Product classification
HS code for Centrifuge: 8421.19
Centrifuges, n.e.c. in heading no. 8421, including centrifugal dryers (but not clothes-dryers).
Classification of centrifuge under HS 8421.19
Centrifuges are classified under HS code 8421.19. Heading 8421 is a broad category that includes centrifuges, including centrifugal dryers, as well as filtering or purifying machinery for liquids or gases. The classification of a centrifuge is based on its use of centrifugal force to separate substances of different densities. Subheading 8421.19 is the "other" category for centrifuges that do not fall into the specific niches of cream separators (8421.11) or clothes-dryers (8421.12). This code covers a wide range of equipment, from small laboratory centrifuges used for blood analysis to massive industrial centrifuges used in wastewater treatment or chemical manufacturing. The classification is determined by the machine's primary mechanical action of high-speed rotation to achieve separation. It is important to distinguish these from centrifugal casting machines or centrifugal sifting machines, which have their own specific headings based on their primary industrial function.
- Covers
- Laboratory centrifuges for research and medical diagnostics
- Decanter centrifuges for industrial sludge dewatering
- Centrifugal separators for oil and water mixtures
- Basket centrifuges for chemical processing
- Centrifugal dryers for industrial components (excluding clothes)
- Also under 8421.19
- Alfa Laval decanter centrifuges
- GEA Westfalia disc stack separators
- Eppendorf laboratory centrifuges
- Hettich centrifuges
- Flottweg decanter centrifuges
Codes often confused with 8421.19
Common mistake. The most common misclassification for centrifuges is using 8421.12, which is strictly for clothes-dryers. Industrial centrifugal dryers used for plastic pellets or metal parts must stay in 8421.19. Another error involves laboratory equipment; while some lab tools fall under chapter 90, centrifuges are specifically named in 8421 and therefore must be classified there according to the Section XVI notes. Additionally, centrifugal pumps are sometimes confused with centrifuges, but pumps (8413) move liquid, while centrifuges (8421) separate materials within a liquid or separate liquids of different densities.
Top exporters and importers of HS 842119 (the code used for centrifuge), 2025
In 2025, the largest exporter of HS 842119 (the code used for centrifuge) in UN Comtrade data was Germany, with 39% of world exports; the largest importer in UN Comtrade data was China, with 14% 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 842119, not only centrifuge.
Top exporters 2025 · share of world exports
- 1 Germany $903M 39% of world exports
- 2 China $404M 17% of world exports
- 3 United States $188M 8.1% of world exports
World total: $2.3B Reported figures on UN Comtrade ↗
Top importers 2025 · share of world imports
- 1 China $314M 14% of world imports
- 2 United States $308M 14% of world imports
- 3 India $87M 3.9% of world imports
World total: $2.2B 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 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 centrifuge
Brazil splits HS 8421.19 into 2 NCM codes. Pick the one that matches your product:
- 8421.19.10Laboratory centrifuges
- 8421.19.90Other centrifuges, including centrifugal dryers
Source: Siscomex NCM table, updated Oct 2026. The Portuguese text on each NCM page is the official one.
Questions about centrifuge
What is the HS code for Centrifuge?
The HS code for Centrifuge is 842119 (Centrifuges; n.e.c. in heading no. 8421, including centrifugal dryers (but not clothes-dryers)). The HS code for most industrial and laboratory centrifuges is 8421.19.
How do I classify Centrifuge for customs?
Centrifuge is classified under HS code 842119 — Centrifuges; n.e.c. in heading no. 8421, including centrifugal dryers (but not clothes-dryers). This is a 6-digit subheading level code.
Are laboratory centrifuges classified differently than industrial ones?
No, both laboratory and industrial centrifuges are generally classified under 8421.19, as the heading is based on the mechanical function rather than the scale of the equipment, provided they are not cream separators or clothes dryers.
Which countries are the top exporters of centrifuge (HS 842119)?
In 2025, the top exporters of HS 842119 (the code used for centrifuge) in UN Comtrade data were Germany ($903M, 39% of world exports), China ($404M) and the United States ($188M). World exports came to about $2.3B, 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 centrifuge (HS 842119)?
In 2025, the top importers of HS 842119 (the code used for centrifuge) in UN Comtrade data were China ($314M, 14% of world imports), the United States ($308M) and India ($87M). World imports came to about $2.2B, 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 Centrifuge the same in all countries?
The base HS code 842119 for Centrifuge 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 centrifuge in Brazil?
Brazil splits HS 842119 into 2 NCM codes, so the right one for centrifuge depends on the product's details: 8421.19.10 (Laboratory centrifuges), 8421.19.90 (Other centrifuges, including centrifugal dryers).