Product classification
HS code for Percussion instruments: 9206.00
Musical instruments, percussion (e.g. drums, xylophones, cymbals, castanets, maracas).
Classification of percussion instruments under HS 9206.00
Percussion instruments are classified under HS code 9206.00. This heading is part of Chapter 92, which covers musical instruments and their parts. The defining characteristic for classification under 9206.00 is that the instrument must produce sound by being struck, shaken, or scraped. This includes both membranophones, where a stretched skin or membrane is hit (like drums), and idiophones, where the body of the instrument itself vibrates to create sound (like cymbals or xylophones). The classification applies to acoustic instruments. According to the General Interpretative Rules, the material of construction (wood, metal, or plastic) does not change the heading, provided the primary method of sound production is percussion. However, the heading excludes instruments that produce sound through electronic means, even if they are played by striking a surface. The 9206.00 heading is a "residual" category for all non-electronic percussion, ensuring that a wide variety of global and orchestral instruments are captured under a single code.
- Covers
- Drums and kettledrums (timpani)
- Xylophones, metallophones, and glockenspiels
- Cymbals, gongs, and triangles
- Castanets, maracas, and tambourines
- Chimes and bells (musical)
- Also under 9206.00
- Zildjian A Custom Cymbals
- Pearl Export Drum Kit
- Remo Djembe
- Vic Firth Drumsticks
- Roland SPD-SX Sampling Pad
Codes often confused with 9206.00
Common mistake. A frequent misclassification is placing electronic drum kits under 9206.00. Electronic drums must be classified under HS code 9207.90, as they generate sound via sensors and electronic circuitry rather than acoustic vibration. Another common error involves drumsticks and mallets; these are not instruments themselves and should be classified under HS code 9209.99 as parts and accessories. Additionally, toy instruments that are not capable of being played as professional or student instruments may be classified under Chapter 95 (Toys) rather than Chapter 92.
Top exporters and importers of HS 920600 (the code used for percussion instruments), 2025
In 2025, the largest exporter of HS 920600 (the code used for percussion instruments) in UN Comtrade data was China, with 34% of world exports; the largest importer in UN Comtrade data was the United States, with 21% 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 920600, not only percussion instruments.
Top exporters 2025 · share of world exports
- 1 China $194M 34% of world exports
- 2 Germany $104M 18% of world exports
- 3 United States $63M 11% of world exports
World total: $569M Reported figures on UN Comtrade ↗
Top importers 2025 · share of world imports
- 1 United States $100M 21% of world imports
- 2 Germany $74M 16% of world imports
- 3 United Kingdom $20M 4.3% of world imports
World total: $470M 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 code for percussion instruments
Brazil classifies percussion instruments under NCM 9206.00.00: HS 9206.00 with 00 added.
Source: Siscomex NCM table, updated Oct 2026. The Portuguese text on each NCM page is the official one.
Questions about percussion instruments
What is the HS code for Percussion instruments?
The HS code for Percussion instruments is 920600 (Musical instruments; percussion (e.g. drums, xylophones, cymbals, castanets, maracas)). The HS code for acoustic percussion instruments, including drums and xylophones, is 9206.00.
How do I classify Percussion instruments for customs?
Percussion instruments is classified under HS code 920600 — Musical instruments; percussion (e.g. drums, xylophones, cymbals, castanets, maracas). This is a 6-digit subheading level code.
Are electronic drums included in HS code 9206.00?
No, electronic drums are classified under HS code 9207.90 because they rely on electronic sound generation.
Which countries are the top exporters of percussion instruments (HS 920600)?
In 2025, the top exporters of HS 920600 (the code used for percussion instruments) in UN Comtrade data were China ($194M, 34% of world exports), Germany ($104M) and the United States ($63M). World exports came to about $569M, 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 percussion instruments (HS 920600)?
In 2025, the top importers of HS 920600 (the code used for percussion instruments) in UN Comtrade data were the United States ($100M, 21% of world imports), Germany ($74M) and the United Kingdom ($20M). World imports came to about $470M, 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 Percussion instruments the same in all countries?
The base HS code 920600 for Percussion instruments 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 percussion instruments in Brazil?
In Brazil, percussion instruments (HS 920600) is classified under NCM 9206.00.00.