Product classification

HS code for Dairy processing machine: 8434.20

Dairy machinery.

Classification of dairy processing machine under HS 8434.20

Dairy processing machinery is classified under HS code 8434.20, which falls within Chapter 84 of the Harmonized System. This chapter generally covers nuclear reactors, boilers, machinery, and mechanical appliances. Heading 8434 is dedicated to milking machines and dairy machinery. While 8434.10 is reserved for milking machines used at the point of extraction, 8434.20 encompasses the broader range of industrial equipment used to process milk into various dairy products. The classification is based on the machine's specialized design for handling dairy fluids and solids, ensuring hygiene standards and specific mechanical operations like homogenization, separation, or churning. This code is essential for identifying industrial-grade equipment used in creameries and dairy plants. The machinery must be specifically designed for the dairy industry; general-purpose food processing equipment that is not specialized for milk or milk products may fall under other headings. The technical complexity of these machines, often involving stainless steel construction and specialized seals for sanitary processing, distinguishes them from general agricultural tools.

Covers
  • Homogenizers for milk processing
  • Butter-making machines and churns
  • Cheese-making machinery including vats and presses
  • Milk evaporators and dehydrators
  • Cream separators specifically for dairy use
Also under 8434.20
  • Tetra Pak processing units
  • GEA dairy processing lines
  • Alfa Laval separators
  • Krones milk bottling equipment
  • SPX FLOW homogenizers

Codes often confused with 8434.20

Common mistake. A common misclassification occurs with HS code 8419.89, which covers general machinery for the treatment of materials by a process involving a change of temperature. While pasteurizers involve heat, if they are specifically designed for dairy, 8434.20 is often more specific. Additionally, 8422.30 (packaging machinery) is often confused with processing machinery; however, 8434.20 only covers the transformation of the dairy product, not its final bottling or wrapping.

8419.89Machinery, plant and laboratory equipment; for treating materials by change of temperature, other than for making hot drinks or cooking or heating food8422.30Machinery; for filling, closing, sealing, capsuling or labelling bottles, cans, bags or other containers, machinery for aerating beverages

Top exporters and importers of HS 843420 (the code used for dairy processing machine), 2025

In 2025, the largest exporter of HS 843420 (the code used for dairy processing machine) in UN Comtrade data was Italy, with 12% of world exports; the largest importer in UN Comtrade data was Russia, with about 8.2% 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 843420, not only dairy processing machine.

Top exporters 2025 · share of world exports

  1. 1 Italy $83M
  2. 2 Poland $82M
  3. 3 Germany $52M

World total: $689M Reported figures on UN Comtrade ↗

Top importers 2025 · share of world imports

  1. 1 Russia* ~$61M
  2. 2 United States $56M
  3. 3 Canada $44M

World total: $737M 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 dairy processing machine

Brazil splits HS 8434.20 into 2 NCM codes. Pick the one that matches your product:

Source: Siscomex NCM table, updated Oct 2026. The Portuguese text on each NCM page is the official one.

Questions about dairy processing machine

What is the HS code for Dairy processing machine?

The HS code for Dairy processing machine is 843420 (Dairy machinery). The HS code for dairy processing machinery is 8434.20, which covers machinery used in the dairy industry for processing milk and its derivatives.

How do I classify Dairy processing machine for customs?

Dairy processing machine is classified under HS code 843420 — Dairy machinery. This is a 6-digit subheading level code.

Are milking machines included in this code?

No, milking machines are classified under HS code 8434.10. The 8434.20 code is specifically for the processing machinery used after the milk has been collected.

Which countries are the top exporters of dairy processing machine (HS 843420)?

In 2025, the top exporters of HS 843420 (the code used for dairy processing machine) in UN Comtrade data were Italy ($83M, 12% of world exports), Poland ($82M) and Germany ($52M). World exports came to about $689M, 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 dairy processing machine (HS 843420)?

In 2025, the top importers of HS 843420 (the code used for dairy processing machine) in UN Comtrade data were Russia (about $61M, 8.2% of world imports), the United States ($56M) and Canada ($44M). World imports came to about $737M, 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 Dairy processing machine the same in all countries?

The base HS code 843420 for Dairy processing 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 dairy processing machine in Brazil?

Brazil splits HS 843420 into 2 NCM codes, so the right one for dairy processing machine depends on the product's details: 8434.20.10 (Milk processing machinery), 8434.20.90 (Other dairy machinery).