Agglomerated cork (with or without a binding substance) and articles of agglomerated cork

HS code 4504 covers the production and trade of agglomerated cork, a versatile material with a wide range of applications. Agglomerated cork is created by binding together small pieces of natural cork, either with or without the use of additional binding substances. This industry plays a crucial role in the global cork market, providing a sustainable and eco-friendly alternative to many traditional materials used in construction, insulation, and various consumer products.

The production of agglomerated cork typically involves grinding or shredding natural cork into small pieces, which are then combined with a binding agent, such as resin or adhesive. The mixture is then compressed and molded into the desired shape or form, often using heat and pressure. This process allows for the creation of a wide range of agglomerated cork products, from insulation panels and flooring to bottle stoppers and decorative items.

The primary input for the agglomerated cork industry is, of course, natural cork. Cork is harvested from the bark of the cork oak tree (4501 Natural cork, raw or simply prepared), which is a renewable and sustainable resource. In addition to the raw cork material, the industry also requires various binding agents, such as resins or adhesives, as well as specialized machinery and equipment for the production and shaping of the agglomerated cork products.

The main outputs of the agglomerated cork industry are a diverse range of products, including insulation panels, flooring, gaskets, bottle stoppers, and decorative items. These agglomerated cork products are widely used in the construction, automotive, and consumer goods industries, among others. The outputs of this industry may be further processed or incorporated into the production of goods classified under various other HS codes, such as 4503 Articles of natural cork, 4418 Builders' joinery and carpentry of wood, including cellular wood panels, assembled flooring panels, shingles and shakes, and 4202 Trunks, suit-cases, vanity-cases, executive-cases, briefcases, school satchels, spectacle cases, binocular cases, camera cases, musical instrument cases, gun cases, holsters and similar containers; travelling-bags, insulated food or beverages bags, toilet bags, rucksacks, handbags, shopping-bags, wallets, purses, map-cases, cigarette-cases, tobacco-pouches, tool bags, sports bags, bottle-cases, jewelry boxes, powder-boxes, cutlery cases and similar containers, of leather or of composition leather, of sheeting of plastics, of textile materials, of vulcanized fiber or of paperboard, or wholly or mainly covered with such materials or with paper.