Product classification
HS code for Ski lift: 8428.60
Teleferics, chair-lifts, ski-draglines, traction mechanisms for funiculars.
Classification of ski lift under HS 8428.60
Ski lifts are classified under HS code 8428.60, which covers teleferics, chair-lifts, ski-draglines, and traction mechanisms for funiculars. This classification is part of Chapter 84, which deals with machinery and mechanical appliances. Specifically, heading 84.28 covers "other lifting, handling, loading or unloading machinery." Ski lifts are complex mechanical systems designed to transport people up slopes using a continuous cable system. The classification includes the entire functional unit, which typically consists of drive and return stations, the haul rope (steel cable), the carriers (such as chairs, gondolas, or T-bars), and the towers that support the line. According to GRI 1, the classification is based on the functional description provided in the subheading. These systems are distinguished from elevators or escalators by their specific application in mountain transport and their reliance on cable-driven traction. The engineering involved includes sophisticated hydraulic tensioning systems, safety braking mechanisms, and electric motors with planetary gearboxes, all of which are considered part of the machinery of heading 84.28.
- Covers
- Detachable and fixed-grip chairlifts
- Gondola lifts
- T-bar and J-bar surface lifts
- Platter lifts (button lifts)
- Rope tows and magic carpets
- Aerial tramways
- Also under 8428.60
- Doppelmayr/Garaventa Group gondolas
- Poma chairlifts
- Leitner Ropeways funiculars
- Bartholet Ropeways aerial trams
Codes often confused with 8428.60
Common mistake. Ski lifts are sometimes misclassified under 8428.90 (other machinery) or 7308.90 (structures of iron or steel). 8428.90 is a catch-all for machinery not specified elsewhere, but 8428.60 is the more specific and correct code. 7308.90 might be considered for the steel towers alone, but when the towers are part of a complete mechanical transport system, the entire assembly is classified as machinery under 84.28.
Top exporters and importers of HS 842860 (the code used for ski lift), 2025
In 2025, the largest exporter of HS 842860 (the code used for ski lift) in UN Comtrade data was Austria, with 54% of world exports; the largest importer in UN Comtrade data was Switzerland, with 12% 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 842860, not only ski lift.
Top exporters 2025 · share of world exports
- 1 Austria $361M 54% of world exports
- 2 Italy $144M 21% of world exports
- 3 France $72M 11% of world exports
World total: $675M Reported figures on UN Comtrade ↗
Top importers 2025 · share of world imports
- 1 Switzerland $51M 12% of world imports
- 2 United States $31M 7.2% of world imports
- 3 Azerbaijan $30M 6.9% of world imports
World total: $433M 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 ski lift
Brazil classifies ski lift under NCM 8428.60.00: HS 8428.60 with 00 added.
Source: Siscomex NCM table, updated Oct 2026. The Portuguese text on each NCM page is the official one.
Questions about ski lift
What is the HS code for Ski lift?
The HS code for Ski lift is 842860 (Teleferics, chair-lifts, ski-draglines, traction mechanisms for funiculars). The HS code for ski lifts, including chair-lifts and draglines, is 8428.60.
How do I classify Ski lift for customs?
Ski lift is classified under HS code 842860 — Teleferics, chair-lifts, ski-draglines, traction mechanisms for funiculars. This is a 6-digit subheading level code.
Does the HS code include the steel support towers?
Yes, when the towers are imported as part of the complete ski lift system, they are classified together with the machinery under 8428.60.
Which countries are the top exporters of ski lift (HS 842860)?
In 2025, the top exporters of HS 842860 (the code used for ski lift) in UN Comtrade data were Austria ($361M, 54% of world exports), Italy ($144M) and France ($72M). World exports came to about $675M, 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 ski lift (HS 842860)?
In 2025, the top importers of HS 842860 (the code used for ski lift) in UN Comtrade data were Switzerland ($51M, 12% of world imports), the United States ($31M) and Azerbaijan ($30M). World imports came to about $433M, 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 Ski lift the same in all countries?
The base HS code 842860 for Ski lift 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 ski lift in Brazil?
In Brazil, ski lift (HS 842860) is classified under NCM 8428.60.00.