HS code · 6-digit subheading

HS Code 8533.40 – Electrical resistors; variable, including rheostats and potentiometers (excluding heating)

HS code 8533.40 is the 6-digit subheading for electrical resistors, variable, including rheostats and potentiometers (excluding heating). It is used for carbon potentiometers, cermet potentiometers, conductive plastic potentiometers, digital potentiometers and joystick potentiometers.

What HS 8533.40 covers

This HS code broadly covers variable electrical resistors, including rheostats and potentiometers, that are not specifically wirewound. This encompasses a wide array of technologies such as carbon, cermet, and conductive plastic types, used for adjusting resistance in electronic circuits. These components are found in everything from consumer electronics (e.g., volume controls, joystick sensors) to automotive applications and industrial control panels. Importers are diverse, ranging from large-scale electronics manufacturers to automotive suppliers and medical device producers. Exporters are typically component specialists offering a variety of form factors and material properties. The trade is driven by the need for cost-effective, reliable, and application-specific adjustment mechanisms.

Covers
  • Carbon potentiometers
  • Cermet potentiometers
  • Conductive plastic potentiometers
  • Digital potentiometers
  • Joystick potentiometers
  • Sensor potentiometers
  • Slide potentiometers (non-wirewound)
Examples
  • Bourns 3386 series cermet trimmers
  • ALPS RK09 series carbon pots
  • Vishay Sfernice P16 series
  • Honeywell RTY series rotary position sensors

Codes often confused with 8533.40

Common mistake. Can be confused with 853331 or 853339 if the variable resistor is wirewound, or with 853321/853329 if its variable nature is overlooked.

8533.31Electrical resistors; wirewound variable, including rheostats and potentiometers, for a power handling capacity not exceeding 20W (excluding heating)8533.39Electrical resistors; wirewound variable, including rheostats and potentiometers, for a power handling capacity exceeding 20W (excluding heating)8533.21Electrical resistors; fixed, for a power handling capacity not exceeding 20W (including rheostats and potentiometers but excluding heating resistors and carbon resistors)8533.29Electrical resistors; fixed, for a power handling capacity exceeding 20W (including rheostats and potentiometers but excluding heating resistors and carbon resistors)

Top exporters and importers of HS code 853340, 2025

In 2025, the largest exporter of HS code 853340 in UN Comtrade data was China, with 25% of world exports; the largest importer in UN Comtrade data was China, with 21% 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 China $935M
  2. 2 Hong Kong $413M
  3. 3 United States $281M

World total: $3.7B Reported figures on UN Comtrade ↗

Top importers 2025 · share of world imports

  1. 1 China $784M
  2. 2 United States $403M
  3. 3 Hong Kong $339M

World total: $3.7B 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 codes for 8533.40 7

Brazil splits HS 8533.40 into 7 NCM codes, Mercosur's 8-digit tariff lines.

  1. 8533.40.1 Non-linear semiconductor resistorsResistências não lineares semicondutoras Group
  2. 8533.40.11 ThermistorsTermistores
  3. 8533.40.12 Varistors for 1,000 V or lessVaristores para uma tensão inferior ou igual a 1.000 V
  4. 8533.40.13 Other varistors, over 1,000 VOutros varistores
  5. 8533.40.19 Other non-linear semiconductor resistorsOutras
  6. 8533.40.9 OtherOutras Group
  7. 8533.40.91 Carbon throttle position potentiometersPotenciômetro de carvão, do tipo utilizado para determinar o ângulo de abertura da borboleta, em sistemas de injeção de combustível controlados eletronicamente
  8. 8533.40.92 Other carbon potentiometersOutros potenciômetros de carvão
  9. 8533.40.99 Other variable resistorsOutras

All Brazil NCM codes in heading 85.33 →

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

Questions about HS 8533.40

What is HS code 853340?

HS code 853340 is a 6-digit subheading in the Harmonized System that covers: Electrical resistors; variable, including rheostats and potentiometers (excluding heating). This HS code broadly covers variable electrical resistors, including rheostats and potentiometers, that are not specifically wirewound. This encompasses a wide array of technologies such as carbon, cermet, and conductive plastic types, used for adjusting resistance in electronic circuits. These components are found in everything from consumer electronics (e.g., volume controls, joystick sensors) to automotive applications and industrial control panels. Importers are diverse, ranging from large-scale electronics manufacturers to automotive suppliers and medical device producers. Exporters are typically component specialists offering a variety of form factors and material properties. The trade is driven by the need for cost-effective, reliable, and application-specific adjustment mechanisms.

What products fall under HS code 853340?

Carbon potentiometers, cermet potentiometers, conductive plastic potentiometers, digital potentiometers, joystick potentiometers, sensor potentiometers, slide potentiometers (non-wirewound)

What are common misclassifications for HS code 853340?

Can be confused with 853331 or 853339 if the variable resistor is wirewound, or with 853321/853329 if its variable nature is overlooked.

Which countries are the top exporters of goods under HS code 853340?

In 2025, the top exporters of HS code 853340 in UN Comtrade data were China ($935M, 25% of world exports), Hong Kong ($413M) and the United States ($281M). World exports came to about $3.7B, 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 853340?

In 2025, the top importers of HS code 853340 in UN Comtrade data were China ($784M, 21% of world imports), the United States ($403M) and Hong Kong ($339M). World imports came to about $3.7B, 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 853340 structured?

HS code 853340 is a 6-digit subheading under the Harmonized System. The first 2 digits (85) identify the chapter, digits 3-4 (33) 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 853340?

Brazil splits HS code 853340 into 7 NCM codes: 8533.40.11 (Thermistors), 8533.40.12 (Varistors for 1,000 V or less), 8533.40.13 (Other varistors, over 1,000 V), 8533.40.19 (Other non-linear semiconductor resistors), 8533.40.91 (Carbon throttle position potentiometers), 8533.40.92 (Other carbon potentiometers), 8533.40.99 (Other variable resistors). The first 6 digits of each match the HS code.