Product classification
HS code for Railway track equipment: 8608.00
Railway or tramway track fixtures and fittings, mechanical (including electro-mechanical) signalling, safety or traffic control equipment for railways, tramways, roads, inland waterways, parking facilities, port installations or airfields, parts thereof.
Classification of railway track equipment under HS 8608.00
Railway track equipment is classified under HS code 8608.00. This heading is unique because it encompasses both track fixtures and fittings as well as mechanical or electro-mechanical signaling and safety equipment. Unlike the structural components found in Chapter 73, the items under 8608.00 are considered 'equipment'—often involving moving parts or serving a functional role in traffic management and safety. This includes devices used for controlling the movement of trains, road vehicles, or even ships in inland waterways. The classification is governed by Note 3 to Section XVII, which specifies that the heading covers apparatus for signaling, safety, or traffic control, even if they are not strictly for railways. The equipment must be mechanical or electro-mechanical; purely electrical signaling apparatus is generally excluded and moved to Chapter 85. This code is essential for identifying infrastructure assets that are part of the operational control system of a transport network rather than the physical track bed itself. It covers a broad range of safety mechanisms designed to prevent collisions and manage the flow of traffic at level crossings, stations, and port installations.
- Covers
- Mechanical semaphores and signal discs
- Control levers and point rods for track switching
- Level crossing gates and operating mechanisms
- Stop blocks and buffers for track ends
- Electro-mechanical signaling equipment for airfields or parking lots
- Mechanical traffic control equipment for inland waterways
- Also under 8608.00
- Siemens Mobility signalling systems
- Alstom track solutions
- Thales Group traffic control systems
- Vossloh rail fastening systems
Codes often confused with 8608.00
Common mistake. The most common misclassification occurs with HS code 8530, which covers electrical signaling, safety, or traffic control equipment. If the equipment is purely electronic without mechanical moving parts, 8530 is the correct code. Additionally, structural track parts like rails or fish-plates are often wrongly placed here instead of heading 7302, which is reserved for track construction material.
Top exporters and importers of HS 860800 (the code used for railway track equipment), 2025
In 2025, the largest exporter of HS 860800 (the code used for railway track equipment) in UN Comtrade data was China, with 15% of world exports; the largest importer in UN Comtrade data was Kazakhstan, with 5.9% 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 860800, not only railway track equipment.
Top exporters 2025 · share of world exports
- 1 China $192M 15% of world exports
- 2 Germany $138M 11% of world exports
- 3 Austria $121M 9.4% of world exports
World total: $1.3B Reported figures on UN Comtrade ↗
Top importers 2025 · share of world imports
- 1 Kazakhstan $69M 5.9% of world imports
- 2 Canada $63M 5.4% of world imports
- 3 Germany $54M 4.6% of world imports
World total: $1.2B 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 railway track equipment
Brazil splits HS 8608.00 into 3 NCM codes. Pick the one that matches your product:
- 8608.00.11Mechanical traffic signalling equipment
- 8608.00.12Electro-mechanical traffic signalling equipment
- 8608.00.90Track fixtures, fittings and signalling parts
Source: Siscomex NCM table, updated Oct 2026. The Portuguese text on each NCM page is the official one.
Questions about railway track equipment
What is the HS code for Railway track equipment?
The HS code for Railway track equipment is 860800 (Railway or tramway track fixtures and fittings; mechanical (including electro-mechanical) signalling, safety or traffic control equipment for railways, tramways, roads, inland waterways, parking facilities, port installations or airfields; parts thereof). The HS code for railway track fixtures, fittings, and mechanical signaling equipment is 8608.00.
How do I classify Railway track equipment for customs?
Railway track equipment is classified under HS code 860800 — Railway or tramway track fixtures and fittings; mechanical (including electro-mechanical) signalling, safety or traffic control equipment for railways, tramways, roads, inland waterways, parking facilities, port installations or airfields; parts thereof. This is a 6-digit subheading level code.
Does this code include electronic traffic lights?
No, purely electronic traffic lights and signaling systems are typically classified under HS code 8530.10 or 8530.80.
Which countries are the top exporters of railway track equipment (HS 860800)?
In 2025, the top exporters of HS 860800 (the code used for railway track equipment) in UN Comtrade data were China ($192M, 15% of world exports), Germany ($138M) and Austria ($121M). World exports came to about $1.3B, 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 railway track equipment (HS 860800)?
In 2025, the top importers of HS 860800 (the code used for railway track equipment) in UN Comtrade data were Kazakhstan ($69M, 5.9% of world imports), Canada ($63M) and Germany ($54M). World imports came to about $1.2B, 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.
Is the HS code for Railway track equipment the same in all countries?
The base HS code 860800 for Railway track 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 railway track equipment in Brazil?
Brazil splits HS 860800 into 3 NCM codes, so the right one for railway track equipment depends on the product's details: 8608.00.11 (Mechanical traffic signalling equipment), 8608.00.12 (Electro-mechanical traffic signalling equipment), 8608.00.90 (Track fixtures, fittings and signalling parts).