HS code · 6-digit subheading
HS Code 8434.20 – Dairy machinery
HS code 8434.20 is the 6-digit subheading for dairy machinery. It is used for milk pasteurizers, cream separators, homogenizers, cheese vats and yogurt fermentation tanks.
What HS 8434.20 covers
This HS code covers a broad range of machinery used in the processing of milk into various dairy products, excluding the initial milking process itself. This includes equipment for pasteurization, homogenization, separation, and the production of cheese, yogurt, butter, and ice cream. Importers are typically dairy processing plants, food manufacturers, and large-scale commercial kitchens looking to produce or expand their dairy product lines. Exporters are often specialized industrial machinery manufacturers with expertise in food processing technology. The trade in dairy machinery is driven by consumer demand for diverse dairy products, food safety regulations, and the need for efficient, scalable production. Key considerations include hygiene design, automation capabilities, and energy efficiency, as these machines operate in highly regulated environments.
- Covers
- Milk pasteurizers
- Cream separators
- Homogenizers
- Cheese vats
- Yogurt fermentation tanks
- Butter churns
- Ice cream freezers (industrial)
- Milk bottling lines
- Examples
- Tetra Pak processing units
- GEA dairy processing lines
- Alfa Laval separators
- Krones milk bottling equipment
- SPX FLOW homogenizers
Codes often confused with 8434.20
Common mistake. This code is for processing machinery and should be differentiated from milking machines (843410) and their parts (843490). It also differs from general food processing machinery (8438) if not specifically for dairy.
Top exporters and importers of HS code 843420, 2025
In 2025, the largest exporter of HS code 843420 in UN Comtrade data was Italy, with 12% of world exports; the largest importer in UN Comtrade data was Russia, with about 8.2% of world imports. Countries that did not report 2025 data are estimated from partner records, which can understate them.
Top exporters 2025 · share of world exports
- 1 Italy $83M 12% of world exports
- 2 Poland $82M 12% of world exports
- 3 Germany $52M 7.5% of world exports
World total: $689M Reported figures on UN Comtrade ↗
Top importers 2025 · share of world imports
- 1 Russia* ~$61M 8.2% of world imports · partner records ↗
- 2 United States $56M 7.6% of world imports
- 3 Canada $44M 6.0% of world imports
World total: $737M Reported figures on UN Comtrade ↗
How these figures are built
109 countries reported 2025 trade to UN Comtrade in HS 2022, and their own totals are used. Countries marked * did not, so their figures add up what other countries recorded trading with them, and their exports are valued at buyers' CIF prices. Those estimates miss trade with other non-reporting countries, so they can be low, and a non-reporting country can rank higher than shown or be missing from the list. World totals add both and leave out trade between two non-reporting countries. Figures are in current US dollars; reported imports are mostly valued CIF and exports FOB, and exports include re-exports. The UN Comtrade links show the underlying records; they can also list a few reporters left out here (regional groups and older HS editions).
Source: UN Comtrade (United Nations Statistics Division), 2025 annual data.
Brazil NCM codes for 8434.20 2
Brazil splits HS 8434.20 into 2 NCM codes, Mercosur's 8-digit tariff lines.
All Brazil NCM codes in heading 84.34 →
Source: Siscomex NCM table, updated Oct 2026. The Portuguese text is official; the English is our translation.
Questions about HS 8434.20
What is HS code 843420?
HS code 843420 is a 6-digit subheading in the Harmonized System that covers: Dairy machinery. This HS code covers a broad range of machinery used in the processing of milk into various dairy products, excluding the initial milking process itself. This includes equipment for pasteurization, homogenization, separation, and the production of cheese, yogurt, butter, and ice cream. Importers are typically dairy processing plants, food manufacturers, and large-scale commercial kitchens looking to produce or expand their dairy product lines. Exporters are often specialized industrial machinery manufacturers with expertise in food processing technology. The trade in dairy machinery is driven by consumer demand for diverse dairy products, food safety regulations, and the need for efficient, scalable production. Key considerations include hygiene design, automation capabilities, and energy efficiency, as these machines operate in highly regulated environments.
What products fall under HS code 843420?
Milk pasteurizers, Cream separators, Homogenizers, Cheese vats, Yogurt fermentation tanks, Butter churns, Ice cream freezers (industrial), Milk bottling lines
What are common misclassifications for HS code 843420?
This code is for processing machinery and should be differentiated from milking machines (843410) and their parts (843490). It also differs from general food processing machinery (8438) if not specifically for dairy.
Which countries are the top exporters of goods under HS code 843420?
In 2025, the top exporters of HS code 843420 in UN Comtrade data were Italy ($83M, 12% of world exports), Poland ($82M) and Germany ($52M). World exports came to about $689M, adding countries' reported figures and partner-based estimates for those that did not report (UN Comtrade data). Countries that did not report 2025 data are estimated from partner records, which can understate them.
Which countries are the top importers of goods under HS code 843420?
In 2025, the top importers of HS code 843420 in UN Comtrade data were Russia (about $61M, 8.2% of world imports), the United States ($56M) and Canada ($44M). World imports came to about $737M, adding countries' reported figures and partner-based estimates for those that did not report (UN Comtrade data). Countries that did not report 2025 data are estimated from partner records, which can understate them.
How is HS code 843420 structured?
HS code 843420 is a 6-digit subheading under the Harmonized System. The first 2 digits (84) identify the chapter, digits 3-4 (34) identify the heading, and digits 5-6 (20) specify the subheading. This code is standardized globally by the World Customs Organization.
What is the Brazil NCM code for HS code 843420?
Brazil splits HS code 843420 into 2 NCM codes: 8434.20.10 (Milk processing machinery), 8434.20.90 (Other dairy machinery). The first 6 digits of each match the HS code.