Machinery — HTS 8438
Machinery, not specified or included elsewhere in this chapter, for the industrial preparation or manufacture of food or drink, other than machinery for the extraction or preparation of animal or fixed vegetable or microbial fats or oils; parts thereof
Chapter 84 › Heading 8438
2026 HTS Rev 19 Synced Rules verified Operational
Written to help non-specialists understand this page. Rates, dates, and legal facts come from the official records above and on the linked source.
HTS heading 8438 is a broad product category for industrial machinery used to prepare or manufacture food or drink. It covers equipment not more specifically described elsewhere in Chapter 84, such as machinery used in commercial food processing, mixing, baking, brewing, confectionery production, or similar operations. It also includes parts that are identifiable as being for this machinery.
The heading excludes machinery for extracting or preparing animal, vegetable, or microbial fats and oils; those products may belong in a different heading. To reach a specific 8-digit HTSUS code, start with the machine’s principal function and compare the applicable 6-digit subheading. The remaining U.S. digits commonly distinguish the machine’s type, design, or material, but the exact breakdown depends on the subheading and current tariff schedule. Review the legal notes, heading descriptions, and statistical suffix descriptions rather than relying only on a product name.
What to check
- Describe the machine’s actual industrial function, including what food or drink it processes and the operation it performs.
- Check whether another Chapter 84 heading more specifically covers the equipment before using heading 8438.
- Confirm that the machine is not principally for extracting or preparing animal, vegetable, or microbial fats or oils.
- Identify whether the machine is complete equipment, a dedicated part, or a general-purpose component; parts may classify differently.
- Compare the full 8-digit alternatives and verify the material, capacity, design, or other distinguishing facts requested by the tariff wording; ask a customs broker for a binding classification review when the choices are unclear.
HTS heading 8438 summary
Machinery is a 4-digit product category containing 7 published product-code lines in this snapshot. A heading does not carry one universal duty rate; classification must be narrowed to the line matching the product facts.
How to find your code in this category
A heading is a product category. To get the exact duty, narrow from this 4-digit heading to a sub-category (usually by material), then open the 8-digit code that matches your product.
Open any code in the tables below to see its exact duty rate, a duty calculator (enter your shipment value → estimated duty and landed cost), the rate-change history chart, and the country-by-country breakdown (including Section 301/232 add-on duties).
Why you have to click in: a single category can contain products with very different duties. The rate depends on the specific product — its material and construction — and on the country of origin, and those only get pinned down at the 8-digit code level. That is why this page points you to codes instead of showing one rate for the whole category.
Sub-categories
| Code | Description |
|---|---|
| 8438.90 | Parts |
Product codes & duty rates
👇 Each row is a specific product code — click a blue code to open its full page with exact duty rates by country, the rate-history chart, and a duty calculator. 👉
| Code | Description | General (MFN) | Special | Column 2 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 8438.10.00 👉 | Bakery machinery and machinery for the manufacture of macaroni, spaghetti or similar products | Free | — | 35% |
| 8438.20.00.00 👉 | Machinery for the manufacture of confectionery, cocoa or chocolate | Free | — | 35% |
| 8438.30.00.00 👉 | Machinery for sugar manufacture | Free | — | Free |
| 8438.40.00.00 👉 | Brewery machinery | 2.3% | Free | 35% |
| 8438.50.00 👉 | Machinery for the preparation of meat or poultry | 2.8% | Free | 35% |
| 8438.60.00.00 👉 | Machinery for the preparation of fruits, nuts or vegetables | Free | — | 35% |
| 8438.80.00.00 👉 | Other machinery | Free | — | 40% |
"Special" shows the free-trade-agreement rate; open a code to see exactly which countries qualify.
Common questions
What products fall under HTS heading 8438?
Machinery, not specified or included elsewhere in this chapter, for the industrial preparation or manufacture of food or drink, other than machinery for the extraction or preparation of animal or fixed vegetable or microbial fats or oils; parts thereof. To classify a specific item you must pick the matching sub-category and 8-digit code above; the right choice usually depends on the material and construction of the product.
How do I choose the right code within this category?
Start from the sub-categories (typically divided by material—for example cotton versus man-made fibers), then open the active 8- or 10-digit code that matches the product. When unsure, a licensed customs broker or a CBP binding ruling can confirm the classification.
Reference information only, not customs, legal, or classification advice. Confirm the current code and rate against the official HTS before you import.