Product classification

HS code for Testing equipment: 9031.80

Instruments, appliances and machines, for measuring or checking n.e.c. in chapter 90.

Classification of testing equipment under HS 9031.80

HS code 9031.80 serves as a residual category for instruments, appliances, and machines used for measuring or checking that are not specified or included elsewhere in Chapter 90. This classification is used for a wide variety of sophisticated diagnostic and inspection tools that do not fit into more specific headings like 9025 (thermometers), 9026 (flow meters), 9027 (chemical analysis), or 9030 (electrical quantities). The equipment classified here often utilizes optical, ultrasonic, or mechanical means to verify dimensions, surface integrity, or structural properties. Because 9031 is the "catch-all" heading for measuring and checking instruments, 9031.80 encompasses a broad range of industrial and scientific technology. Classification under this code requires that the primary function of the device is the measurement or checking of a physical variable or the inspection of a component for defects, provided it is not a machine tool or a medical device classified in 9018. This includes non-destructive testing (NDT) equipment used in aerospace, automotive, and construction industries to ensure material safety and compliance with engineering standards. The versatility of this code makes it essential for modern manufacturing quality control systems that rely on automated inspection and precision measurement.

Covers
  • Ultrasonic flaw detectors
  • Vibration testing systems
  • Coordinate measuring machines (CMM)
  • Hardness testing machines
  • Surface tension meters
  • Profile projectors for dimensional checking
Also under 9031.80
  • Hexagon Global S CMM
  • Mitutoyo Surftest SJ-210
  • Fluke 805 FC Vibration Meter
  • Keyence IM-8000 Image Dimension Measurement System

Codes often confused with 9031.80

Common mistake. Testing equipment is often misclassified under 9030 if it involves any electrical component; however, 9030 is strictly for measuring electrical quantities like voltage or current. Another common error is using 9024, which is reserved specifically for testing the mechanical properties (like tension, compression, or elasticity) of materials like metals, wood, or plastics.

90.30Instruments, apparatus for measuring, checking electrical quantities not meters of heading no. 9028; instruments, apparatus for measuring or detecting alpha, beta, gamma, x-ray, cosmic and other radiations90.24Machines and appliances for testing the hardness, strength, compressibility, elasticity of other mechanical properties of materials (e.g. metals, wood, textiles, paper, plastics)

Top exporters and importers of HS 903180 (the code used for testing equipment), 2025

In 2025, the largest exporter of HS 903180 (the code used for testing equipment) in UN Comtrade data was Germany, with 17% of world exports; the largest importer in UN Comtrade data was China, with 19% 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 903180, not only testing equipment.

Top exporters 2025 · share of world exports

  1. 1 Germany $5.4B
  2. 2 China $4.9B
  3. 3 United States $3.1B

World total: $31.3B Reported figures on UN Comtrade ↗

Top importers 2025 · share of world imports

  1. 1 China $6.4B
  2. 2 United States $3.8B
  3. 3 Germany $2.4B

World total: $33.7B 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 codes for testing equipment

Brazil splits HS 9031.80 into 9 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 testing equipment

What is the HS code for Testing equipment?

The HS code for Testing equipment is 903180 (Instruments, appliances and machines; for measuring or checking n.e.c. in chapter 90). General measuring or checking equipment not specified elsewhere is classified under HS code 9031.80.

How do I classify Testing equipment for customs?

Testing equipment is classified under HS code 903180 — Instruments, appliances and machines; for measuring or checking n.e.c. in chapter 90. This is a 6-digit subheading level code.

Is medical testing equipment classified here?

No, equipment used for medical, surgical, or veterinary sciences is generally classified under heading 9018.

Which countries are the top exporters of testing equipment (HS 903180)?

In 2025, the top exporters of HS 903180 (the code used for testing equipment) in UN Comtrade data were Germany ($5.4B, 17% of world exports), China ($4.9B) and the United States ($3.1B). World exports came to about $31.3B, 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 testing equipment (HS 903180)?

In 2025, the top importers of HS 903180 (the code used for testing equipment) in UN Comtrade data were China ($6.4B, 19% of world imports), the United States ($3.8B) and Germany ($2.4B). World imports came to about $33.7B, 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 Testing equipment the same in all countries?

The base HS code 903180 for Testing equipment 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 testing equipment in Brazil?

Brazil splits HS 903180 into 9 NCM codes, so the right one for testing equipment depends on the product's details: 9031.80.11 (Dynamometers), 9031.80.12 (Surface roughness testers), 9031.80.20 (Three-dimensional measuring machines), 9031.80.30 (Standard metres), 9031.80.40 (Vehicle trip computers), 9031.80.50 (Computerised textile analysis apparatus), and more.