Product classification
HS code for Industrial cooling equipment: 8419.89
Machinery, plant and laboratory equipment, for treating materials by change of temperature, other than for making hot drinks or cooking or heating food.
Classification of industrial cooling equipment under HS 8419.89
HS code 841989 is the classification for industrial machinery designed for treating materials through temperature changes, specifically excluding equipment used for cooking or making hot drinks. This code is part of the broader 8419 heading, which covers machinery for processes such as sterilizing, pasteurizing, steaming, drying, evaporating, and cooling. Subheading 841989 acts as a residual category for "other" machinery that performs these thermal functions on non-food materials or for non-cooking food processes. In an industrial context, this includes cooling towers, heat exchangers, and specialized condensers used in chemical plants, refineries, and manufacturing facilities. The classification depends on the machine's primary function being the alteration of a material's temperature through heat transfer. Unlike standard refrigeration units, these machines often use ambient air or circulating water to dissipate heat from industrial processes. The technical design, such as the presence of heat exchange plates or cooling fins, and the intended industrial application are the primary indicators for this classification.
- Covers
- Industrial cooling towers for power plants
- Plate and frame heat exchangers
- Industrial pasteurizers for dairy or beverage processing
- Chemical process condensers
- Industrial air coolers for machinery rooms
- Also under 8419.89
- GEA Niro spray dryers
- Steris autoclaves
- Alfa Laval plate heat exchangers
- Buchi rotary evaporators
- Thermo Scientific vacuum ovens
Codes often confused with 8419.89
Common mistake. Industrial cooling equipment is often confused with HS code 8418, which covers refrigerators, freezers, and other refrigerating or freezing equipment. The distinction lies in the method of cooling; 8418 typically involves a compressor-based refrigeration cycle, while 841989 covers heat exchange and general thermal treatment. Additionally, air conditioning machines are classified under 8415, which should not be confused with industrial process coolers under 841989.
Top exporters and importers of HS 841989 (the code used for industrial cooling equipment), 2025
In 2025, the largest exporter of HS 841989 (the code used for industrial cooling equipment) in UN Comtrade data was China, with 20% of world exports; the largest importer in UN Comtrade data was the United States, with 20% 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 841989, not only industrial cooling equipment.
Top exporters 2025 · share of world exports
- 1 China $2.6B 20% of world exports
- 2 Germany $1.7B 13% of world exports
- 3 Taiwan* ~$1.3B 9.7% of world exports · partner records ↗
World total: $13.1B Reported figures on UN Comtrade ↗
Top importers 2025 · share of world imports
- 1 United States $2.9B 20% of world imports
- 2 China $1.2B 8.2% of world imports
- 3 Indonesia $996M 6.8% of world imports
World total: $14.6B 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 codes for industrial cooling equipment
Brazil splits HS 8419.89 into 7 NCM codes. Pick the one that matches your product:
- 8419.89.11UHT food sterilizers, 6,500 l/h or more
- 8419.89.19Other industrial sterilizers
- 8419.89.20Non-domestic ovens for treating materials
- 8419.89.30Industrial roasters
- 8419.89.40Industrial evaporators
- 8419.89.91Cooling vessels with refrigerant circulation
- 8419.89.99Other machinery for temperature-change treatment
Source: Siscomex NCM table, updated Oct 2026. The Portuguese text on each NCM page is the official one.
Questions about industrial cooling equipment
What is the HS code for Industrial cooling equipment?
The HS code for Industrial cooling equipment is 841989 (Machinery, plant and laboratory equipment; for treating materials by change of temperature, other than for making hot drinks or cooking or heating food). The HS code for industrial cooling equipment (other than for cooking or refrigeration) is 841989.
How do I classify Industrial cooling equipment for customs?
Industrial cooling equipment is classified under HS code 841989 — Machinery, plant and laboratory equipment; for treating materials by change of temperature, other than for making hot drinks or cooking or heating food. This is a 6-digit subheading level code.
Does this code include laboratory incubators?
Yes, laboratory equipment for treating materials by a change of temperature, such as certain types of incubators or sterilizers, often falls under 841989 if they are not for medical use.
Which countries are the top exporters of industrial cooling equipment (HS 841989)?
In 2025, the top exporters of HS 841989 (the code used for industrial cooling equipment) in UN Comtrade data were China ($2.6B, 20% of world exports), Germany ($1.7B) and Taiwan (about $1.3B). World exports came to about $13.1B, 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 industrial cooling equipment (HS 841989)?
In 2025, the top importers of HS 841989 (the code used for industrial cooling equipment) in UN Comtrade data were the United States ($2.9B, 20% of world imports), China ($1.2B) and Indonesia ($996M). World imports came to about $14.6B, 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 Industrial cooling equipment the same in all countries?
The base HS code 841989 for Industrial cooling 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 industrial cooling equipment in Brazil?
Brazil splits HS 841989 into 7 NCM codes, so the right one for industrial cooling equipment depends on the product's details: 8419.89.11 (UHT food sterilizers, 6,500 l/h or more), 8419.89.19 (Other industrial sterilizers), 8419.89.20 (Non-domestic ovens for treating materials), 8419.89.30 (Industrial roasters), 8419.89.40 (Industrial evaporators), 8419.89.91 (Cooling vessels with refrigerant circulation), and more.