Product classification
HS code for Wood wool: 4405.00
Wood, wood wool and wood flour.
Classification of wood wool under HS 4405.00
Wood wool is classified under HS code 4405.00. This heading is unique because it is a single-level heading that specifically covers both wood wool and wood flour. Wood wool consists of thin, narrow, curly, or twisted slivers of wood, usually produced from logs by specialized paring machines. It is distinct from ordinary wood shavings because the slivers are of a uniform thickness and width and are tangled together into a fibrous mass. The classification is based on the physical form of the wood rather than the species. Under the Harmonized System, wood wool is recognized primarily for its utility in protective packaging, as a stuffing material in upholstery, or as a raw material for the manufacture of wood-wool boards (often bonded with cement). Because it is a manufactured product of specific dimensions, it is excluded from the categories of wood waste or fuel wood. The classification remains 4405.00 regardless of whether the wood wool is dyed or treated for fire resistance, as long as it retains its essential character as wood wool.
- Covers
- Excelsior (standard wood wool for packaging)
- Fine-cut wood wool for gift basket filling
- Wood wool used for evaporative cooling pads
- Tangled wood fibers for acoustic insulation panels
- Wood wool used as animal bedding or nesting material
- Wood wool rope or twisted strands
- 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 wool is often misclassified under HS code 4401.21 or 4401.22, which covers wood chips or particles. However, chips are generally flat and rigid, whereas wood wool is fibrous and flexible. It is also sometimes confused with HS code 4401.31 (wood pellets) or 4401.39 (other wood waste and scrap). While wood wool may be made from waste wood, its specific processing into uniform slivers moves it into heading 4405. Finally, wood flour (fine powder) is also in 4405.00, but it is physically distinct from the fibrous wool.
Top exporters and importers of HS 440500 (the code used for wood wool), 2025
In 2025, the largest exporter of HS 440500 (the code used for wood wool) 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 wool.
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 wool
Brazil classifies wood wool 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 wool
What is the HS code for Wood wool?
The HS code for Wood wool is 440500 (Wood; wood wool and wood flour). The HS code for wood wool is 4405.00.
How do I classify Wood wool for customs?
Wood wool is classified under HS code 440500 — Wood; wood wool and wood flour. This is a 6-digit subheading level code.
Can wood wool be classified as wood waste?
No, wood wool is considered a manufactured product and is specifically assigned to heading 4405.00, distinguishing it from general wood waste in heading 4401.
Which countries are the top exporters of wood wool (HS 440500)?
In 2025, the top exporters of HS 440500 (the code used for wood wool) 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 wool (HS 440500)?
In 2025, the top importers of HS 440500 (the code used for wood wool) 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 wool the same in all countries?
The base HS code 440500 for Wood wool 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 wool in Brazil?
In Brazil, wood wool (HS 440500) is classified under NCM 4405.00.00.