Product classification
HS code for Chocolate machine: 8438.20
Machinery, industrial, for the manufacture of confectionery, cocoa or chocolate.
Classification of chocolate machine under HS 8438.20
Industrial machinery designed for the manufacture of chocolate and cocoa products is classified under HS code 8438.20. This classification falls under Chapter 84, which covers nuclear reactors, boilers, machinery, and mechanical appliances. Specifically, heading 8438 is dedicated to machinery for the industrial preparation or manufacture of food or drink, not specified elsewhere in the chapter. Subheading 8438.20 is the specific designation for machinery used in the confectionery, cocoa, or chocolate industries. The classification is determined by GRI 1, based on the machine's specialized function. These machines are distinct from general-purpose industrial equipment because they are engineered to handle the specific rheological properties of cocoa butter and chocolate mass, such as tempering, conching, or enrobing. To be classified here, the machine must be of an industrial type; domestic appliances for making chocolate are excluded and usually fall under heading 8509. The scope of 8438.20 includes everything from the processing of raw cocoa beans into liquor to the final molding of chocolate bars. It also covers machinery used to coat other food products with chocolate (enrobers). The essential character of the machine must be its specialized application in the cocoa or confectionery production line.
- Covers
- Chocolate tempering machines
- Cocoa bean roasters (industrial)
- Chocolate enrobing lines
- Chocolate molding and depositing machines
- Also under 8438.20
- Bühler chocolate processing lines
- Aasted tempering machines
- Sollich enrobers
- Bosch Packaging Technology (confectionery)
- Caotech cocoa processing equipment
Codes often confused with 8438.20
Common mistake. Chocolate machines are often misclassified under 8419.81, which covers machinery for making hot drinks or cooking food. However, since 8438.20 is more specific to the manufacture of chocolate, it takes precedence. They are also sometimes confused with 8422.30, which is for packaging machinery, though the two are often used in the same factory line.
Top exporters and importers of HS 843820 (the code used for chocolate machine), 2025
In 2025, the largest exporter of HS 843820 (the code used for chocolate machine) in UN Comtrade data was Germany, with 31% of world exports; the largest importer in UN Comtrade data was the United States, with 13% 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 843820, not only chocolate machine.
Top exporters 2025 · share of world exports
- 1 Germany $459M 31% of world exports
- 2 Italy $210M 14% of world exports
- 3 Netherlands $187M 13% of world exports
World total: $1.5B Reported figures on UN Comtrade ↗
Top importers 2025 · share of world imports
- 1 United States $192M 13% of world imports
- 2 Türkiye $132M 8.9% of world imports
- 3 United Arab Emirates* ~$77M 5.2% of world imports · partner records ↗
World total: $1.5B 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 chocolate machine
Brazil splits HS 8438.20 into 3 NCM codes. Pick the one that matches your product:
- 8438.20.11Chocolate bonbon moulders, 150 kg/h or more
- 8438.20.19Other confectionery machinery
- 8438.20.90Cocoa or chocolate machinery, not confectionery
Source: Siscomex NCM table, updated Oct 2026. The Portuguese text on each NCM page is the official one.
Questions about chocolate machine
What is the HS code for Chocolate machine?
The HS code for Chocolate machine is 843820 (Machinery; industrial, for the manufacture of confectionery, cocoa or chocolate). The HS code for industrial chocolate manufacturing machinery is 8438.20.
How do I classify Chocolate machine for customs?
Chocolate machine is classified under HS code 843820 — Machinery; industrial, for the manufacture of confectionery, cocoa or chocolate. This is a 6-digit subheading level code.
Does this code include small home chocolate fountains?
No, small domestic appliances like chocolate fountains are typically classified under HS code 8509.80 as electro-mechanical domestic appliances.
Which countries are the top exporters of chocolate machine (HS 843820)?
In 2025, the top exporters of HS 843820 (the code used for chocolate machine) in UN Comtrade data were Germany ($459M, 31% of world exports), Italy ($210M) and the Netherlands ($187M). World exports came to about $1.5B, 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 chocolate machine (HS 843820)?
In 2025, the top importers of HS 843820 (the code used for chocolate machine) in UN Comtrade data were the United States ($192M, 13% of world imports), Türkiye ($132M) and the United Arab Emirates (about $77M). World imports came to about $1.5B, 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 Chocolate machine the same in all countries?
The base HS code 843820 for Chocolate 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 chocolate machine in Brazil?
Brazil splits HS 843820 into 3 NCM codes, so the right one for chocolate machine depends on the product's details: 8438.20.11 (Chocolate bonbon moulders, 150 kg/h or more), 8438.20.19 (Other confectionery machinery), 8438.20.90 (Cocoa or chocolate machinery, not confectionery).