Product classification
HS code for Foundry converter: 8454.10
Converters, of a type used in metallurgy or in metal foundries.
Classification of foundry converter under HS 8454.10
The foundry converter is classified under HS code 8454.10 because it is a specialized metallurgical vessel designed to transform the chemical composition of molten metal. According to the Harmonized System (HS) Explanatory Notes for heading 8454, this category encompasses apparatus used in the production of metals, specifically those that facilitate chemical changes through the injection of air, oxygen, or other gases. Unlike industrial furnaces, which primarily provide heat to melt solid materials, converters rely on exothermic reactions or external gas injection to alter the carbon content or remove impurities from already molten metal. This specific subheading is reserved for converters used in metal foundries or large-scale metallurgical plants. The classification follows General Interpretative Rule (GRI) 1, as the terms of the heading and subheadings specifically describe the function and industrial application of the machinery in a foundry environment.
- Covers
- Bessemer converters for steel production
- LD (Linz-Donawitz) oxygen converters
- Thomas converters for high-phosphorus iron
- Side-blown and bottom-blown metallurgical converters
- Rotary converters used for copper or nickel smelting
- Argon Oxygen Decarburization (AOD) vessels
- Also under 8454.10
- SMS Group BOF converter
- Primetals Technologies EAF
- Tenova Consteel EAF
- Danieli BOF
Codes often confused with 8454.10
Common mistake. Foundry converters are frequently misclassified under HS code 8417, which covers industrial furnaces and ovens. The primary distinction is that 8417 is for equipment that generates heat to melt or heat-treat materials, whereas 8454.10 is for vessels that change the metal's chemistry. Additionally, some importers mistakenly use 8419.89 for general heat treatment machinery, but 8454 is more specific to metallurgical processes. It is also important not to confuse these with casting machines under 8454.30, which are used for shaping the metal rather than converting its chemical state.
Top exporters and importers of HS 845410 (the code used for foundry converter), 2025
In 2025, the largest exporter of HS 845410 (the code used for foundry converter) in UN Comtrade data was Germany, with 37% of world exports; the largest importer in UN Comtrade data was Indonesia, with 26% 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 845410, not only foundry converter.
Top exporters 2025 · share of world exports
- 1 Germany $29M 37% of world exports
- 2 Australia $17M 21% of world exports
- 3 China $14M 17% of world exports
World total: $79M Reported figures on UN Comtrade ↗
Top importers 2025 · share of world imports
- 1 Indonesia $18M 26% of world imports
- 2 Saudi Arabia $10M 15% of world imports
- 3 Malaysia $4.6M 6.9% of world imports
World total: $66M 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 foundry converter
Brazil classifies foundry converter under NCM 8454.10.00: HS 8454.10 with 00 added.
Source: Siscomex NCM table, updated Oct 2026. The Portuguese text on each NCM page is the official one.
Questions about foundry converter
What is the HS code for Foundry converter?
The HS code for Foundry converter is 845410 (Converters; of a type used in metallurgy or in metal foundries). The HS code for a foundry converter used in metallurgy is 8454.10.
How do I classify Foundry converter for customs?
Foundry converter is classified under HS code 845410 — Converters; of a type used in metallurgy or in metal foundries. This is a 6-digit subheading level code.
Is a converter the same as an electric arc furnace?
No, an electric arc furnace is classified under 8514 because it uses electricity to melt metal, whereas a converter (8454.10) is used to refine or change the composition of molten metal, often without an internal heating element.
Which countries are the top exporters of foundry converter (HS 845410)?
In 2025, the top exporters of HS 845410 (the code used for foundry converter) in UN Comtrade data were Germany ($29M, 37% of world exports), Australia ($17M) and China ($14M). World exports came to about $79M, 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 foundry converter (HS 845410)?
In 2025, the top importers of HS 845410 (the code used for foundry converter) in UN Comtrade data were Indonesia ($18M, 26% of world imports), Saudi Arabia ($10M) and Malaysia ($4.6M). World imports came to about $66M, 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 Foundry converter the same in all countries?
The base HS code 845410 for Foundry converter 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 foundry converter in Brazil?
In Brazil, foundry converter (HS 845410) is classified under NCM 8454.10.00.