Natural cork, debacked or roughly squared, or in rectangular (including square) blocks, plates, sheets or strip, (including sharp-edged blanks for corks or stoppers)

HS v2022 Code: 4502

About natural cork, debacked or roughly squared, or in rectangular (including square) blocks, plates, sheets or strip, (including sharp-edged blanks for corks or stoppers)

HS code 4502 covers natural cork that has been debacked or roughly squared, as well as cork products in the form of rectangular (including square) blocks, plates, sheets, or strips. This includes sharp-edged blanks for corks or stoppers. The cork industry plays a significant role in the global economy, providing a sustainable and versatile raw material for a wide range of applications, from wine bottle closures to insulation materials.

Production process

The production of natural cork products under HS code 4502 typically involves several key steps. First, the cork oak tree bark is harvested, a process known as 'debarking' or 'stripping'. The harvested cork is then sorted, graded, and processed to remove any impurities or defects. Depending on the desired final product, the cork may be further shaped, cut, or laminated into the required blocks, plates, sheets, or strips.

Production inputs

The primary input for the production of HS code 4502 products is natural cork, which is harvested from the bark of the cork oak tree (4501 Natural cork, raw or simply prepared) found predominantly in the Mediterranean region. In addition to the raw cork material, the industry also requires specialized machinery and tools for the harvesting, processing, and shaping of the cork products.

Production outputs

The main outputs of the HS code 4502 industry are various forms of natural cork products, including blocks, plates, sheets, and strips. These cork products are widely used in a variety of applications, such as the manufacture of 4503 Articles of natural cork and 4504 (Agglomerated cork (with or without a binding substance) and articles of agglomerated cork). The cork industry also supplies raw materials to other industries, such as the wine and construction sectors.

Family tree for natural cork, debacked or roughly squared, or in rectangular (including square) blocks, plates, sheets or strip, (including sharp-edged blanks for corks or stoppers)

    graph LR
    A["<a href='/classifications/hs/v2022/45'>45: Cork and articles of cork</a>"]
A --> B["<a href='/classifications/hs/v2022/4502'>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 --> C["<a href='/classifications/hs/v2022/4501'>4501: Natural cork, raw or simply prepared; waste cork; crushed, granulated or ground cork</a>"]
A --> D["<a href='/classifications/hs/v2022/4503'>4503: Cork; articles of natural cork</a>"]
A --> E["<a href='/classifications/hs/v2022/4504'>4504: Agglomerated cork (with or without a binding substance) and articles of agglomerated cork</a>"]

    B --> F["<a href='/classifications/hs/v2022/450200'>450200: Cork; 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>"]


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class C level4
class D level4
class E level4
class F level6

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