Product classification
HS code for Oil rig: 8905.20
Floating or submersible drilling or production platforms.
Classification of oil rig under HS 8905.20
Floating or submersible drilling or production platforms, commonly known as oil rigs, are classified under HS code 8905.20. Chapter 89 covers ships, boats, and floating structures. Heading 8905 is reserved for light-vessels, fire-floats, dredgers, floating cranes, and other vessels the navigability of which is subsidiary to their main function. Subheading 8905.20 specifically addresses platforms used for drilling or production that are designed to operate while floating or submerged. This classification is crucial because it distinguishes mobile offshore units from fixed structures. If a platform is designed to be permanently fixed to the seabed, it might be classified elsewhere (such as Chapter 73 for steel structures), but the mobility and buoyancy of these rigs place them firmly within the maritime category of Chapter 89. These units are often massive engineering feats that include living quarters, drilling equipment, and power generation, all integrated into a floating hull or submersible pontoon system.
- Covers
- Jack-up drilling rigs (mobile units)
- Semi-submersible drilling platforms
- Floating Production Storage and Offloading (FPSO) units
- Submersible production platforms
- Drillships (when primary function is the platform)
- Also under 8905.20
- Transocean Deepwater Horizon (drillship type)
- Noble Globetrotter II (drillship)
- Shell Prelude FLNG (FPSO type)
- Maersk Invincible (jack-up rig)
- BP Thunder Horse PDQ (semi-submersible)
Codes often confused with 8905.20
Common mistake. A frequent misclassification occurs with HS code 8430.41, which covers self-propelled boring or sinking machinery. While an oil rig contains such machinery, the entire floating structure is classified under 8905.20. Another error involves fixed platforms, which are often classified under 7308.90 as structures of iron or steel. The distinction lies in whether the platform is designed to float or be submerged during its operation or transport. If the structure is built to be permanently anchored to the ocean floor without buoyancy as a primary feature, it does not belong in Chapter 89.
Top exporters and importers of HS 890520 (the code used for oil rig), 2025
In 2025, the largest exporter of HS 890520 (the code used for oil rig) in UN Comtrade data was China, with 57% of world exports; the largest importer in UN Comtrade data was Brazil, with 38% 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 890520, not only oil rig.
Top exporters 2025 · share of world exports
- 1 China $7.0B 57% of world exports
- 2 Saudi Arabia $1.4B 11% of world exports
- 3 Singapore $780M 6.4% of world exports
World total: $12.2B Reported figures on UN Comtrade ↗
Top importers 2025 · share of world imports
- 1 Brazil $5.2B 38% of world imports
- 2 Congo* ~$2.2B 16% of world imports · partner records ↗
- 3 Australia $1.9B 14% of world imports
World total: $13.5B 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 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 code for oil rig
Brazil classifies oil rig under NCM 8905.20.00: HS 8905.20 with 00 added.
Source: Siscomex NCM table, updated Oct 2026. The Portuguese text on each NCM page is the official one.
Questions about oil rig
What is the HS code for Oil rig?
The HS code for Oil rig is 890520 (Floating or submersible drilling or production platforms). The HS code for floating or submersible oil rigs (drilling or production platforms) is 8905.20.
How do I classify Oil rig for customs?
Oil rig is classified under HS code 890520 — Floating or submersible drilling or production platforms. This is a 6-digit subheading level code.
Are fixed offshore platforms classified under the same code?
No, fixed platforms are generally classified under HS code 7308.90 as steel structures, because they lack the floating or submersible characteristics defined in heading 8905.
Which countries are the top exporters of oil rig (HS 890520)?
In 2025, the top exporters of HS 890520 (the code used for oil rig) in UN Comtrade data were China ($7.0B, 57% of world exports), Saudi Arabia ($1.4B) and Singapore ($780M). World exports came to about $12.2B, 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.
Which countries are the top importers of oil rig (HS 890520)?
In 2025, the top importers of HS 890520 (the code used for oil rig) in UN Comtrade data were Brazil ($5.2B, 38% of world imports), Congo (about $2.2B) and Australia ($1.9B). World imports came to about $13.5B, 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 Oil rig the same in all countries?
The base HS code 890520 for Oil rig 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 oil rig in Brazil?
In Brazil, oil rig (HS 890520) is classified under NCM 8905.20.00.