Product classification
HS code for Whistles: 9208.90
Fairground and mechanical street organs, mechanical singing birds, musical saws and musical instruments n.e.c. in chapter 92, decoy calls of all kinds, whistles, call horns and other mouth-blown sound signalling instruments.
Classification of whistles under HS 9208.90
Whistles are classified under HS code 920890. This classification is found in Chapter 92, which covers musical instruments and parts and accessories of such articles. While whistles are often used for signaling or sporting purposes rather than for performing music, the Harmonized System groups them under heading 9208. This heading includes instruments not elsewhere specified in the chapter, such as fairground organs, mechanical singing birds, and musical saws. Specifically, 920890 covers decoy calls of all kinds, whistles, call horns, and other mouth-blown sound signaling instruments. The classification is based on the mechanical nature of the sound production, which involves the vibration of air within a chamber or across an edge. Because they are primarily sound-producing devices operated by human breath, they are logically placed alongside other non-traditional musical and signaling instruments.
- Covers
- Referee and sports whistles
- Safety and survival whistles
- Dog whistles (including ultrasonic types)
- Bird calls and decoy calls
- Slide whistles and penny whistles (non-orchestral)
- Mouth-blown signal horns
- Also under 9208.90
- Gavioli Fairground Organ
- Acme Whistles
- Primos Hunting Decoy Calls
- Birdland Mechanical Singing Birds
- Hohner Kazoos
Codes often confused with 9208.90
Common mistake. Whistles are frequently misclassified under HS code 950300 as toys. While small plastic whistles intended for children are toys, professional or functional whistles must remain in 920890. Another common error involves metal whistles being classified under 830610 (Bells, gongs, and the like), but 8306 is generally for percussion-based signaling rather than wind-based. Electronic whistles, which use a battery and speaker to produce sound, are excluded from 9208 and should be classified under 853180 as electric sound signaling apparatus.
Top exporters and importers of HS 920890 (the code used for whistles), 2025
In 2025, the largest exporter of HS 920890 (the code used for whistles) in UN Comtrade data was China, with 46% of world exports; the largest importer in UN Comtrade data was the United States, with 11% 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 920890, not only whistles.
Top exporters 2025 · share of world exports
- 1 China $33M 46% of world exports
- 2 United States $12M 16% of world exports
- 3 Germany $3.9M 5.4% of world exports
World total: $72M Reported figures on UN Comtrade ↗
Top importers 2025 · share of world imports
- 1 United States $5.4M 11% of world imports
- 2 Germany $4.3M 8.7% of world imports
- 3 Canada $4.0M 8.1% of world imports
World total: $49M 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 whistles
Brazil classifies whistles under NCM 9208.90.00: HS 9208.90 with 00 added.
Source: Siscomex NCM table, updated Oct 2026. The Portuguese text on each NCM page is the official one.
Questions about whistles
What is the HS code for Whistles?
The HS code for Whistles is 920890 (Fairground and mechanical street organs, mechanical singing birds, musical saws and musical instruments n.e.c. in chapter 92; decoy calls of all kinds; whistles; call horns and other mouth-blown sound signalling instruments). The HS code for mouth-blown whistles and signaling calls is 920890.
How do I classify Whistles for customs?
Whistles is classified under HS code 920890 — Fairground and mechanical street organs, mechanical singing birds, musical saws and musical instruments n.e.c. in chapter 92; decoy calls of all kinds; whistles; call horns and other mouth-blown sound signalling instruments. This is a 6-digit subheading level code.
Are electronic whistles classified under the same code?
No, electronic whistles are classified under Chapter 85 (specifically 853180) because they produce sound through electrical components rather than mechanical air vibration.
Which countries are the top exporters of whistles (HS 920890)?
In 2025, the top exporters of HS 920890 (the code used for whistles) in UN Comtrade data were China ($33M, 46% of world exports), the United States ($12M) and Germany ($3.9M). World exports came to about $72M, 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 whistles (HS 920890)?
In 2025, the top importers of HS 920890 (the code used for whistles) in UN Comtrade data were the United States ($5.4M, 11% of world imports), Germany ($4.3M) and Canada ($4.0M). World imports came to about $49M, 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 Whistles the same in all countries?
The base HS code 920890 for Whistles 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 whistles in Brazil?
In Brazil, whistles (HS 920890) is classified under NCM 9208.90.00.