Product classification
HS code for Thermoforming machine: 8477.40
Machinery, vacuum moulding machines and other thermoforming machines, for working rubber or plastics or for the manufacture of products from these materials.
Classification of thermoforming machine under HS 8477.40
Thermoforming machines are classified under HS code 8477.40, which falls within Chapter 84 of the Harmonized System. This chapter covers nuclear reactors, boilers, machinery, and mechanical appliances. Specifically, heading 8477 is dedicated to machinery for working rubber or plastics or for the manufacture of products from these materials, not specified or included elsewhere in Chapter 84. Subheading 8477.40 is the specific category for vacuum moulding machines and other thermoforming machines. The classification logic is based on the machine's primary function: heating a plastic sheet until it becomes pliable and then using vacuum or mechanical pressure to shape it over a mold. This process is distinct from injection moulding or extrusion. The machine typically consists of a heating unit, a forming station where the mold is located, and often a trimming unit to remove excess material. Because these machines are designed specifically for processing plastic sheets or films into three-dimensional shapes (such as food containers, trays, or automotive parts), they meet the criteria for 8477.40. The classification remains the same whether the machine is a small manual unit or a high-speed, fully automated industrial line, provided the core technology is thermoforming.
- Covers
- Vacuum forming machines for plastic packaging
- Pressure forming machines for industrial components
- Twin-sheet thermoforming equipment
- Automatic continuous-feed thermoformers
- Manual laboratory-scale vacuum formers
- Also under 8477.40
- Illig Thermoformers
- Kiefel Thermoforming Machines
- Gabler Thermoformers
- WM Thermoforming Machines
Codes often confused with 8477.40
Common mistake. Thermoforming machines are often misclassified under 8477.10 (injection moulding machines) or 8477.20 (extruders). While all three types work with plastics, the mechanical operation is fundamentally different. Injection moulding involves melting plastic pellets and injecting them into a closed cavity, whereas thermoforming uses pre-extruded sheets. Another common error is 8477.59, which is a residual category for other machinery for working rubber or plastics, but since 8477.40 specifically mentions thermoforming, it must be used according to GRI 1.
Top exporters and importers of HS 847740 (the code used for thermoforming machine), 2025
In 2025, the largest exporter of HS 847740 (the code used for thermoforming machine) in UN Comtrade data was China, with 42% of world exports; the largest importer in UN Comtrade data was China, with 29% 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 847740, not only thermoforming machine.
Top exporters 2025 · share of world exports
- 1 China $435M 42% of world exports
- 2 Germany $159M 15% of world exports
- 3 Italy $62M 6.0% of world exports
World total: $1.0B Reported figures on UN Comtrade ↗
Top importers 2025 · share of world imports
- 1 China $362M 29% of world imports
- 2 United States $94M 7.6% of world imports
- 3 Vietnam* ~$71M 5.7% of world imports · partner records ↗
World total: $1.2B 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 thermoforming machine
Brazil splits HS 8477.40 into 2 NCM codes. Pick the one that matches your product:
- 8477.40.10Vacuum moulders for EPS or EPP foam
- 8477.40.90Other vacuum moulding and thermoforming machines
Source: Siscomex NCM table, updated Oct 2026. The Portuguese text on each NCM page is the official one.
Questions about thermoforming machine
What is the HS code for Thermoforming machine?
The HS code for Thermoforming machine is 847740 (Machinery; vacuum moulding machines and other thermoforming machines, for working rubber or plastics or for the manufacture of products from these materials). The HS code for a thermoforming machine is 8477.40, covering vacuum moulding and other thermoforming equipment for plastics.
How do I classify Thermoforming machine for customs?
Thermoforming machine is classified under HS code 847740 — Machinery; vacuum moulding machines and other thermoforming machines, for working rubber or plastics or for the manufacture of products from these materials. This is a 6-digit subheading level code.
Are the molds imported with the machine classified here?
Generally, molds are classified separately under heading 8480, even if imported with the machine, unless they are an integral, non-detachable part of the mechanical assembly.
Which countries are the top exporters of thermoforming machine (HS 847740)?
In 2025, the top exporters of HS 847740 (the code used for thermoforming machine) in UN Comtrade data were China ($435M, 42% of world exports), Germany ($159M) and Italy ($62M). World exports came to about $1.0B, 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 thermoforming machine (HS 847740)?
In 2025, the top importers of HS 847740 (the code used for thermoforming machine) in UN Comtrade data were China ($362M, 29% of world imports), the United States ($94M) and Vietnam (about $71M). World imports came to about $1.2B, 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 Thermoforming machine the same in all countries?
The base HS code 847740 for Thermoforming machine 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 thermoforming machine in Brazil?
Brazil splits HS 847740 into 2 NCM codes, so the right one for thermoforming machine depends on the product's details: 8477.40.10 (Vacuum moulders for EPS or EPP foam), 8477.40.90 (Other vacuum moulding and thermoforming machines).