Product classification
HS code for Air cooler: 8479.60
Machinery and mechanical appliances, evaporative air coolers.
Classification of air cooler under HS 8479.60
Evaporative air coolers are classified under HS code 8479.60. This classification is part of Chapter 84, which encompasses nuclear reactors, boilers, machinery, and mechanical appliances. Specifically, heading 8479 covers machines and mechanical appliances having individual functions, not specified or included elsewhere in the chapter. Evaporative air coolers work by drawing air through water-saturated pads, causing the water to evaporate and cool the air. This is a distinct mechanical process from the compression-refrigeration cycles used in standard air conditioners. Because these devices do not incorporate a refrigerating unit consisting of a compressor and an evaporator, they cannot be classified under heading 8415. Instead, they are recognized as mechanical appliances with the specific function of cooling air through evaporation, leading to their placement in subheading 8479.60.
- Covers
- Portable evaporative air coolers
- Industrial swamp coolers
- Residential desert coolers
- Fixed-installation evaporative cooling units
- Mobile spot coolers using water evaporation
- Also under 8479.60
- Symphony Air Coolers
- Portacool portable evaporative coolers
- Honeywell evaporative coolers
- Bajaj evaporative coolers
- Coolair evaporative coolers
Codes often confused with 8479.60
Common mistake. The most frequent misclassification occurs with HS code 8415.10, which covers air conditioning machines. The critical distinction is that 8415 requires a refrigeration unit (compressor). If the device only uses a fan and water evaporation, it must stay in 8479.60. Additionally, simple electric fans are classified under 8414.51 or 8414.59. If the device has no water pump or evaporation media and only moves air, it belongs in 8414 rather than 8479.
Top exporters and importers of HS 847960 (the code used for air cooler), 2025
In 2025, the largest exporter of HS 847960 (the code used for air cooler) in UN Comtrade data was China, with 59% of world exports; the largest importer in UN Comtrade data was the United States, with 15% of world imports. Countries that did not report 2025 data are estimated from partner records, which can understate them.
Figures cover everything classified under HS 847960, not only air cooler.
Top exporters 2025 · share of world exports
- 1 China $440M 59% of world exports
- 2 Canada $78M 11% of world exports
- 3 United States $47M 6.3% of world exports
World total: $742M Reported figures on UN Comtrade ↗
Top importers 2025 · share of world imports
- 1 United States $122M 15% of world imports
- 2 Iraq* ~$110M 13% of world imports · partner records ↗
- 3 Brazil $62M 7.4% of world imports
World total: $827M 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 code for air cooler
Brazil classifies air cooler under NCM 8479.60.00: HS 8479.60 with 00 added.
Source: Siscomex NCM table, updated Oct 2026. The Portuguese text on each NCM page is the official one.
Questions about air cooler
What is the HS code for Air cooler?
The HS code for Air cooler is 847960 (Machinery and mechanical appliances; evaporative air coolers). The HS code for evaporative air coolers is 8479.60.
How do I classify Air cooler for customs?
Air cooler is classified under HS code 847960 — Machinery and mechanical appliances; evaporative air coolers. This is a 6-digit subheading level code.
Does this code include air conditioners?
No, air conditioners that use a compressor and refrigerant are classified under HS code 8415. HS code 8479.60 is strictly for evaporative (swamp) coolers.
Which countries are the top exporters of air cooler (HS 847960)?
In 2025, the top exporters of HS 847960 (the code used for air cooler) in UN Comtrade data were China ($440M, 59% of world exports), Canada ($78M) and the United States ($47M). World exports came to about $742M, 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 air cooler (HS 847960)?
In 2025, the top importers of HS 847960 (the code used for air cooler) in UN Comtrade data were the United States ($122M, 15% of world imports), Iraq (about $110M) and Brazil ($62M). World imports came to about $827M, 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.
Is the HS code for Air cooler the same in all countries?
The base HS code 847960 for Air cooler is internationally standardized for the first 6 digits across 200+ countries. Individual countries may add additional digits for national tariff lines and specific classifications.
What is the NCM code for air cooler in Brazil?
In Brazil, air cooler (HS 847960) is classified under NCM 8479.60.00.