Product classification

HS code for Automatic sewing machine: 8452.21

Sewing machines, (not household type), automatic units.

Classification of automatic sewing machine under HS 8452.21

The classification of automatic sewing machines under HS code 8452.21 is determined by the machine's primary function and its industrial application. Heading 8452 covers sewing machines other than book-sewing machines of heading 8440. Within this heading, a distinction is made between machines of the household type (8452.10) and those used for industrial or professional purposes. Subheading 8452.21 specifically identifies "automatic units." To qualify as an automatic unit, the machine must possess a mechanism that controls the movement of the needle, the feed, or the workpiece according to a pre-set program, allowing for the execution of complex stitching patterns or sequences without constant manual intervention. This classification is governed by General Interpretative Rule (GRI) 1 and 6, focusing on the technical capabilities of the unit. These machines are typically used in garment factories, upholstery manufacturing, and leatherworking industries where high-speed, repetitive, and precise stitching is required. The automatic nature of these machines often involves electronic or pneumatic control systems that differentiate them from standard manual or semi-automatic industrial machines.

Covers
  • Industrial automatic lockstitch machines
  • Programmable pattern sewing machines
  • Automatic buttonhole machines
  • CNC-controlled sewing units
  • Automatic pocket welting machines
  • Electronic bar-tacking machines
Also under 8452.21
  • Juki AMS series
  • Brother BAS series
  • Durkopp Adler 867
  • Pfaff 3588
  • Lectra FocusCut
  • Mitsubishi PLK series

Codes often confused with 8452.21

Common mistake. A frequent error involves confusing 8452.21 with 8452.10, which is reserved for household sewing machines. Household machines are generally lighter, slower, and designed for intermittent use. Another common misclassification occurs with 8452.29, which covers other non-household sewing machines that are not automatic units. If a machine requires manual guidance for every stitch or lacks a programmable control unit, it must be classified under 8452.29 rather than 8452.21.

8452.10Sewing machines; of the household type8452.29Sewing machines; not household or automatic unit type

Top exporters and importers of HS 845221 (the code used for automatic sewing machine), 2025

In 2025, the largest exporter of HS 845221 (the code used for automatic sewing machine) in UN Comtrade data was China, with 78% of world exports; the largest importer in UN Comtrade data was Vietnam, with about 16% 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 845221, not only automatic sewing machine.

Top exporters 2025 · share of world exports

  1. 1 China $1.3B
  2. 2 Germany $50M
  3. 3 Vietnam* ~$41M

World total: $1.6B Reported figures on UN Comtrade ↗

Top importers 2025 · share of world imports

  1. 1 Vietnam* ~$198M
  2. 2 Bangladesh* ~$106M
  3. 3 Cambodia* ~$95M

World total: $1.2B 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 automatic sewing machine

Brazil splits HS 8452.21 into 3 NCM codes. Pick the one that matches your product:

Source: Siscomex NCM table, updated Oct 2026. The Portuguese text on each NCM page is the official one.

Questions about automatic sewing machine

What is the HS code for Automatic sewing machine?

The HS code for Automatic sewing machine is 845221 (Sewing machines; (not household type), automatic units). The HS code for automatic sewing machines (not household type) is 8452.21.

How do I classify Automatic sewing machine for customs?

Automatic sewing machine is classified under HS code 845221 — Sewing machines; (not household type), automatic units. This is a 6-digit subheading level code.

Does this code include household sewing machines?

No, household sewing machines are classified under HS code 8452.10, regardless of whether they have automatic features.

Which countries are the top exporters of automatic sewing machine (HS 845221)?

In 2025, the top exporters of HS 845221 (the code used for automatic sewing machine) in UN Comtrade data were China ($1.3B, 78% of world exports), Germany ($50M) and Vietnam (about $41M). World exports came to about $1.6B, 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 automatic sewing machine (HS 845221)?

In 2025, the top importers of HS 845221 (the code used for automatic sewing machine) in UN Comtrade data were Vietnam (about $198M, 16% of world imports), Bangladesh (about $106M) and Cambodia (about $95M). World imports came to about $1.2B, 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 Automatic sewing machine the same in all countries?

The base HS code 845221 for Automatic sewing machine 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 automatic sewing machine in Brazil?

Brazil splits HS 845221 into 3 NCM codes, so the right one for automatic sewing machine depends on the product's details: 8452.21.10 (Automatic sewing units for leather or skins), 8452.21.20 (Automatic sewing units for fabrics), 8452.21.90 (Other automatic sewing units).