HS code · 6-digit subheading

HS Code 8438.40 – Machinery; industrial, brewery machinery

HS code 8438.40 is the 6-digit subheading for machinery, industrial, brewery machinery. It is used for brewhouses, fermentation tanks, filtration systems, bottling lines and kegging machines.

What HS 8438.40 covers

This HS code is dedicated to industrial brewery machinery, encompassing the specialized equipment used in the production of beer and other fermented beverages. This niche within industrial machinery is crucial for the global beverage industry, supporting both large-scale commercial breweries and the burgeoning craft beer sector. Importers are typically breweries looking to expand capacity, modernize their facilities, or establish new production lines. Exporters are often engineering firms and manufacturers specializing in food and beverage processing technology, offering integrated solutions from raw material handling to packaging. The trade is influenced by consumer demand for diverse beer types, technological advancements in brewing processes, and stringent quality control standards, making it a high-value and specialized market segment.

Covers
  • Brewhouses
  • Fermentation tanks
  • Filtration systems
  • Bottling lines
  • Kegging machines
  • Malt mills
  • Wort chillers
  • CIP (Clean-in-Place) systems
Examples
  • Krones Bottling Lines
  • GEA Brewery Systems
  • Alfa Laval Separators
  • BrauKon Brewhouses
  • Ziemann Holvrieka Tanks

Codes often confused with 8438.40

Common mistake. Can be confused with general food processing machinery under 843880 or beverage manufacturing machinery not specifically for brewing under other 8438 subheadings.

8438.80Machinery; used in the industrial preparation or manufacture of food or drink, n.e.c. in heading no. 843884.38Machinery n.e.c. in this chapter, for the industrial preparation or manufacture of food or drink; other than machinery for extraction or preparation of animal or fixed vegetable or microbial fats or oils

Top exporters and importers of HS code 843840, 2025

In 2025, the largest exporter of HS code 843840 in UN Comtrade data was Germany, with 44% of world exports; the largest importer in UN Comtrade data was Brazil, with 18% 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. 1 Germany $161M
  2. 2 China $79M
  3. 3 Belgium $20M

World total: $368M Reported figures on UN Comtrade ↗

Top importers 2025 · share of world imports

  1. 1 Brazil $74M
  2. 2 United States $34M
  3. 3 Ireland $29M

World total: $423M 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 that did not report are estimated from what other countries recorded trading with them. 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 code for 8438.40

Brazil does not split HS 8438.40: its NCM code is 8438.40.00.

  1. 8438.40.00 Brewery machineryMáquinas e aparelhos para a indústria cervejeira

All Brazil NCM codes in heading 84.38 →

Source: Siscomex NCM table, updated Oct 2026. The Portuguese text is official; the English is our translation.

Questions about HS 8438.40

What is HS code 843840?

HS code 843840 is a 6-digit subheading in the Harmonized System that covers: Machinery; industrial, brewery machinery. This HS code is dedicated to industrial brewery machinery, encompassing the specialized equipment used in the production of beer and other fermented beverages. This niche within industrial machinery is crucial for the global beverage industry, supporting both large-scale commercial breweries and the burgeoning craft beer sector. Importers are typically breweries looking to expand capacity, modernize their facilities, or establish new production lines. Exporters are often engineering firms and manufacturers specializing in food and beverage processing technology, offering integrated solutions from raw material handling to packaging. The trade is influenced by consumer demand for diverse beer types, technological advancements in brewing processes, and stringent quality control standards, making it a high-value and specialized market segment.

What products fall under HS code 843840?

Brewhouses, fermentation tanks, filtration systems, bottling lines, kegging machines, malt mills, wort chillers, CIP (Clean-in-Place) systems

What are common misclassifications for HS code 843840?

Can be confused with general food processing machinery under 843880 or beverage manufacturing machinery not specifically for brewing under other 8438 subheadings.

Which countries are the top exporters of goods under HS code 843840?

In 2025, the top exporters of HS code 843840 in UN Comtrade data were Germany ($161M, 44% of world exports), China ($79M) and Belgium ($20M). World exports came to about $368M, 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 843840?

In 2025, the top importers of HS code 843840 in UN Comtrade data were Brazil ($74M, 18% of world imports), the United States ($34M) and Ireland ($29M). World imports came to about $423M, 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 843840 structured?

HS code 843840 is a 6-digit subheading under the Harmonized System. The first 2 digits (84) identify the chapter, digits 3-4 (38) identify the heading, and digits 5-6 (40) specify the subheading. This code is standardized globally by the World Customs Organization.

What is the Brazil NCM code for HS code 843840?

In Brazil, HS code 843840 is NCM 8438.40.00. The last two digits are 00 because Brazil does not split this HS code further.