Product classification

HS code for Non-woven machinery: 8449.00

Machinery, for manufacture or finishing felt or non-wovens in the piece or in shapes, including machinery for making felt hats, blocks for making hats.

Classification of non-woven machinery under HS 8449.00

Machinery used for the manufacture or finishing of felt or non-wovens is classified under HS code 8449.00. This heading is specific to the production of textiles that are not created through traditional weaving or knitting. It includes machines that process fibers into felt or non-woven webs, as well as machinery for finishing these materials in the piece or in specific shapes. A unique aspect of this code is its inclusion of machinery for making felt hats and blocks for making hats. The classification is driven by the specialized nature of the equipment, which differs significantly from the looms and spinning frames used in conventional textile production. Under the Harmonized System, 8449.00 serves as a dedicated category for the non-woven industry's capital equipment, ensuring that these specialized industrial tools are not confused with general textile machinery found in headings 8444 through 8448. The machinery in this category often employs techniques such as needle punching, thermal bonding, or chemical resin application to create fabric structures. As the non-woven sector continues to grow in medical and industrial applications, this specific HS code remains vital for distinguishing these high-tech production lines from traditional garment-making machinery.

Covers
  • Needle punching machines
  • Felt hat-making machinery
  • Non-woven web forming machines
  • Thermal bonding ovens for non-wovens
  • Melt-blown non-woven production lines
  • Hat blocks and shaping forms
Also under 8449.00
  • DiloGroup needle looms
  • Andritz non-woven lines
  • Autefa Solutions crosslappers
  • F.O.R. felt finishing machines

Codes often confused with 8449.00

Common mistake. This machinery is frequently misclassified under 8445, which covers machines for preparing textile fibers, or 8448, which covers auxiliary machinery for weaving or knitting. The distinction is that 8449.00 is the specific heading for the entire process of creating felt and non-wovens. It is also sometimes confused with 8477.80 (machinery for working plastics), especially in melt-blown processes.

84.45Textile machinery; spinning, doubling, twisting machines, textile reeling or winding machines and machines for preparing textile yarns for use on machines of heading no. 8446 and 844784.48Machinery, auxiliary; for use with machines of heading no. 8444 to 8447 (e.g. dobbies, jacquards, automatic stop motions, shuttle changing mechanisms) parts, accessories for machines of heading no. 8444, 84478477.80Machinery; for working rubber or plastics or for the manufacture of products from these materials, n.e.c. in this chapter

Top exporters and importers of HS 844900 (the code used for non-woven machinery), 2025

In 2025, the largest exporter of HS 844900 (the code used for non-woven machinery) in UN Comtrade data was China, with 37% of world exports; the largest importer in UN Comtrade data was the United States, with 14% 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 844900, not only non-woven machinery.

Top exporters 2025 · share of world exports

  1. 1 China $246M
  2. 2 Germany $192M
  3. 3 Italy $44M

World total: $671M Reported figures on UN Comtrade ↗

Top importers 2025 · share of world imports

  1. 1 United States $84M
  2. 2 Türkiye $74M
  3. 3 India $67M

World total: $606M 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 codes for non-woven machinery

Brazil splits HS 8449.00 into 5 NCM codes. Pick the one that matches your product:

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

Questions about non-woven machinery

What is the HS code for Non-woven machinery?

The HS code for Non-woven machinery is 844900 (Machinery; for manufacture or finishing felt or non-wovens in the piece or in shapes, including machinery for making felt hats, blocks for making hats). The HS code for machinery for the manufacture or finishing of felt or non-wovens in the piece or in shapes is 8449.00.

How do I classify Non-woven machinery for customs?

Non-woven machinery is classified under HS code 844900 — Machinery; for manufacture or finishing felt or non-wovens in the piece or in shapes, including machinery for making felt hats, blocks for making hats. This is a 6-digit subheading level code.

Does this code include machines for making felt hats?

Yes, HS code 8449.00 specifically includes machinery for making felt hats and the blocks used for shaping them.

Which countries are the top exporters of non-woven machinery (HS 844900)?

In 2025, the top exporters of HS 844900 (the code used for non-woven machinery) in UN Comtrade data were China ($246M, 37% of world exports), Germany ($192M) and Italy ($44M). World exports came to about $671M, 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 non-woven machinery (HS 844900)?

In 2025, the top importers of HS 844900 (the code used for non-woven machinery) in UN Comtrade data were the United States ($84M, 14% of world imports), Türkiye ($74M) and India ($67M). World imports came to about $606M, 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 Non-woven machinery the same in all countries?

The base HS code 844900 for Non-woven machinery 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 non-woven machinery in Brazil?

Brazil splits HS 844900 into 5 NCM codes, so the right one for non-woven machinery depends on the product's details: 8449.00.10 (Felt making or finishing machinery), 8449.00.20 (Nonwoven fabric making machinery), 8449.00.80 (Other felt or nonwoven machinery; hat blocks), 8449.00.91 (Parts of nonwoven making machinery), 8449.00.99 (Other parts of felt or nonwoven machinery).