Product classification
HS code for Power plant boilers: 8402.11
Boilers, watertube boilers with a steam production exceeding 45t per hour.
Classification of power plant boilers under HS 8402.11
HS code 8402.11 is reserved for large-scale watertube boilers used primarily in power generation and heavy industrial applications. According to the Explanatory Notes to the Harmonized System, heading 8402 covers steam or other vapor generating boilers. The classification into subheading 8402.11 is specific to watertube boilers where the steam production exceeds 45 tons per hour. This distinction is based on both the technology (watertube vs. fire-tube) and the capacity. In a watertube boiler, water circulates in tubes heated externally by fire or hot gases. This design is preferred for high-pressure and high-capacity steam generation required to drive large turbines in power plants. The classification process involves verifying the technical specifications of the boiler, specifically its rated steam output. If the output is 45 tons per hour or less, it would fall under 8402.12. The classification also excludes central heating boilers capable of producing low-pressure steam, which are classified under heading 8403. The precision in this code ensures that utility-scale power equipment is distinguished from smaller industrial or residential heating units. These boilers are often imported in sections due to their immense size, but under GRI 2(a), they are still classified as the complete article if they have the essential character of the boiler. The classification remains 8402.11 regardless of whether the boiler is fueled by coal, gas, or biomass, provided it meets the watertube and capacity criteria.
- Covers
- Supercritical watertube boilers
- Utility-scale steam generators
- High-capacity industrial watertube boilers
- Natural circulation and forced circulation power plant boilers
- Pulverized coal-fired watertube boilers
- Also under 8402.11
- GE Power HRSG
- Siemens Energy steam generators
- Babcock & Wilcox utility boilers
- Doosan Lentjes CFB boilers
Codes often confused with 8402.11
Common mistake. The most common misclassification occurs between 8402.11 and 8402.12. The only difference is the capacity threshold of 45 tons of steam per hour. Fire-tube boilers are also often misclassified here, but they belong under 8402.19. Furthermore, auxiliary equipment like superheaters and economizers, even if used with these boilers, must be classified under 8404.10 rather than 8402.11 when shipped separately.
Top exporters and importers of HS 840211 (the code used for power plant boilers), 2025
In 2025, the largest exporter of HS 840211 (the code used for power plant boilers) in UN Comtrade data was China, with 29% of world exports; the largest importer in UN Comtrade data was Brazil, with 35% 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 840211, not only power plant boilers.
Top exporters 2025 · share of world exports
- 1 China $88M 29% of world exports
- 2 India $85M 29% of world exports
- 3 Brazil $36M 12% of world exports
World total: $299M Reported figures on UN Comtrade ↗
Top importers 2025 · share of world imports
- 1 Brazil $181M 35% of world imports
- 2 Indonesia $55M 11% of world imports
- 3 Saudi Arabia $36M 7.0% of world imports
World total: $516M 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 power plant boilers
Brazil classifies power plant boilers under NCM 8402.11.00: HS 8402.11 with 00 added.
Source: Siscomex NCM table, updated Oct 2026. The Portuguese text on each NCM page is the official one.
Questions about power plant boilers
What is the HS code for Power plant boilers?
The HS code for Power plant boilers is 840211 (Boilers; watertube boilers with a steam production exceeding 45t per hour). The HS code for watertube power plant boilers with a steam production exceeding 45 tons per hour is 8402.11.
How do I classify Power plant boilers for customs?
Power plant boilers is classified under HS code 840211 — Boilers; watertube boilers with a steam production exceeding 45t per hour. This is a 6-digit subheading level code.
Are nuclear reactors classified under this code?
No, nuclear reactors and their parts are classified under heading 8401, even if they are used to generate steam for a power plant.
Which countries are the top exporters of power plant boilers (HS 840211)?
In 2025, the top exporters of HS 840211 (the code used for power plant boilers) in UN Comtrade data were China ($88M, 29% of world exports), India ($85M) and Brazil ($36M). World exports came to about $299M, 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 power plant boilers (HS 840211)?
In 2025, the top importers of HS 840211 (the code used for power plant boilers) in UN Comtrade data were Brazil ($181M, 35% of world imports), Indonesia ($55M) and Saudi Arabia ($36M). World imports came to about $516M, 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 Power plant boilers the same in all countries?
The base HS code 840211 for Power plant boilers 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 power plant boilers in Brazil?
In Brazil, power plant boilers (HS 840211) is classified under NCM 8402.11.00.