Chapter 42 Articles of leather; saddlery and harness; travel goods, handbags and similar containers; articles of animal gut (other than silk-worm gut)

HS code 42 articles of leather: what the chapter covers

Chapter 42 is about things made from leather, not the leather itself. A handbag, a belt and a dog lead all belong here. You may also see it called HSN code 42.

The chapter also takes in travel goods and cases made from plastic sheeting, textile, vulcanised fibre or paperboard. It ends with a small group of articles made from animal gut, bladders and tendons. Silk-worm gut is left out.

HS code 42 headings: 4201 to 4206

Each heading groups a type of product. Here is what each one means in plain words.

• 4201, saddlery and harness: gear for any animal, such as leads, muzzles, saddle cloths and dog coats, made of any material.
• 4202, trunks, suitcases, handbags and similar containers: this heading holds most of the chapter's codes. It covers cases, bags and small items carried in a pocket or handbag.
• 4203, leather apparel and accessories: clothing, gloves, belts and bandoliers made of leather or composition leather.
• 4205, other leather articles: leather goods that no other heading in the chapter names.

What is the HS code for leather handbags? Codes by product

Find your product below. Each line shows one example six-digit code. The heading pages list the rest.

• Suitcases and briefcases with a leather outer surface: 420211.
• Suitcases with a plastic or textile outer surface: 420212.
• Leather belts: 420330, belts and bandoliers.
• Leather clothing: 420310.
• Saddlery and harness: 420100.
• Other leather articles: 420500.
• Articles of gut: 420600.

How to classify leather goods under heading 4202

Under 4202, first ask what the item is. The groups are cases and trunks, handbags, small items carried in a pocket or handbag, and other containers not named elsewhere.

Then look at the outer surface. One group has an outer surface of leather or composition leather. Another has plastic sheeting or textile. The last has vulcanised fibre or paperboard, or is mainly covered with those or with paper. A handbag with a woven textile outside is therefore not in the same code as one with a leather outside.

Wallets and pocket cases sit in the pocket-or-handbag group of 4202. The same outer-surface rule picks the code. Gloves are split by use: padded gloves made for sport have their own code, and all other leather gloves go to another.

Use 4205 only after you have ruled out the named headings. It is the catch-all for leather articles not named elsewhere in the chapter. If you are still unsure, try the HS code classifier.

Raw hides and finished leather belong in Chapter 41. Furskins, artificial fur and things made from them belong in Chapter 43.

HS code 42 import and export data

EximDataX shows shipment-level import and export records from official customs sources. Coverage: 43 direct customs feeds plus 184 mirror-derived countries.

Named buyers and named suppliers are available in 38 of the 43 direct markets. Most markets refresh weekly and some refresh daily.

You can search by HS code to see who imports and exports a product, and book a free demo. Try it with the code for your own handbags, belts or gloves.