Product classification
HS code for Colorimeter: 9027.50
Instruments and apparatus, using optical radiations (UV, visible, IR), (other than spectrometers, spectrophotometers and spectrographs).
Classification of colorimeter under HS 9027.50
Instruments classified under HS code 9027.50 are those used for physical or chemical analysis that operate using optical radiations. This category includes ultraviolet (UV), visible, and infrared (IR) light. A colorimeter is a primary example of such an apparatus. It functions by passing a specific wavelength of light through a liquid sample and measuring how much of that light is absorbed. This measurement allows the user to determine the concentration of a specific substance within the sample based on the Beer-Lambert Law. The classification 9027.50 is a 'residual' category for optical instruments, meaning it covers devices that are not more specifically described as spectrometers, spectrophotometers, or spectrographs. The key difference is that a colorimeter typically uses fixed filters to isolate light, whereas a spectrophotometer uses a prism or grating to scan a range of wavelengths. These instruments are essential in clinical laboratories for blood analysis, in environmental science for water quality testing, and in the food industry for color consistency checks. The apparatus must be an 'instrument' in the sense of Chapter 90, meaning it is a precision tool for scientific or technical use. It does not include simple color charts or non-electronic comparators.
- Covers
- Digital colorimeters
- Tristimulus colorimeters
- Portable water testing colorimeters
- Chemical analysis colorimeters
- Photoelectric colorimeters
- Also under 9027.50
- X-Rite Ci7800 Colorimeter
- Hach 2100Q Turbidimeter
- Mettler Toledo Refracto 30PX
- Rudolph Research Autopol V
- Konica Minolta CM-26dG
Codes often confused with 9027.50
Common mistake. The most common misclassification is with 9027.30, which covers spectrometers and spectrophotometers. While similar, spectrophotometers are more complex devices that measure intensity as a function of wavelength. It is also sometimes confused with 9027.80, which is a catch-all for other types of analytical instruments like pH meters.
Top exporters and importers of HS 902750 (the code used for colorimeter), 2025
In 2025, the largest exporter of HS 902750 (the code used for colorimeter) in UN Comtrade data was the United States, with 22% 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 902750, not only colorimeter.
Top exporters 2025 · share of world exports
- 1 United States $2.4B 22% of world exports
- 2 Germany $2.0B 18% of world exports
- 3 Singapore $981M 8.8% of world exports
World total: $11.1B Reported figures on UN Comtrade ↗
Top importers 2025 · share of world imports
- 1 China $1.6B 14% of world imports
- 2 United States $1.5B 13% of world imports
- 3 Germany $1.2B 11% of world imports
World total: $11.6B 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 colorimeter
Brazil splits HS 9027.50 into 6 NCM codes. Pick the one that matches your product:
- 9027.50.10Colorimeters
- 9027.50.20Photometers
- 9027.50.30Refractometers
- 9027.50.40Saccharimeters
- 9027.50.50Flow cytometers
- 9027.50.90Other optical radiation analysis instruments
Source: Siscomex NCM table, updated Oct 2026. The Portuguese text on each NCM page is the official one.
Questions about colorimeter
What is the HS code for Colorimeter?
The HS code for Colorimeter is 902750 (Instruments and apparatus; using optical radiations (UV, visible, IR), (other than spectrometers, spectrophotometers and spectrographs)). The HS code for a colorimeter, as an instrument using optical radiations for analysis, is 9027.50.
How do I classify Colorimeter for customs?
Colorimeter is classified under HS code 902750 — Instruments and apparatus; using optical radiations (UV, visible, IR), (other than spectrometers, spectrophotometers and spectrographs). This is a 6-digit subheading level code.
How does a colorimeter differ from a spectrophotometer?
A colorimeter (9027.50) uses fixed filters to measure specific colors, while a spectrophotometer (9027.30) uses a monochromator to measure light intensity across a continuous spectrum.
Which countries are the top exporters of colorimeter (HS 902750)?
In 2025, the top exporters of HS 902750 (the code used for colorimeter) in UN Comtrade data were the United States ($2.4B, 22% of world exports), Germany ($2.0B) and Singapore ($981M). World exports came to about $11.1B, 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 colorimeter (HS 902750)?
In 2025, the top importers of HS 902750 (the code used for colorimeter) in UN Comtrade data were China ($1.6B, 14% of world imports), the United States ($1.5B) and Germany ($1.2B). World imports came to about $11.6B, 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.
Is the HS code for Colorimeter the same in all countries?
The base HS code 902750 for Colorimeter 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 colorimeter in Brazil?
Brazil splits HS 902750 into 6 NCM codes, so the right one for colorimeter depends on the product's details: 9027.50.10 (Colorimeters), 9027.50.20 (Photometers), 9027.50.30 (Refractometers), 9027.50.40 (Saccharimeters), 9027.50.50 (Flow cytometers), 9027.50.90 (Other optical radiation analysis instruments).