Product classification
HS code for Microcontroller: 8542.31
Electronic integrated circuits, processors and controllers, whether or not combined with memories, converters, logic circuits, amplifiers, clock and timing circuits, or other circuits.
Classification of microcontroller under HS 8542.31
Microcontrollers are classified under HS code 8542.31 because they are defined as electronic integrated circuits that function as processors and controllers. According to the General Rules of Interpretation (GRI) and the Explanatory Notes to Chapter 85, these devices are monolithic integrated circuits where the circuit elements, such as diodes, transistors, and resistors, are created in the mass and on the surface of a semiconductor material. A microcontroller is distinguished from a simple microprocessor by the integration of additional functional units such as memory (RAM, ROM, or Flash), timers, and programmable input/output peripherals on the same substrate. This high level of integration places them firmly within 8542.31, which covers processors and controllers whether or not combined with memories, converters, logic circuits, amplifiers, or other circuits. The classification is based on the physical construction as an integrated circuit rather than the specific end-use in an appliance, vehicle, or industrial machine. These components are the 'brains' of embedded systems, and their classification remains consistent regardless of whether they are used in a simple toy or a complex automotive engine control unit.
- Covers
- 8-bit, 16-bit, and 32-bit microcontrollers (MCUs)
- System-on-Chip (SoC) devices for embedded control
- Digital Signal Controllers (DSC)
- Microprocessors with integrated on-chip memory
- Application-specific integrated circuits (ASICs) functioning as controllers
- Also under 8542.31
- Intel Core i9
- AMD Ryzen 7
- Apple M1
- Qualcomm Snapdragon
- NVIDIA Jetson
- Raspberry Pi RP2040
- STMicroelectronics STM32
Codes often confused with 8542.31
Common mistake. Microcontrollers are often confused with HS code 8537.10, which covers boards or panels equipped with two or more apparatus of heading 8535 or 8536 for electric control. While a microcontroller controls electricity, 8537 refers to the finished assembly (like a PLC), whereas 8542.31 refers to the individual component. It is also confused with 8541.10 for discrete diodes or transistors, but 8542 is reserved for complex integrated circuits. Additionally, some importers mistakenly use 8471.41 for computers, but a chip alone never qualifies as a computer under that heading.
Top exporters and importers of HS 854231 (the code used for microcontroller), 2025
In 2025, the largest exporter of HS 854231 (the code used for microcontroller) in UN Comtrade data was Taiwan, with about 32% of world exports; the largest importer in UN Comtrade data was China, with 31% 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 854231, not only microcontroller.
Top exporters 2025 · share of world exports
- 1 Taiwan* ~$228.5B 32% of world exports · partner records ↗
- 2 Hong Kong $109.2B 15% of world exports
- 3 Singapore $77.0B 11% of world exports
World total: $709.8B Reported figures on UN Comtrade ↗
Top importers 2025 · share of world imports
- 1 China $205.3B 31% of world imports
- 2 Hong Kong $120.8B 18% of world imports
- 3 Singapore $62.3B 9.3% of world imports
World total: $672.2B 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 codes for microcontroller
Brazil splits HS 8542.31 into 3 NCM codes. Pick the one that matches your product:
- 8542.31.10Unmounted processor and controller ICs
- 8542.31.20SMD processor and controller ICs
- 8542.31.90Other processor and controller ICs
Source: Siscomex NCM table, updated Oct 2026. The Portuguese text on each NCM page is the official one.
Questions about microcontroller
What is the HS code for Microcontroller?
The HS code for Microcontroller is 854231 (Electronic integrated circuits; processors and controllers, whether or not combined with memories, converters, logic circuits, amplifiers, clock and timing circuits, or other circuits). The standard HS code for a microcontroller is 8542.31, which covers electronic integrated circuits specifically categorized as processors and controllers.
How do I classify Microcontroller for customs?
Microcontroller is classified under HS code 854231 — Electronic integrated circuits; processors and controllers, whether or not combined with memories, converters, logic circuits, amplifiers, clock and timing circuits, or other circuits. This is a 6-digit subheading level code.
What is the difference between 8542 and 8541?
HS code 8541 is for discrete semiconductor devices like individual transistors or diodes, while 8542 is for integrated circuits where multiple components are combined on a single chip.
Which countries are the top exporters of microcontroller (HS 854231)?
In 2025, the top exporters of HS 854231 (the code used for microcontroller) in UN Comtrade data were Taiwan (about $228.5B, 32% of world exports), Hong Kong ($109.2B) and Singapore ($77.0B). World exports came to about $709.8B, 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 microcontroller (HS 854231)?
In 2025, the top importers of HS 854231 (the code used for microcontroller) in UN Comtrade data were China ($205.3B, 31% of world imports), Hong Kong ($120.8B) and Singapore ($62.3B). World imports came to about $672.2B, 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 Microcontroller the same in all countries?
The base HS code 854231 for Microcontroller 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 microcontroller in Brazil?
Brazil splits HS 854231 into 3 NCM codes, so the right one for microcontroller depends on the product's details: 8542.31.10 (Unmounted processor and controller ICs), 8542.31.20 (SMD processor and controller ICs), 8542.31.90 (Other processor and controller ICs).