Product classification
HS code for Brewery equipment: 8438.40
Machinery, industrial, brewery machinery.
Classification of brewery equipment under HS 8438.40
HS code 843840 is specifically designated for industrial brewery machinery. This classification encompasses a wide range of specialized equipment essential for the various stages of beer production, from mashing and lautering to fermentation and conditioning. The key criterion for inclusion under this code is the machinery's dedicated function within a brewery setting, distinguishing it from general food or beverage processing equipment. Its industrial nature implies robust construction and capacity suitable for commercial-scale operations, ensuring efficient and consistent production of alcoholic beverages derived from malt.
- Covers
- Mash tuns
- Lauter tuns
- Brew kettles (boiling vessels)
- Whirlpools
- Fermentation tanks (fermenters)
- Bright beer tanks (conditioning tanks)
- Wort chillers
- Yeast propagation systems
- Filtration systems (e.g., plate and frame filters, centrifuges) specifically for beer
- Also under 8438.40
- Krones Bottling Lines
- GEA Brewery Systems
- Alfa Laval Separators
- BrauKon Brewhouses
- Ziemann Holvrieka Tanks
Codes often confused with 8438.40
Common mistake. HS 843880 (Other machinery for the industrial preparation or manufacture of food or drink, not specified or included elsewhere): While brewery equipment processes food/drink, 843840 is a more specific and therefore preferred classification. Misclassification occurs when the specific "brewery machinery" sub-heading is overlooked. HS 841989 (Other machinery, plant or laboratory equipment, whether or not electrically heated, for the treatment of materials by a process involving a change of temperature): Components like heat exchangers or heating elements within a brewery might be confused with this general code. However, when integrated as part of a dedicated brewery system, the entire unit or primary components fall under 843840. HS 842230 (Machinery for filling, closing, sealing or labelling bottles, cans, boxes, bags or other containers; other packing or wrapping machinery): Bottling or canning lines, while part of a brewery's overall operation, are generally classified under 842230 unless they are highly integrated and specifically designed as an inseparable part of the brewing process itself, which is rare.
Top exporters and importers of HS 843840 (the code used for brewery equipment), 2025
In 2025, the largest exporter of HS 843840 (the code used for brewery equipment) 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.
Figures cover everything classified under HS 843840, not only brewery equipment.
Top exporters 2025 · share of world exports
- 1 Germany $161M 44% of world exports
- 2 China $79M 21% of world exports
- 3 Belgium $20M 5.4% of world exports
World total: $368M Reported figures on UN Comtrade ↗
Top importers 2025 · share of world imports
- 1 Brazil $74M 18% of world imports
- 2 United States $34M 8.0% of world imports
- 3 Ireland $29M 6.8% of world imports
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 brewery equipment
Brazil classifies brewery equipment under NCM 8438.40.00: HS 8438.40 with 00 added.
Source: Siscomex NCM table, updated Oct 2026. The Portuguese text on each NCM page is the official one.
Questions about brewery equipment
What is the HS code for Brewery equipment?
The HS code for Brewery equipment is 843840 (Machinery; industrial, brewery machinery). The HS code for industrial brewery machinery is 843840.
How do I classify Brewery equipment for customs?
Brewery equipment is classified under HS code 843840 — Machinery; industrial, brewery machinery. This is a 6-digit subheading level code.
Does HS 843840 include bottling and packaging lines?
Generally, dedicated bottling, canning, or packaging lines are classified under HS 842230. HS 843840 primarily covers the machinery directly involved in the brewing process itself, such as mashing, boiling, fermentation, and conditioning, rather than the final packaging stages.
Which countries are the top exporters of brewery equipment (HS 843840)?
In 2025, the top exporters of HS 843840 (the code used for brewery equipment) 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 brewery equipment (HS 843840)?
In 2025, the top importers of HS 843840 (the code used for brewery equipment) 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.
Is the HS code for Brewery equipment the same in all countries?
The base HS code 843840 for Brewery equipment 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 brewery equipment in Brazil?
In Brazil, brewery equipment (HS 843840) is classified under NCM 8438.40.00.