Heading · Chapter 49
4909: Printed or illustrated postcards; printed cards bearing personal greetings, messages or announcements, whether or not illustrated, with or without envelopes or trimmings
Heading 4909 has no further six-digit division: the whole heading is subheading 4909.00, in chapter 49 (printed books, newspapers, pictures and other products of the printing industry).
Duty rates compared
UK specific or compound duty Third-country duty 1 tariff line 
EU Free Third-country duty 1 tariff line 
Türkiye Free Third-country duty 1 tariff line 
USA Free General (MFN) 2 tariff lines 
Canada Free Third-country duty 1 tariff line 
Mexico 15% Third-country duty 1 tariff line 
Brazil 14.4% Third-country duty 1 tariff line 
Argentina 16% Third-country duty 4 tariff lines 
Peru 6% Third-country duty 1 tariff line 
New Zealand Free Third-country duty 3 tariff lines 
Japan Free Third-country duty 1 tariff line 
Taiwan Free Third-country duty 2 tariff lines 
GCC 5% Third-country duty 5 tariff lines 
Switzerland Free Third-country duty 1 tariff line 
Norway Free Third-country duty 1 tariff line 
North Macedonia Free Third-country duty 1 tariff line 
Nigeria 20% Third-country duty 1 tariff line Subheadings 1
EU: imports by month
World trade in 2024
Trade value (US$) no reported trade < US$32kUS$32k+US$639k+US$7m+> US$50m
Exports: 158
- China: US$551m
- Vietnam: US$96m
- United Kingdom: US$78m
- Germany: US$51m
- United States: US$50m
- Netherlands: US$38m
- France: US$17m
- Italy: US$11m
- South Korea: US$10m
- Sweden: US$9m
- Poland: US$9m
- Belgium: US$9m
- Hong Kong SAR China: US$8m
- Switzerland: US$7m
- Canada: US$6m
- India: US$5m
- Slovakia: US$4m
- Ireland: US$4m
- Philippines: US$4m
- Türkiye: US$4m
- Sri Lanka: US$4m
- Japan: US$4m
- Spain: US$3m
- Austria: US$3m
- Mexico: US$3m
- Czechia: US$3m
- Denmark: US$2m
- Hungary: US$2m
- Australia: US$1m
- South Africa: US$1m
- Taiwan: US$1m
- Portugal: US$894k
- Malaysia: US$701k
- Bangladesh: US$692k
- Israel: US$639k
- Singapore: US$596k
- Thailand: US$508k
- Indonesia: US$498k
- Greece: US$410k
- Serbia: US$392k
- United Arab Emirates: US$364k
- New Zealand: US$331k
- Russia: US$331k
- Colombia: US$287k
- Romania: US$278k
- Norway: US$246k
- Chile: US$223k
- Estonia: US$187k
- Haiti: US$183k
- Lithuania: US$168k
- Latvia: US$161k
- Kenya: US$146k
- Bulgaria: US$145k
- Lebanon: US$132k
- Croatia: US$117k
- Jordan: US$112k
- Rwanda: US$99k
- Brazil: US$94k
- North Macedonia: US$89k
- Finland: US$83k
Trade value (US$) no reported trade < US$126kUS$126k+US$722k+US$5m+> US$32m
Imports: 204
- United States: US$401m
- Canada: US$87m
- United Kingdom: US$86m
- Germany: US$68m
- Netherlands: US$34m
- Switzerland: US$33m
- Belgium: US$32m
- Ireland: US$28m
- France: US$26m
- Australia: US$26m
- Austria: US$21m
- Japan: US$16m
- Poland: US$11m
- Denmark: US$10m
- Italy: US$9m
- Norway: US$9m
- Sweden: US$8m
- Spain: US$8m
- Hong Kong SAR China: US$6m
- China: US$5m
- Portugal: US$5m
- New Zealand: US$5m
- Singapore: US$4m
- Thailand: US$4m
- Czechia: US$4m
- Malaysia: US$4m
- South Korea: US$3m
- Hungary: US$3m
- Finland: US$3m
- Mexico: US$2m
- United Arab Emirates: US$2m
- Slovakia: US$2m
- Philippines: US$2m
- Luxembourg: US$2m
- Greece: US$2m
- Vietnam: US$2m
- Taiwan: US$1m
- Slovenia: US$1m
- Romania: US$1m
- South Africa: US$1m
- Saudi Arabia: US$1m
- India: US$1m
- Indonesia: US$1m
- Ghana: US$986k
- Israel: US$971k
- Malta: US$891k
- Kyrgyzstan: US$871k
- Russia: US$805k
- Bulgaria: US$792k
- Madagascar: US$732k
- Brazil: US$722k
- Cyprus: US$705k
- Qatar: US$693k
- Estonia: US$672k
- Kazakhstan: US$659k
- Bosnia & Herzegovina: US$628k
- Egypt: US$615k
- Serbia: US$599k
- Nigeria: US$583k
- Costa Rica: US$579k
Top exporters
| Rank | Country | Value | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |  China | US$551m | 54.6% |
| 2 |  Vietnam | US$96m | 9.5% |
| 3 | United Kingdom | US$78m | 7.7% |
| 4 |  Germany | US$51m | 5% |
| 5 | United States | US$50m | 4.9% |
| 6 |  Netherlands | US$38m | 3.7% |
| 7 |  France | US$17m | 1.7% |
| 8 |  Italy | US$11m | 1.1% |
| 9 |  South Korea | US$10m | 1% |
| 10 |  Sweden | US$9m | 0.9% |
Top importers
| Rank | Country | Value | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | United States | US$401m | 39.7% |
| 2 | Canada | US$87m | 8.6% |
| 3 | United Kingdom | US$86m | 8.6% |
| 4 | Germany | US$68m | 6.8% |
| 5 | Netherlands | US$34m | 3.4% |
| 6 | Switzerland | US$33m | 3.3% |
| 7 |  Belgium | US$32m | 3.1% |
| 8 |  Ireland | US$28m | 2.8% |
| 9 | France | US$26m | 2.6% |
| 10 |  Australia | US$26m | 2.6% |
Heading 4909 is a single line in the EU Combined Nomenclature, where the duty is duty-free.
The Turkish Customs Tariff Schedule has one tariff line for heading 4909; the duty is duty-free.
In the Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States, heading 4909 covers 2 tariff lines and the duty is duty-free.
The Customs Tariff of Canada has one tariff line for heading 4909; the duty is duty-free.
Heading 4909 is a single line in the Mexican Tariff (TIGIE), where the duty is 15%.
The Brazilian Tariff (NCM/TEC) has one tariff line for heading 4909; the duty is 14.4%.
In the Argentine Tariff (NCM-SIM), heading 4909 covers 4 tariff lines and the duty is 16%.
The Customs Tariff of Peru has one tariff line for heading 4909; the duty is 6%.
In the Working Tariff Document of New Zealand, heading 4909 covers 3 tariff lines and the duty is duty-free.
The Customs Tariff Schedules of Japan has one tariff line for heading 4909; the duty is duty-free.
In the Customs Import Tariff of Taiwan, heading 4909 covers 2 tariff lines and the duty is duty-free.
The GCC Common Customs Tariff divides heading 4909 into 5 tariff lines; the duty is 5%.
Heading 4909 is a single line in the Swiss Customs Tariff (Tares), where the duty is duty-free.
The Customs Tariff of Norway has one tariff line for heading 4909; the duty is duty-free.
Heading 4909 is a single line in the Customs Tariff of North Macedonia, where the duty is duty-free.
The ECOWAS Common External Tariff (Nigeria) has one tariff line for heading 4909; the duty is 20%.
In 2024, countries exported heading 4909 goods worth US$1bn (+8.2% year on year).
The largest exporter was China (US$551m), followed by Vietnam.
The biggest buyer was the United States, with imports of US$401m.
The United Kingdom ranked 3rd among 158 exporters with US$78m.
The United Kingdom imported US$86m.
Products classified here
Questions and answers
What is the HS code for printed or illustrated postcards; printed cards bearing personal greetings, messages or announcements, whether or not illustrated, with or without envelopes or trimmings?
Printed or illustrated postcards; printed cards bearing personal greetings, messages or announcements, whether or not illustrated, with or without envelopes or trimmings fall under HS heading 4909, part of chapter 49, in section X of the Harmonized System.
What is the import duty on printed or illustrated postcards in the EU?
Under the EU Combined Nomenclature, imports under 4909 from countries without a preferential agreement are free of duty. Preferential rates, anti-dumping duties and VAT are not included.
What is the import duty on printed or illustrated postcards in Türkiye?
Under the Turkish Customs Tariff Schedule, imports under 4909 from countries without a preferential agreement are free of duty. Preferential rates, anti-dumping duties and VAT are not included.
Which country exports the most printed or illustrated postcards?
China, with US$551m in 2024 (54.6% of world exports).