Product classification

HS code for Gear grinding machine: 8461.40

Machine-tools, gear cutting, gear grinding or gear finishing machines, working by removing metal, sintered metal carbides or cermets.

Classification of gear grinding machine under HS 8461.40

Gear grinding machines are classified under HS code 8461.40. This classification is part of Chapter 84, which encompasses nuclear reactors, boilers, machinery, and mechanical appliances. Specifically, heading 8461 is dedicated to machine-tools for planing, shaping, slotting, broaching, gear cutting, gear grinding, or gear finishing. The gear grinding machine is a specialized tool used to remove small amounts of material from gear teeth using an abrasive wheel to achieve high precision and a smooth surface finish. This is a critical step in the manufacturing of high-performance gears used in automotive transmissions, aerospace components, and industrial gearboxes. The classification applies to machines that utilize abrasive processes to refine the profile and lead of gear teeth after they have been roughed out by other processes like hobbing or shaping.

Covers
  • CNC gear grinding machines
  • Profile gear grinders
  • Generating gear grinding machines
  • Cylindrical gear grinders
  • Bevel gear grinding machines
  • Thread and worm grinding machines for gear components
Also under 8461.40
  • Liebherr Gear Technology
  • Gleason Corporation
  • Reishauer AG
  • Klingelnberg
  • FFG Werke (Modul)

Codes often confused with 8461.40

Common mistake. A common misclassification occurs with HS code 8460, which covers general-purpose grinding machines. While 8460 includes surface and cylindrical grinders, it specifically excludes machines dedicated to gear grinding, which must be classified under 8461.40. Importers also sometimes confuse these with 8459 (milling machines) if the machine uses a hobbing-like motion, but if the tool is an abrasive wheel, 8461.40 is the correct designation. Furthermore, if the machine is for sharpening tools rather than grinding gears, it would fall under 8460.31 or 8460.39.

84.60Machine-tools; for deburring, sharpening, grinding, honing, lapping, polishing or otherwise finishing metal, sintered metal carbides or cermets by means of grinding stones, abrasives or polishing products84.59Machine-tools; (including way-type unit head machines) for drilling, boring, milling, threading or tapping by removing metal, other than lathes of heading no. 84588460.31Machine-tools; sharpening (tool or cutter grinding) machines, numerically controlled8460.39Machine-tools; sharpening (tool or cutter grinding) machines, other than numerically controlled

Top exporters and importers of HS 846140 (the code used for gear grinding machine), 2025

In 2025, the largest exporter of HS 846140 (the code used for gear grinding machine) in UN Comtrade data was Germany, with 55% of world exports; the largest importer in UN Comtrade data was China, 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 846140, not only gear grinding machine.

Top exporters 2025 · share of world exports

  1. 1 Germany $603M
  2. 2 Japan $147M
  3. 3 Switzerland $127M

World total: $1.1B Reported figures on UN Comtrade ↗

Top importers 2025 · share of world imports

  1. 1 China $544M
  2. 2 India $86M
  3. 3 Russia* ~$60M

World total: $1.1B 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 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 gear grinding machine

Brazil splits HS 8461.40 into 3 NCM codes. Pick the one that matches your product:

  • 8461.40.10CNC gear cutting or finishing machines
  • 8461.40.91Gear tooth rounding machines, non-CNC
  • 8461.40.99Other non-CNC gear cutting or finishing machines

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

Questions about gear grinding machine

What is the HS code for Gear grinding machine?

The HS code for Gear grinding machine is 846140 (Machine-tools; gear cutting, gear grinding or gear finishing machines, working by removing metal, sintered metal carbides or cermets). The correct HS code for a gear grinding machine is 8461.40, as it is a machine-tool specifically for gear grinding by removing metal.

How do I classify Gear grinding machine for customs?

Gear grinding machine is classified under HS code 846140 — Machine-tools; gear cutting, gear grinding or gear finishing machines, working by removing metal, sintered metal carbides or cermets. This is a 6-digit subheading level code.

Are CNC gear grinders classified differently than manual ones?

No, both CNC and manual gear grinding machines are classified under 8461.40, although the specific sub-heading may vary by country-specific tariff schedules for statistical purposes.

Which countries are the top exporters of gear grinding machine (HS 846140)?

In 2025, the top exporters of HS 846140 (the code used for gear grinding machine) in UN Comtrade data were Germany ($603M, 55% of world exports), Japan ($147M) and Switzerland ($127M). World exports came to about $1.1B, 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 gear grinding machine (HS 846140)?

In 2025, the top importers of HS 846140 (the code used for gear grinding machine) in UN Comtrade data were China ($544M, 48% of world imports), India ($86M) and Russia (about $60M). World imports came to about $1.1B, 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 Gear grinding machine the same in all countries?

The base HS code 846140 for Gear grinding 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 gear grinding machine in Brazil?

Brazil splits HS 846140 into 3 NCM codes, so the right one for gear grinding machine depends on the product's details: 8461.40.10 (CNC gear cutting or finishing machines), 8461.40.91 (Gear tooth rounding machines, non-CNC), 8461.40.99 (Other non-CNC gear cutting or finishing machines).