Product classification
HS code for Oceanographic equipment: 9015.80
Surveying equipment, articles n.e.c. in heading no. 9015, including hydrographic, oceanographic, hydrological, meteorological or geophysical instruments and appliances (excluding compasses).
Classification of oceanographic equipment under HS 9015.80
Oceanographic equipment is classified under HS code 9015.80, which serves as the specific category for surveying, hydrographic, oceanographic, hydrological, meteorological, or geophysical instruments and appliances not elsewhere specified. The classification is governed by the primary function of the device, which must relate to the measurement or analysis of the physical characteristics of the earth's waters or the seabed. According to the General Interpretative Rules (GIR), specifically GIR 1 and 6, products are classified based on the terms of the headings and subheadings. Heading 9015 is distinct because it excludes navigational instruments, which are found in 9014. Oceanographic equipment often involves complex sensors for measuring salinity, temperature, and depth (CTD), or acoustic systems for mapping the ocean floor. Because these instruments are used for environmental surveying rather than simple navigation or chemical analysis of a discrete sample in a lab, they fall squarely under 9015.80.
- Covers
- CTD (Conductivity, Temperature, Depth) sensors
- Acoustic Doppler Current Profilers (ADCP)
- Wave buoys and oceanographic mooring systems
- Hydrographic echo sounders for seabed mapping
- Tide gauges and sea-level monitoring stations
- Submersible data loggers for marine research
- Also under 9015.80
- Teledyne RDI ADCP current profiler
- Vaisala radiosondes
- Fugro multibeam echosounders
- Sonardyne acoustic positioning systems
- Campbell Scientific weather stations
Codes often confused with 9015.80
Common mistake. A frequent point of confusion involves HS code 9014.10 or 9014.80, which cover navigational instruments like compasses and GPS systems. While oceanographic equipment may include a GPS module for data geotagging, its primary purpose is surveying, not navigation. Another common error is using 9027.80, which covers instruments for physical or chemical analysis. If the device is designed to survey a body of water as a whole (hydrography) rather than analyzing a specific chemical sample, 9015.80 is the correct designation. Additionally, remote-operated vehicles (ROVs) are sometimes misclassified here, but they may fall under 8906 depending on their structural nature.
Top exporters and importers of HS 901580 (the code used for oceanographic equipment), 2025
In 2025, the largest exporter of HS 901580 (the code used for oceanographic equipment) in UN Comtrade data was the United States, with 17% of world exports; the largest importer in UN Comtrade data was the United States, with 11% 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 901580, not only oceanographic equipment.
Top exporters 2025 · share of world exports
- 1 United States $985M 17% of world exports
- 2 China $755M 13% of world exports
- 3 United Kingdom $613M 10% of world exports
World total: $5.9B Reported figures on UN Comtrade ↗
Top importers 2025 · share of world imports
- 1 United States $627M 11% of world imports
- 2 China $369M 6.8% of world imports
- 3 Norway $312M 5.7% of world imports
World total: $5.5B 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 oceanographic equipment
Brazil splits HS 9015.80 into 2 NCM codes. Pick the one that matches your product:
- 9015.80.10Hydrometric current meters
- 9015.80.90Meteorological, geophysical and other instruments
Source: Siscomex NCM table, updated Oct 2026. The Portuguese text on each NCM page is the official one.
Questions about oceanographic equipment
What is the HS code for Oceanographic equipment?
The HS code for Oceanographic equipment is 901580 (Surveying equipment; articles n.e.c. in heading no. 9015, including hydrographic, oceanographic, hydrological, meteorological or geophysical instruments and appliances (excluding compasses)). The primary HS code for oceanographic equipment is 9015.80, which covers various surveying and hydrographic instruments.
How do I classify Oceanographic equipment for customs?
Oceanographic equipment is classified under HS code 901580 — Surveying equipment; articles n.e.c. in heading no. 9015, including hydrographic, oceanographic, hydrological, meteorological or geophysical instruments and appliances (excluding compasses). This is a 6-digit subheading level code.
How does 9015 differ from 9014?
Heading 9015 is for surveying and environmental measurement, whereas 9014 is strictly for navigational instruments used to determine position or direction.
Which countries are the top exporters of oceanographic equipment (HS 901580)?
In 2025, the top exporters of HS 901580 (the code used for oceanographic equipment) in UN Comtrade data were the United States ($985M, 17% of world exports), China ($755M) and the United Kingdom ($613M). World exports came to about $5.9B, 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 oceanographic equipment (HS 901580)?
In 2025, the top importers of HS 901580 (the code used for oceanographic equipment) in UN Comtrade data were the United States ($627M, 11% of world imports), China ($369M) and Norway ($312M). World imports came to about $5.5B, 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 Oceanographic equipment the same in all countries?
The base HS code 901580 for Oceanographic 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 oceanographic equipment in Brazil?
Brazil splits HS 901580 into 2 NCM codes, so the right one for oceanographic equipment depends on the product's details: 9015.80.10 (Hydrometric current meters), 9015.80.90 (Meteorological, geophysical and other instruments).