Product classification
HS code for Shuttle loom: 8446.21
Weaving machines (looms), for weaving fabrics of a width exceeding 30cm, shuttle type, power looms.
Classification of shuttle loom under HS 8446.21
Shuttle looms, or weaving machines that utilize a shuttle to carry the weft thread, are classified under HS code 8446.21. This classification is situated within Chapter 84, which covers nuclear reactors, boilers, machinery, and mechanical appliances. Heading 8446 is specifically for weaving machines. The subheadings are organized by the width of the fabric produced and the method of weft insertion. Subheading 8446.21 is reserved for power-driven looms of the shuttle type that are designed for weaving fabrics with a width exceeding 30 cm. The "power" designation implies that the machine is driven by an electric motor or other non-manual power source. The shuttle mechanism is a traditional weaving method where a bobbin-carrying device (the shuttle) is physically passed back and forth through the warp shed. This distinguishes it from modern shuttleless looms which use air-jets, water-jets, or rapiers. The width requirement of over 30 cm is a critical technical threshold; machines weaving narrower ribbons or tapes are classified elsewhere. The classification remains consistent regardless of the type of fiber being woven, whether natural, synthetic, or metallic, provided the machine functions as a shuttle-type power loom.
- Covers
- Automatic shuttle looms for cotton weaving
- Power-driven silk shuttle looms
- Industrial shuttle looms for heavy fabrics
- Woolen fabric shuttle looms (width > 30cm)
- Also under 8446.21
- Lakshmi Ruti C Loom
- Tsudakoma ZAX-N (older models)
- Picanol OmniPlus-X (older shuttle versions)
- Saurer S400 (older models)
Codes often confused with 8446.21
Common mistake. Shuttle looms are frequently confused with shuttleless looms, which are classified under HS code 8446.30. Shuttleless looms use different technology like air-jets or projectiles. Another misclassification occurs with HS code 8446.10, which is for looms weaving fabrics of a width not exceeding 30 cm (narrow fabrics). Hand-operated shuttle looms are also distinct and should be classified under 8446.29 rather than 8446.21.
Top exporters and importers of HS 844621 (the code used for shuttle loom), 2025
In 2025, the largest exporter of HS 844621 (the code used for shuttle loom) in UN Comtrade data was China, with 54% of world exports; the largest importer in UN Comtrade data was Bangladesh, with about 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 844621, not only shuttle loom.
Top exporters 2025 · share of world exports
- 1 China $55M 54% of world exports
- 2 Austria $17M 17% of world exports
- 3 Czechia $6.7M 6.6% of world exports
World total: $102M Reported figures on UN Comtrade ↗
Top importers 2025 · share of world imports
- 1 Bangladesh* ~$11M 11% of world imports · partner records ↗
- 2 United States $9.9M 10% of world imports
- 3 Vietnam* ~$9.4M 9.6% of world imports · partner records ↗
World total: $98M 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. 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 shuttle loom
Brazil classifies shuttle loom under NCM 8446.21.00: HS 8446.21 with 00 added.
Source: Siscomex NCM table, updated Oct 2026. The Portuguese text on each NCM page is the official one.
Questions about shuttle loom
What is the HS code for Shuttle loom?
The HS code for Shuttle loom is 844621 (Weaving machines (looms); for weaving fabrics of a width exceeding 30cm, shuttle type, power looms). The HS code for a power-driven shuttle loom weaving fabrics wider than 30 cm is 8446.21.
How do I classify Shuttle loom for customs?
Shuttle loom is classified under HS code 844621 — Weaving machines (looms); for weaving fabrics of a width exceeding 30cm, shuttle type, power looms. This is a 6-digit subheading level code.
What is the difference between 8446.21 and 8446.30?
8446.21 is for looms that use a physical shuttle, while 8446.30 is for shuttleless looms (e.g., rapier, air-jet, or water-jet machines).
Which countries are the top exporters of shuttle loom (HS 844621)?
In 2025, the top exporters of HS 844621 (the code used for shuttle loom) in UN Comtrade data were China ($55M, 54% of world exports), Austria ($17M) and Czechia ($6.7M). World exports came to about $102M, 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 shuttle loom (HS 844621)?
In 2025, the top importers of HS 844621 (the code used for shuttle loom) in UN Comtrade data were Bangladesh (about $11M, 11% of world imports), the United States ($9.9M) and Vietnam (about $9.4M). World imports came to about $98M, 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 Shuttle loom the same in all countries?
The base HS code 844621 for Shuttle loom 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 shuttle loom in Brazil?
In Brazil, shuttle loom (HS 844621) is classified under NCM 8446.21.00.