $60M 16% of world imports
- 2 Germany $57M 15% of world imports
- 3 Sweden $39M 10% of world imports
World total: $373M 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 wood waste
Brazil classifies wood waste under NCM 4401.49.00: HS 4401.49 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 waste
What is the HS code for Wood waste?
The HS code for Wood waste is 440149 (Wood; for fuel, sawdust and wood waste and scrap, not agglomerated and not including sawdust). The HS code for non-agglomerated wood waste and scrap (excluding sawdust) is 4401.49.
How do I classify Wood waste for customs?
Wood waste is classified under HS code 440149 — Wood; for fuel, sawdust and wood waste and scrap, not agglomerated and not including sawdust. This is a 6-digit subheading level code.
Does this code include wood pellets?
No, wood pellets are considered agglomerated wood waste and are classified under 4401.31.
Which countries are the top exporters of wood waste (HS 440149)?
In 2025, the top exporters of HS 440149 (the code used for wood waste) in UN Comtrade data were Germany ($40M, 14% of world exports), Canada ($29M) and France ($26M). World exports came to about $283M, 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 waste (HS 440149)?
In 2025, the top importers of HS 440149 (the code used for wood waste) in UN Comtrade data were Austria ($60M, 16% of world imports), Germany ($57M) and Sweden ($39M). World imports came to about $373M, 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 waste the same in all countries?
The base HS code 440149 for Wood waste 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 waste in Brazil?
In Brazil, wood waste (HS 440149) is classified under NCM 4401.49.00.