Product classification
HS code for Semiconductor wafer machine: 8486.10
Machines and apparatus of a kind used solely or principally for the manufacture of semiconductor boules or wafers.
Classification of semiconductor wafer machine under HS 8486.10
Machines used for the manufacture of semiconductor boules or wafers are classified under HS code 848610. This heading was introduced to the Harmonized System to provide a single location for the complex machinery used in the semiconductor industry. Heading 8486 covers machines and apparatus of a kind used solely or principally for the manufacture of semiconductor boules or wafers, semiconductor devices, integrated circuits, or flat panel displays. Subheading 848610 specifically targets the beginning of the production chain: the creation of the semiconductor boule (the raw ingot) and the processing of that boule into thin wafers. The classification is based on the "solely or principally" rule, meaning the machine must be designed specifically for this industry. These machines perform high-precision tasks such as crystal pulling, slicing, grinding, and polishing, which are unique to the preparation of semiconductor substrates.
- Covers
- Czochralski crystal pullers
- Wafer slicing saws (diamond wire or inner diameter)
- Wafer edge grinding machines
- Chemical mechanical polishing (CMP) equipment for wafers
- Wafer lapping machines
- Also under 8486.10
- Applied Materials Centura
- Tokyo Electron (TEL) Clean Track
- Lam Research Kiyo
- ASM International A400
- DISCO DFG8540
Codes often confused with 8486.10
Common mistake. These machines are frequently misclassified under HS code 8464, which covers machine tools for working stone, ceramics, concrete, or similar mineral materials. While a wafer saw might look like a stone saw, Note 9 to Chapter 84 explicitly directs semiconductor manufacturing equipment to heading 8486. Another error is using HS code 8479, which is for general-purpose machinery. Because 8486 is more specific to the semiconductor industry, it takes precedence over 8479 according to GRI 3(a).
Top exporters and importers of HS 848610 (the code used for semiconductor wafer machine), 2025
In 2025, the largest exporter of HS 848610 (the code used for semiconductor wafer machine) in UN Comtrade data was Japan, with 42% of world exports; the largest importer in UN Comtrade data was China, with 41% 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 848610, not only semiconductor wafer machine.
Top exporters 2025 · share of world exports
- 1 Japan $1.5B 42% of world exports
- 2 Germany $757M 21% of world exports
- 3 China $324M 9.2% of world exports
World total: $3.5B Reported figures on UN Comtrade ↗
Top importers 2025 · share of world imports
- 1 China $1.6B 41% of world imports
- 2 Taiwan* ~$714M 18% of world imports · partner records ↗
- 3 United States $463M 12% of world imports
World total: $4.0B 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 marked * did not, so their figures add up what other countries recorded trading with them, and their exports are valued at buyers' CIF prices. 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. UN Comtrade records Taiwan as "Other Asia, not elsewhere specified". Saudi Arabia's exports under that code are left out: they are far too large to be trade with Taiwan, so mostly undisclosed partners. 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 semiconductor wafer machine
Brazil classifies semiconductor wafer machine under NCM 8486.10.00: HS 8486.10 with 00 added.
Source: Siscomex NCM table, updated Oct 2026. The Portuguese text on each NCM page is the official one.
Questions about semiconductor wafer machine
What is the HS code for Semiconductor wafer machine?
The HS code for Semiconductor wafer machine is 848610 (Machines and apparatus of a kind used solely or principally for the manufacture of semiconductor boules or wafers).
How do I classify Semiconductor wafer machine for customs?
Semiconductor wafer machine is classified under HS code 848610 — Machines and apparatus of a kind used solely or principally for the manufacture of semiconductor boules or wafers. This is a 6-digit subheading level code.
What is the HS code for wafer machines?
The HS code for machines used to manufacture semiconductor boules or wafers is 848610.
Does this include machines that make the actual chips?
No, machines that manufacture the actual semiconductor devices (like lithography or etching tools) are classified under HS code 848620.
Which countries are the top exporters of semiconductor wafer machine (HS 848610)?
In 2025, the top exporters of HS 848610 (the code used for semiconductor wafer machine) in UN Comtrade data were Japan ($1.5B, 42% of world exports), Germany ($757M) and China ($324M). World exports came to about $3.5B, 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 semiconductor wafer machine (HS 848610)?
In 2025, the top importers of HS 848610 (the code used for semiconductor wafer machine) in UN Comtrade data were China ($1.6B, 41% of world imports), Taiwan (about $714M) and the United States ($463M). World imports came to about $4.0B, 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 Semiconductor wafer machine the same in all countries?
The base HS code 848610 for Semiconductor wafer 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 semiconductor wafer machine in Brazil?
In Brazil, semiconductor wafer machine (HS 848610) is classified under NCM 8486.10.00.