Product classification
HS code for Straddle carrier: 8426.12
Cranes, mobile lifting frames on tyres and straddle carriers.
Classification of straddle carrier under HS 8426.12
Straddle carriers are specialized lifting vehicles used primarily in port terminals and container yards for moving and stacking ISO containers. They are classified under HS code 8426.12. This classification falls under Chapter 84, which covers nuclear reactors, boilers, machinery, and mechanical appliances. Heading 8426 is dedicated to ships' derricks, cranes, and mobile lifting frames. Subheading 8426.12 specifically identifies "mobile lifting frames on tyres and straddle carriers." The classification is determined by the machine's primary function: its ability to straddle a load, lift it vertically using a spreader, and transport it over short distances. These machines are distinct from other lifting equipment because the load is carried within the frame of the vehicle rather than on a fork or a boom. The requirement for the vehicle to be "on tyres" is a key characteristic of this subheading, reflecting the standard design of modern port logistics equipment.
- Covers
- Container straddle carriers
- Mobile lifting frames on pneumatic tyres
- Automatic guided straddle carriers (AGSCs)
- Stacking straddle carriers
- Intermodal straddle carriers for rail yards
- Also under 8426.12
- Kalmar RTG
- Liebherr LHM Series
- ZPMC RTG
- Konecranes Noell Straddle Carrier
- Terex Port Solutions Gottwald
Codes often confused with 8426.12
Common mistake. Straddle carriers are often confused with fork-lift trucks, which are classified under HS code 8427. While both move containers, 8427 is reserved for trucks fitted with lifting or handling equipment that does not straddle the load. Another common misclassification is HS code 8704, which covers motor vehicles for the transport of goods. However, because the straddle carrier is primarily a lifting and handling machine rather than a transport vehicle for public roads, Chapter 84 takes precedence over Chapter 87. Furthermore, reach stackers are classified under 8427.20, not 8426.12, because they utilize a boom rather than a straddle frame.
Top exporters and importers of HS 842612 (the code used for straddle carrier), 2025
In 2025, the largest exporter of HS 842612 (the code used for straddle carrier) in UN Comtrade data was Poland, with 31% of world exports; the largest importer in UN Comtrade data was the United States, with 14% 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 842612, not only straddle carrier.
Top exporters 2025 · share of world exports
- 1 Poland $277M 31% of world exports
- 2 Japan $172M 19% of world exports
- 3 Germany $96M 11% of world exports
World total: $884M Reported figures on UN Comtrade ↗
Top importers 2025 · share of world imports
- 1 United States $116M 14% of world imports
- 2 United Kingdom $72M 8.9% of world imports
- 3 France $57M 7.1% of world imports
World total: $805M 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 straddle carrier
Brazil classifies straddle carrier under NCM 8426.12.00: HS 8426.12 with 00 added.
Source: Siscomex NCM table, updated Oct 2026. The Portuguese text on each NCM page is the official one.
Questions about straddle carrier
What is the HS code for Straddle carrier?
The HS code for Straddle carrier is 842612 (Cranes; mobile lifting frames on tyres and straddle carriers). The HS code for a straddle carrier is 8426.12, which covers mobile lifting frames on tyres and straddle carriers.
How do I classify Straddle carrier for customs?
Straddle carrier is classified under HS code 842612 — Cranes; mobile lifting frames on tyres and straddle carriers. This is a 6-digit subheading level code.
Does this code include straddle carriers used in warehouses?
Yes, if the machine functions by straddling the load and is mounted on tyres, it falls under 8426.12 regardless of whether it is used in a port or a warehouse.
Which countries are the top exporters of straddle carrier (HS 842612)?
In 2025, the top exporters of HS 842612 (the code used for straddle carrier) in UN Comtrade data were Poland ($277M, 31% of world exports), Japan ($172M) and Germany ($96M). World exports came to about $884M, 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 straddle carrier (HS 842612)?
In 2025, the top importers of HS 842612 (the code used for straddle carrier) in UN Comtrade data were the United States ($116M, 14% of world imports), the United Kingdom ($72M) and France ($57M). World imports came to about $805M, 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 Straddle carrier the same in all countries?
The base HS code 842612 for Straddle carrier 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 straddle carrier in Brazil?
In Brazil, straddle carrier (HS 842612) is classified under NCM 8426.12.00.