Product classification
HS code for Dredging vessel: 8905.10
Dredgers.
Classification of dredging vessel under HS 8905.10
Dredging vessels, commonly known as dredgers, are classified under HS code 8905.10. This classification is part of heading 8905, which encompasses vessels whose navigability is subsidiary to their main function. For a dredger, the primary purpose is the excavation and removal of material from the bottom of a body of water, such as a harbor, river, or canal. Unlike cargo or passenger ships, which are designed for transport, dredgers are floating platforms equipped with specialized machinery like suction pipes, buckets, or grabs. The classification 8905.10 is specific to the 'dredgers' subheading. This follows GRI 1 and the Section XVII notes, which specify that vessels designed for performing specific non-transport tasks fall under 8905. Whether the vessel is self-propelled or must be towed to the site does not change its classification as a dredger, provided its essential character is that of a dredging machine mounted on a floating hull.
- Covers
- Suction dredgers (trailing suction hopper dredgers)
- Cutter suction dredgers
- Bucket ladder dredgers
- Grab dredgers (clamshell dredgers)
- Backhoe or dipper dredgers mounted on pontoons
- Also under 8905.10
- IHC Beaver 50
- Jan De Nul Vasco da Gama
- Boskalis Barent Zanen
- Wärtsilä WSD 80
- Royal IHC Spartacus
Codes often confused with 8905.10
Common mistake. Dredgers are often misclassified under 8901.90, which covers other vessels for the transport of goods. This happens when the dredger has a large hopper for carrying the dredged material. However, because the primary function is dredging, 8905.10 takes precedence. Another error is using 8429.52 for mechanical shovels; while the machinery is similar, if it is permanently mounted on a floating vessel, it must be classified in Chapter 89.
Top exporters and importers of HS 890510 (the code used for dredging vessel), 2025
In 2025, the largest exporter of HS 890510 (the code used for dredging vessel) in UN Comtrade data was China, with 45% of world exports; the largest importer in UN Comtrade data was India, with 48% 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 890510, not only dredging vessel.
Top exporters 2025 · share of world exports
- 1 China $690M 45% of world exports
- 2 India $440M 28% of world exports
- 3 Netherlands $132M 8.5% of world exports
World total: $1.5B Reported figures on UN Comtrade ↗
Top importers 2025 · share of world imports
- 1 India $907M 48% of world imports
- 2 United Arab Emirates* ~$275M 15% of world imports · partner records ↗
- 3 Russia* ~$123M 6.5% of world imports · partner records ↗
World total: $1.9B 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 code for dredging vessel
Brazil classifies dredging vessel under NCM 8905.10.00: HS 8905.10 with 00 added.
Source: Siscomex NCM table, updated Oct 2026. The Portuguese text on each NCM page is the official one.
Questions about dredging vessel
What is the HS code for Dredging vessel?
The HS code for Dredging vessel is 890510 (Dredgers). The specific HS code for a dredging vessel is 8905.10.
How do I classify Dredging vessel for customs?
Dredging vessel is classified under HS code 890510 — Dredgers. This is a 6-digit subheading level code.
Are floating cranes classified as dredgers?
No, floating cranes are classified under HS code 8905.20 or 8905.90, as they perform lifting rather than excavation, though they fall under the same parent heading.
Which countries are the top exporters of dredging vessel (HS 890510)?
In 2025, the top exporters of HS 890510 (the code used for dredging vessel) in UN Comtrade data were China ($690M, 45% of world exports), India ($440M) and the Netherlands ($132M). 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 dredging vessel (HS 890510)?
In 2025, the top importers of HS 890510 (the code used for dredging vessel) in UN Comtrade data were India ($907M, 48% of world imports), the United Arab Emirates (about $275M) and Russia (about $123M). World imports came to about $1.9B, 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 Dredging vessel the same in all countries?
The base HS code 890510 for Dredging vessel 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 dredging vessel in Brazil?
In Brazil, dredging vessel (HS 890510) is classified under NCM 8905.10.00.