Product classification
HS code for Poultry processing machine: 8438.50
Machinery, industrial, for the preparation of meat or poultry.
Classification of poultry processing machine under HS 8438.50
Poultry processing machines are classified under HS code 8438.50. This code is situated within Chapter 84 and specifically falls under heading 8438, which covers machinery, not specified or included elsewhere in this Chapter, for the industrial preparation or manufacture of food or drink. Subheading 8438.50 is dedicated to machinery for the preparation of meat or poultry. The classification is based on the industrial nature of the equipment and its specific application in the food processing chain. These machines are designed to handle the transition from a slaughtered animal to a food product, involving tasks such as plucking, evisceration, and portioning. Unlike agricultural machinery used for live animals, these machines are categorized as food industrial equipment. The distinction is critical because it separates the farming phase (poultry-keeping) from the industrial manufacturing phase (meat preparation). The machinery must be industrial in scale; small hand tools used for similar purposes are classified elsewhere under Chapter 82.
- Covers
- Automatic poultry plucking machines
- Poultry evisceration lines
- Industrial bird washers and chillers
- Poultry deboning and portioning machines
- Gizzard processing equipment
- Carcass splitting machines for poultry
- Also under 8438.50
- Marel meat processing lines
- GEA Food Solutions equipment
- Handtmann vacuum fillers
- Weber high-speed slicers
Codes often confused with 8438.50
Common mistake. A frequent misclassification occurs with HS code 8436.29, which covers poultry-keeping machinery. Importers often confuse equipment used on the farm with equipment used in a processing plant. If the machine is used for live birds, 8436 applies; if it is for preparing the meat after slaughter, 8438.50 is correct. Additionally, some may attempt to classify these under 8422.30 (machinery for filling, closing, sealing, or labeling), but if the primary function is the preparation of the meat itself, 8438.50 remains the appropriate classification.
Top exporters and importers of HS 843850 (the code used for poultry processing machine), 2025
In 2025, the largest exporter of HS 843850 (the code used for poultry processing machine) in UN Comtrade data was Germany, with 26% 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 843850, not only poultry processing machine.
Top exporters 2025 · share of world exports
- 1 Germany $802M 26% of world exports
- 2 Netherlands $628M 20% of world exports
- 3 China $283M 9.1% of world exports
World total: $3.1B Reported figures on UN Comtrade ↗
Top importers 2025 · share of world imports
- 1 United States $310M 11% of world imports
- 2 Spain $131M 4.5% of world imports
- 3 Brazil $128M 4.4% of world imports
World total: $2.9B 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 poultry processing machine
Brazil classifies poultry processing machine under NCM 8438.50.00: HS 8438.50 with 00 added.
Source: Siscomex NCM table, updated Oct 2026. The Portuguese text on each NCM page is the official one.
Questions about poultry processing machine
What is the HS code for Poultry processing machine?
The HS code for Poultry processing machine is 843850 (Machinery; industrial, for the preparation of meat or poultry). The correct HS code for industrial poultry processing machinery is 8438.50.
How do I classify Poultry processing machine for customs?
Poultry processing machine is classified under HS code 843850 — Machinery; industrial, for the preparation of meat or poultry. This is a 6-digit subheading level code.
Are manual knives used in poultry processing under this code?
No, manual knives and hand tools are classified under Chapter 82 (e.g., 8211.92), as 8438.50 is reserved for mechanical industrial machinery.
Which countries are the top exporters of poultry processing machine (HS 843850)?
In 2025, the top exporters of HS 843850 (the code used for poultry processing machine) in UN Comtrade data were Germany ($802M, 26% of world exports), the Netherlands ($628M) and China ($283M). World exports came to about $3.1B, 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 poultry processing machine (HS 843850)?
In 2025, the top importers of HS 843850 (the code used for poultry processing machine) in UN Comtrade data were the United States ($310M, 11% of world imports), Spain ($131M) and Brazil ($128M). World imports came to about $2.9B, 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.
Is the HS code for Poultry processing machine the same in all countries?
The base HS code 843850 for Poultry processing machine 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 poultry processing machine in Brazil?
In Brazil, poultry processing machine (HS 843850) is classified under NCM 8438.50.00.