Cork; articles of natural cork

HS v2017 Code: 4503

About cork; articles of natural cork

HS code 4503 covers a range of products made from natural cork, a versatile and renewable material derived from the bark of the cork oak tree. The cork industry plays a significant role in the global economy, particularly in regions where cork oak forests are prevalent, such as the Mediterranean basin. Cork products find applications across diverse sectors, including construction, transportation, and consumer goods, making this industry an important contributor to international trade and economic development.

Production process

The production of cork products typically involves a series of specialized techniques. First, the cork bark is harvested from the cork oak trees, a process known as 'cork stripping' that is carried out every 9-12 years without harming the tree. The harvested cork is then boiled, cleaned, and sorted based on quality and thickness. Depending on the final product, the cork may be further processed through cutting, shaping, or agglomeration techniques to create a wide range of articles, from bottle stoppers and insulation materials to decorative items and construction components.

Production inputs

The primary input for the cork industry is, of course, the raw cork harvested from cork oak trees. In addition, the production of cork products requires specialized machinery and tools for cutting, shaping, and processing the cork. Adhesives, coatings, and other materials may also be used in the manufacturing of certain cork-based articles. The availability of skilled labor, particularly in regions with a long-standing cork industry tradition, is another crucial input for this sector.

Production outputs

The cork industry produces a diverse range of outputs, including 4503 Cork; articles of natural cork, such as bottle stoppers, insulation materials, flooring, and decorative items. These cork-based products are widely used in various industries, including 2204 Wine, 4415 Packing cases, boxes, crates, drums and similar packagings, of wood; cable-drums of wood; pallets, box pallets and other load boards, of wood; pallet collars of wood, and 6815 Articles of stone or of other mineral substances, n.e.s.. The versatility of cork and the growing demand for sustainable materials make this industry an important contributor to the global economy.

Family tree for cork; articles of natural cork

    graph LR
    A["<a href='/classifications/hs/v2017/45'>45: Cork and articles of cork</a>"]
A --> B["<a href='/classifications/hs/v2017/4503'>4503: Cork; articles of natural cork</a>"]

    A --> C["<a href='/classifications/hs/v2017/4501'>4501: Natural cork, raw or simply prepared; waste cork; crushed, granulated or ground cork</a>"]
A --> D["<a href='/classifications/hs/v2017/4502'>4502: Natural cork, debacked or roughly squared, or in rectangular (including square) blocks, plates, sheets or strip, (including sharp-edged blanks for corks or stoppers)</a>"]
A --> E["<a href='/classifications/hs/v2017/4504'>4504: Agglomerated cork (with or without a binding substance) and articles of agglomerated cork</a>"]

    B --> F["<a href='/classifications/hs/v2017/450310'>450310: Cork; corks and stoppers, of natural cork</a>"]
B --> G["<a href='/classifications/hs/v2017/450390'>450390: Cork; articles of natural cork other than corks and stoppers</a>"]


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  %% Apply classes
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class C level4
class D level4
class E level4
class F level6
class G level6

  class B highlight

  %% class A level1
  %% class B,C level2
  %% class D,E,F,G,H,I level2
  %% class J,K,L,M,N,O,P level3
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