Product classification

HS code for Flat panel display manufacturing equipment: 8486.30

Machines and apparatus of a kind used solely or principally for the manufacture of flat panel displays.

Classification of flat panel display manufacturing equipment under HS 8486.30

The classification 8486.30 is specifically reserved for machines and apparatus used solely or principally for the manufacture of flat panel displays (FPDs). This code is part of heading 8486, which was created to consolidate equipment used in the semiconductor and electronic display industries. The classification is determined by the "sole or principal use" rule; the machinery must be dedicated to the production of the glass substrates, thin-film transistors (TFT), or color filters that comprise a flat panel display. This includes a wide range of high-precision equipment used in cleanroom environments. Because these machines often involve complex chemical, physical, or mechanical processes—such as chemical vapor deposition or plasma etching—they are grouped together here rather than being classified by their individual mechanical functions in other parts of Chapter 84.

Covers
  • Chemical Vapor Deposition (CVD) apparatus for FPD layers
  • Physical Vapor Deposition (PVD) systems for display coatings
  • Plasma etching machines for circuit patterning on glass
  • Spinners for applying photoresist to display substrates
  • Automated glass handling robots for FPD production lines
  • Ion-implantors designed for thin-film transistor (TFT) arrays
Also under 8486.30
  • Canon Tokki OLED Deposition Equipment
  • Applied Materials AKT-PECVD
  • LG Display production lines
  • Samsung Display fabrication equipment
  • ULVAC FPD manufacturing systems

Codes often confused with 8486.30

Common mistake. Equipment in this category is often misclassified under 8486.10 or 8486.20, which are reserved for machines used to manufacture boules/wafers or semiconductor devices, respectively. While the technology is similar, the specific dedication to flat panel displays dictates the 8486.30 classification. Furthermore, general-purpose industrial robots or chemical processing tanks might be incorrectly placed in 8479 or 8419 if their specific dedication to the FPD industry is not clearly documented and proven through technical specifications.

8486.10Machines and apparatus of a kind used solely or principally for the manufacture of semiconductor boules or wafers8486.20Machines and apparatus of a kind used solely or principally for the manufacture of semiconductor devices or of electronic integrated circuits84.79Machinery and mechanical appliances; having individual functions, n.e.c. in this chapter84.19Machinery, plant (not domestic), or laboratory equipment; electrically heated or not, (excluding items in 85.14) for the treatment of materials by a process involving change of temperature; including instantaneous or non electric storage water heaters

Top exporters and importers of HS 848630 (the code used for flat panel display manufacturing equipment), 2025

In 2025, the largest exporter of HS 848630 (the code used for flat panel display manufacturing equipment) in UN Comtrade data was Japan, with 44% of world exports; the largest importer in UN Comtrade data was China, with 88% 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 848630, not only flat panel display manufacturing equipment.

Top exporters 2025 · share of world exports

  1. 1 Japan $1.8B
  2. 2 Taiwan* ~$1.1B
  3. 3 South Korea $976M

World total: $4.1B Reported figures on UN Comtrade ↗

Top importers 2025 · share of world imports

  1. 1 China $3.7B
  2. 2 South Korea $170M
  3. 3 Taiwan* ~$116M

World total: $4.2B 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. UN Comtrade records Taiwan as "Other Asia, not elsewhere specified". Saudi Arabia's exports under that code are left out: they are far too large to be trade with Taiwan, so mostly undisclosed partners. 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 flat panel display manufacturing equipment

Brazil classifies flat panel display manufacturing equipment under NCM 8486.30.00: HS 8486.30 with 00 added.

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

Questions about flat panel display manufacturing equipment

What is the HS code for Flat panel display manufacturing equipment?

The HS code for Flat panel display manufacturing equipment is 848630 (Machines and apparatus of a kind used solely or principally for the manufacture of flat panel displays). The HS code for equipment used solely or principally for manufacturing flat panel displays is 8486.30.

How do I classify Flat panel display manufacturing equipment for customs?

Flat panel display manufacturing equipment is classified under HS code 848630 — Machines and apparatus of a kind used solely or principally for the manufacture of flat panel displays. This is a 6-digit subheading level code.

Does this code include machines for making the outer casing of a display?

No, 8486.30 is for the manufacture of the display panel itself. Machines for making plastic or metal casings are classified according to their own function, such as injection molding in 8477.

Which countries are the top exporters of flat panel display manufacturing equipment (HS 848630)?

In 2025, the top exporters of HS 848630 (the code used for flat panel display manufacturing equipment) in UN Comtrade data were Japan ($1.8B, 44% of world exports), Taiwan (about $1.1B) and South Korea ($976M). World exports came to about $4.1B, 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 flat panel display manufacturing equipment (HS 848630)?

In 2025, the top importers of HS 848630 (the code used for flat panel display manufacturing equipment) in UN Comtrade data were China ($3.7B, 88% of world imports), South Korea ($170M) and Taiwan (about $116M). World imports came to about $4.2B, 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 Flat panel display manufacturing equipment the same in all countries?

The base HS code 848630 for Flat panel display manufacturing equipment 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 flat panel display manufacturing equipment in Brazil?

In Brazil, flat panel display manufacturing equipment (HS 848630) is classified under NCM 8486.30.00.