Product classification
HS code for Rocket engine: 8412.10
Engines, reaction engines, other than turbo-jets.
Classification of rocket engine under HS 8412.10
Rocket engines are classified under HS code 8412.10. This classification is part of Chapter 84, which deals with mechanical appliances and machinery. Heading 8412 covers other engines and motors, and subheading 8412.10 is specifically designated for reaction engines. A reaction engine is an engine that produces thrust by expelling reaction mass, in accordance with Newton's third law of motion. This category includes all types of rocket engines, whether they use liquid, solid, or hybrid propellants. The classification logic excludes turbo-jets and turbo-propellers, which are classified under heading 8411. Rocket engines are distinct because they do not rely on atmospheric oxygen for combustion, carrying their own oxidizer, which allows them to operate in the vacuum of space. This technical distinction is the primary driver for its specific placement within the 8412 heading rather than with aircraft turbines.
- Covers
- Liquid-propellant rocket engines for satellite launch vehicles
- Solid-propellant rocket motors for aerospace applications
- Hybrid rocket engines using combined fuel states
- Ion thrusters and plasma thrusters for deep space probes
- Vernier thrusters used for spacecraft attitude control
- Cold gas thrusters for small satellite maneuvering
- Also under 8412.10
- SpaceX Merlin engine
- Ariane 5 Vulcain engine
- Patriot missile solid rocket motor
- NASA RS-25 (Space Shuttle Main Engine)
- Russian RD-180 engine
Codes often confused with 8412.10
Common mistake. Rocket engines are often confused with turbo-jets, which fall under HS code 8411.11 or 8411.12. The key technical difference is that turbo-jets use atmospheric air as the working fluid, whereas reaction engines under 8412.10 are self-contained. Another misclassification occurs with HS code 9306.90, which covers guided missiles and munitions. While a rocket engine is a component of a missile, the engine itself, when shipped as a separate unit, remains under 8412.10. Additionally, parts of these engines should be classified under 8412.90 rather than the engine code itself, following the rules for parts of machinery.
Top exporters and importers of HS 841210 (the code used for rocket engine), 2025
In 2025, the largest exporter of HS 841210 (the code used for rocket engine) in UN Comtrade data was Saudi Arabia, with 60% of world exports; the largest importer in UN Comtrade data was Saudi Arabia, with 63% 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 841210, not only rocket engine.
Top exporters 2025 · share of world exports
- 1 Saudi Arabia $560M 60% of world exports
- 2 United States $169M 18% of world exports
- 3 France $114M 12% of world exports
World total: $935M Reported figures on UN Comtrade ↗
Top importers 2025 · share of world imports
- 1 Saudi Arabia $590M 63% of world imports
- 2 United States $181M 19% of world imports
- 3 United Kingdom $25M 2.6% of world imports
World total: $935M 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 rocket engine
Brazil classifies rocket engine under NCM 8412.10.00: HS 8412.10 with 00 added.
Source: Siscomex NCM table, updated Oct 2026. The Portuguese text on each NCM page is the official one.
Questions about rocket engine
What is the HS code for Rocket engine?
The HS code for Rocket engine is 841210 (Engines; reaction engines, other than turbo-jets). The HS code for rocket engines (reaction engines other than turbo-jets) is 8412.10.
How do I classify Rocket engine for customs?
Rocket engine is classified under HS code 841210 — Engines; reaction engines, other than turbo-jets. This is a 6-digit subheading level code.
Are ion thrusters classified as rocket engines?
Yes, ion thrusters are considered reaction engines and are classified under HS code 8412.10 because they generate thrust through the electromagnetic expulsion of ions rather than atmospheric combustion.
Which countries are the top exporters of rocket engine (HS 841210)?
In 2025, the top exporters of HS 841210 (the code used for rocket engine) in UN Comtrade data were Saudi Arabia ($560M, 60% of world exports), the United States ($169M) and France ($114M). World exports came to about $935M, 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 rocket engine (HS 841210)?
In 2025, the top importers of HS 841210 (the code used for rocket engine) in UN Comtrade data were Saudi Arabia ($590M, 63% of world imports), the United States ($181M) and the United Kingdom ($25M). World imports came to about $935M, 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 Rocket engine the same in all countries?
The base HS code 841210 for Rocket engine 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 rocket engine in Brazil?
In Brazil, rocket engine (HS 841210) is classified under NCM 8412.10.00.