Product classification
HS code for Wafer manufacturing equipment: 8486.10
Machines and apparatus of a kind used solely or principally for the manufacture of semiconductor boules or wafers.
Classification of wafer manufacturing equipment under HS 8486.10
Wafer manufacturing equipment is classified under HS code 8486.10 because it encompasses machines and apparatus used solely or principally for the manufacture of semiconductor boules or wafers. This classification is governed by Note 9 to Chapter 84, which provides a specific heading for semiconductor manufacturing equipment, taking precedence over other machinery headings in the Harmonized System. The equipment classified here is essential for the initial stages of semiconductor production, specifically the growth of monocrystalline boules and the subsequent slicing, grinding, and polishing of these boules into thin wafers. These wafers serve as the substrate for integrated circuits. The classification depends on the primary function of the machine; it must be dedicated to the production of the raw wafer itself rather than the subsequent fabrication of electronic components on that wafer. This distinction is critical for customs compliance, as the machinery involved often utilizes high-precision mechanical, thermal, and chemical processes unique to the semiconductor industry.
- Covers
- Czochralski crystal pullers for growing silicon boules
- Bridgman-Stockbarger furnaces for crystal growth
- Internal diameter (ID) saws and wire saws for wafer slicing
- Edge grinding machines for wafer profiling
- Chemical-mechanical polishing (CMP) equipment for wafer smoothing
- Wafer lapping machines
- Also under 8486.10
- Applied Materials Centura
- Tokyo Electron (TEL) Clean Track
- Lam Research Kiyo
- ASM International A400
- DISCO DFG8540
Codes often confused with 8486.10
Common mistake. This code is frequently confused with HS code 8486.20, which covers machines for the manufacture of semiconductor devices or electronic integrated circuits. While 8486.10 is for making the wafer, 8486.20 is for processing that wafer into a chip. Additionally, general-purpose machine tools for working stone or glass under heading 8464 are sometimes incorrectly used, but Note 9 to Chapter 84 mandates the use of 8486 for semiconductor-specific applications.
Top exporters and importers of HS 848610 (the code used for wafer manufacturing equipment), 2025
In 2025, the largest exporter of HS 848610 (the code used for wafer manufacturing equipment) in UN Comtrade data was Japan, with 42% of world exports; the largest importer in UN Comtrade data was China, with 41% 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 848610, not only wafer manufacturing equipment.
Top exporters 2025 · share of world exports
- 1 Japan $1.5B 42% of world exports
- 2 Germany $757M 21% of world exports
- 3 China $324M 9.2% of world exports
World total: $3.5B Reported figures on UN Comtrade ↗
Top importers 2025 · share of world imports
- 1 China $1.6B 41% of world imports
- 2 Taiwan* ~$714M 18% of world imports · partner records ↗
- 3 United States $463M 12% of world imports
World total: $4.0B 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. UN Comtrade records Taiwan as "Other Asia, not elsewhere specified". Saudi Arabia's exports under that code are left out: they are far too large to be trade with Taiwan, so mostly undisclosed partners. 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 wafer manufacturing equipment
Brazil classifies wafer manufacturing equipment under NCM 8486.10.00: HS 8486.10 with 00 added.
Source: Siscomex NCM table, updated Oct 2026. The Portuguese text on each NCM page is the official one.
Questions about wafer manufacturing equipment
What is the HS code for Wafer manufacturing equipment?
The HS code for Wafer manufacturing equipment is 848610 (Machines and apparatus of a kind used solely or principally for the manufacture of semiconductor boules or wafers). The primary HS code is 8486.10, which specifically covers apparatus for the manufacture of semiconductor boules or wafers.
How do I classify Wafer manufacturing equipment for customs?
Wafer manufacturing equipment is classified under HS code 848610 — Machines and apparatus of a kind used solely or principally for the manufacture of semiconductor boules or wafers. This is a 6-digit subheading level code.
Does this code include equipment for flat panel displays?
No, equipment for the manufacture of flat panel displays is classified under HS code 8486.30, not 8486.10.
Which countries are the top exporters of wafer manufacturing equipment (HS 848610)?
In 2025, the top exporters of HS 848610 (the code used for wafer manufacturing equipment) in UN Comtrade data were Japan ($1.5B, 42% of world exports), Germany ($757M) and China ($324M). World exports came to about $3.5B, 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 wafer manufacturing equipment (HS 848610)?
In 2025, the top importers of HS 848610 (the code used for wafer manufacturing equipment) in UN Comtrade data were China ($1.6B, 41% of world imports), Taiwan (about $714M) and the United States ($463M). World imports came to about $4.0B, 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.
Is the HS code for Wafer manufacturing equipment the same in all countries?
The base HS code 848610 for Wafer manufacturing 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 wafer manufacturing equipment in Brazil?
In Brazil, wafer manufacturing equipment (HS 848610) is classified under NCM 8486.10.00.