Product classification
HS code for Cable car: 8428.60
Teleferics, chair-lifts, ski-draglines, traction mechanisms for funiculars.
Classification of cable car under HS 8428.60
The classification of cable cars under HS code 8428.60 is based on their function as mechanical lifting or handling equipment. Chapter 84 covers nuclear reactors, boilers, machinery, and mechanical appliances. Heading 8428 is dedicated to other lifting, handling, loading, or unloading machinery. Subheading 8428.60 specifically mentions teleferics, chair-lifts, ski-draglines, and traction mechanisms for funiculars. This classification is appropriate because a cable car system is essentially a continuous motion handling apparatus where the cabin or carrier is moved by a cable system. It is important to distinguish between the mechanical system (the cables, pulleys, and traction units) and the actual cabins. Usually, the entire system or the primary traction mechanism is classified here. This code is chosen over Chapter 86 (railway) because cable cars rely on external traction rather than self-propulsion on rails. The engineering focus is on the transport of persons or goods via a suspended or pulled cable, which is the defining characteristic of 8428.60. This includes both the aerial systems and those where the car remains on the ground but is pulled by a cable.
- Covers
- Aerial tramways and gondolas
- Detachable chair-lifts
- Fixed-grip chair-lifts
- T-bar and J-bar ski lifts
- Traction mechanisms for funicular railways
- Cable-driven urban transit cabins
- Also under 8428.60
- Doppelmayr/Garaventa Group gondolas
- Poma chairlifts
- Leitner Ropeways funiculars
- Bartholet Ropeways aerial trams
Codes often confused with 8428.60
Common mistake. Cable cars are often confused with HS code 8603, which covers self-propelled railway or tramway coaches. However, 8603 requires the vehicle to have its own power source, whereas cable cars are moved by an external cable. Another misclassification is 8702, which covers motor vehicles for the transport of ten or more persons; this is incorrect as cable cars do not operate on roads. Some components might be misclassified under 8425 (hoists), but 8428.60 is the specific provision for teleferic systems.
Top exporters and importers of HS 842860 (the code used for cable car), 2025
In 2025, the largest exporter of HS 842860 (the code used for cable car) in UN Comtrade data was Austria, with 54% of world exports; the largest importer in UN Comtrade data was Switzerland, with 12% 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 842860, not only cable car.
Top exporters 2025 · share of world exports
- 1 Austria $361M 54% of world exports
- 2 Italy $144M 21% of world exports
- 3 France $72M 11% of world exports
World total: $675M Reported figures on UN Comtrade ↗
Top importers 2025 · share of world imports
- 1 Switzerland $51M 12% of world imports
- 2 United States $31M 7.2% of world imports
- 3 Azerbaijan $30M 6.9% of world imports
World total: $433M 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 cable car
Brazil classifies cable car under NCM 8428.60.00: HS 8428.60 with 00 added.
Source: Siscomex NCM table, updated Oct 2026. The Portuguese text on each NCM page is the official one.
Questions about cable car
What is the HS code for Cable car?
The HS code for Cable car is 842860 (Teleferics, chair-lifts, ski-draglines, traction mechanisms for funiculars). The HS code for cable cars and teleferic systems is 8428.60.
How do I classify Cable car for customs?
Cable car is classified under HS code 842860 — Teleferics, chair-lifts, ski-draglines, traction mechanisms for funiculars. This is a 6-digit subheading level code.
Does this code include the cables themselves?
No, the steel cables are typically classified by their material in Chapter 73 (7312), unless they are imported as part of a complete system under GRI 2(a).
Which countries are the top exporters of cable car (HS 842860)?
In 2025, the top exporters of HS 842860 (the code used for cable car) in UN Comtrade data were Austria ($361M, 54% of world exports), Italy ($144M) and France ($72M). World exports came to about $675M, 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 cable car (HS 842860)?
In 2025, the top importers of HS 842860 (the code used for cable car) in UN Comtrade data were Switzerland ($51M, 12% of world imports), the United States ($31M) and Azerbaijan ($30M). World imports came to about $433M, 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 Cable car the same in all countries?
The base HS code 842860 for Cable car 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 cable car in Brazil?
In Brazil, cable car (HS 842860) is classified under NCM 8428.60.00.