Product classification

HS code for Speaker driver: 8518.29

Loudspeakers, not mounted in their enclosures.

Classification of speaker driver under HS 8518.29

Speaker drivers are classified under HS code 8518.29 because they represent loudspeakers that are not yet mounted in their enclosures. In the hierarchy of the Harmonized System, heading 8518 covers microphones, loudspeakers, and amplifiers. Subheading 8518.29 is a residual category for individual transducers—consisting of the magnet, voice coil, and diaphragm—that are imported as components. These are distinct from finished speaker systems because they lack the acoustic cabinet or housing necessary for final consumer use. Classification is determined by the General Rules of Interpretation (GRI) 1 and 6, focusing on the physical state of the goods at the time of import. Because these drivers are functional units capable of converting electrical energy into sound but are presented as bare components for manufacturing or repair, they fall specifically into this non-mounted category.

Covers
  • Woofers and sub-woofers (unmounted)
  • Tweeters and mid-range drivers
  • Full-range loudspeaker drivers
  • Compression drivers for horn speakers
  • Replacement speaker cones with voice coils
Also under 8518.29
  • Dayton Audio Woofers
  • Scan-Speak Tweeters
  • JBL Car Audio Drivers
  • Eminence Professional Loudspeakers
  • Peerless by Tymphany Drivers.

Codes often confused with 8518.29

Common mistake. Speaker drivers are frequently misclassified under HS code 8518.21 or 8518.22. Code 8518.21 is reserved for single loudspeakers mounted in their enclosures, while 8518.22 is for multiple loudspeakers mounted in the same enclosure. The critical distinction is the presence of the cabinet. If the driver is shipped inside a box or frame intended to act as an acoustic chamber, it must move to the mounted categories. Additionally, some importers mistakenly use 8518.90, which is for parts of loudspeakers; however, a functional driver is considered a finished loudspeaker (unmounted) rather than a part.

8518.21Loudspeakers; single, mounted in their enclosures8518.22Loudspeakers; multiple, mounted in the same enclosure8518.90Microphones, headphones, earphones, amplifier equipment; parts of the equipment of heading no. 8518

Top exporters and importers of HS 851829 (the code used for speaker driver), 2025

In 2025, the largest exporter of HS 851829 (the code used for speaker driver) in UN Comtrade data was China, with 49% of world exports; the largest importer in UN Comtrade data was the United States, with 17% 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 851829, not only speaker driver.

Top exporters 2025 · share of world exports

  1. 1 China $3.1B
  2. 2 Vietnam* ~$807M
  3. 3 United States $394M

World total: $6.3B Reported figures on UN Comtrade ↗

Top importers 2025 · share of world imports

  1. 1 United States $1.0B
  2. 2 Vietnam* ~$981M
  3. 3 Japan $466M

World total: $6.1B 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 codes for speaker driver

Brazil splits HS 8518.29 into 2 NCM codes. Pick the one that matches your product:

Source: Siscomex NCM table, updated Oct 2026. The Portuguese text on each NCM page is the official one.

Questions about speaker driver

What is the HS code for Speaker driver?

The HS code for Speaker driver is 851829 (Loudspeakers; not mounted in their enclosures). The HS code for a speaker driver (a loudspeaker not mounted in an enclosure) is 8518.29.

How do I classify Speaker driver for customs?

Speaker driver is classified under HS code 851829 — Loudspeakers; not mounted in their enclosures. This is a 6-digit subheading level code.

Does this code include the speaker cabinet?

No, if the speaker is already installed in a cabinet or enclosure, it should be classified under 8518.21 or 8518.22 depending on the number of drivers in the box.

Which countries are the top exporters of speaker driver (HS 851829)?

In 2025, the top exporters of HS 851829 (the code used for speaker driver) in UN Comtrade data were China ($3.1B, 49% of world exports), Vietnam (about $807M) and the United States ($394M). World exports came to about $6.3B, 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 speaker driver (HS 851829)?

In 2025, the top importers of HS 851829 (the code used for speaker driver) in UN Comtrade data were the United States ($1.0B, 17% of world imports), Vietnam (about $981M) and Japan ($466M). World imports came to about $6.1B, 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 Speaker driver the same in all countries?

The base HS code 851829 for Speaker driver 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 speaker driver in Brazil?

Brazil splits HS 851829 into 2 NCM codes, so the right one for speaker driver depends on the product's details: 8518.29.10 (Piezoelectric loudspeakers for telephones), 8518.29.90 (Other unmounted loudspeakers).