Product classification
HS code for Engine air filter: 8421.31
Machinery, intake air filters for internal combustion engines.
Classification of engine air filter under HS 8421.31
Engine air filters are classified under HS code 8421.31. This classification falls under Chapter 84, which covers nuclear reactors, boilers, machinery, and mechanical appliances. Heading 8421 is specifically designated for centrifuges and filtering or purifying machinery and apparatus for liquids or gases. Subheading 8421.31 is a specific provision for intake air filters for internal combustion engines. The classification is based on the application of the filter: it must be designed to remove particulate matter from the air before it enters the combustion chamber of an engine. This applies regardless of the material of the filtering element (paper, foam, or textile) or the type of engine (spark-ignition or compression-ignition), as long as it is part of the engine's intake system.
- Covers
- Pleated paper air filters for automotive engines
- Foam air filter elements for motorcycles
- Heavy-duty air filters for truck engines
- Oil-bath air cleaners for industrial engines
- High-performance cotton gauze intake filters
- Also under 8421.31
- K&N performance air filters
- Donaldson heavy-duty air filters
- Mahle air filters
- Purolator air filters
Codes often confused with 8421.31
Common mistake. Engine air filters are often confused with HS code 8421.39, which is the residual category for other gas filtering or purifying apparatus. However, 8421.39 is intended for cabin air filters (which filter air for passengers, not the engine) or industrial dust extractors. Another common mistake is classifying filters based on their material, such as 4812 (filter blocks of paper pulp) or 5911 (textile products for technical uses). Per Note 2(e) to Section XVI, parts of machines are classified in their respective headings; since 8421 specifically mentions filters, it takes precedence over general material headings.
Top exporters and importers of HS 842131 (the code used for engine air filter), 2025
In 2025, the largest exporter of HS 842131 (the code used for engine air filter) in UN Comtrade data was Germany, with 15% 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 842131, not only engine air filter.
Top exporters 2025 · share of world exports
- 1 Germany $720M 15% of world exports
- 2 United States $680M 14% of world exports
- 3 China $678M 14% of world exports
World total: $4.8B Reported figures on UN Comtrade ↗
Top importers 2025 · share of world imports
- 1 United States $636M 13% of world imports
- 2 Germany $365M 7.2% of world imports
- 3 Canada $273M 5.4% of world imports
World total: $5.1B 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 code for engine air filter
Brazil classifies engine air filter under NCM 8421.31.00: HS 8421.31 with 00 added.
Source: Siscomex NCM table, updated Oct 2026. The Portuguese text on each NCM page is the official one.
Questions about engine air filter
What is the HS code for Engine air filter?
The HS code for Engine air filter is 842131 (Machinery; intake air filters for internal combustion engines). The specific HS code for intake air filters for internal combustion engines is 8421.31.
How do I classify Engine air filter for customs?
Engine air filter is classified under HS code 842131 — Machinery; intake air filters for internal combustion engines. This is a 6-digit subheading level code.
Is the HS code the same for cabin air filters?
No, cabin air filters are classified under HS code 8421.39 because they are not intake filters for the engine itself.
Which countries are the top exporters of engine air filter (HS 842131)?
In 2025, the top exporters of HS 842131 (the code used for engine air filter) in UN Comtrade data were Germany ($720M, 15% of world exports), the United States ($680M) and China ($678M). World exports came to about $4.8B, 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 engine air filter (HS 842131)?
In 2025, the top importers of HS 842131 (the code used for engine air filter) in UN Comtrade data were the United States ($636M, 13% of world imports), Germany ($365M) and Canada ($273M). World imports came to about $5.1B, 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.
Is the HS code for Engine air filter the same in all countries?
The base HS code 842131 for Engine air filter 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 engine air filter in Brazil?
In Brazil, engine air filter (HS 842131) is classified under NCM 8421.31.00.