HS Code 8429Bulldozers, graders, levellers, scrapers, angledozers, mechanical shovels, excavators, shovel loaders, tamping machines and road rollers, self-propelled

What HS code 8429 covers

It is the home of heavy construction machines that drive themselves. These are machines with their own engine that move on tracks or wheels.

If a machine pushes, cuts, scoops, flattens or packs down earth, and it moves under its own power, it is a candidate for this heading. You may also see it called HSN code 8429. The digits are the same.

The word self-propelled matters. A machine that has to be towed or carried does not count as self-propelled construction machinery, so it goes elsewhere.

Bulldozers, graders, excavators and loaders: the subheadings explained

Each machine type has its own six-digit code. Here is what each one means in everyday terms.

• 842911: bulldozers and angledozers that run on tracks. The customs term for this is track laying.
• 842919: the same blade machines when they do not run on tracks, for example on wheels.
• 842920: graders and levellers. They smooth and level ground, such as a road bed.
• 842930: self-propelled scrapers. They cut a layer of soil and carry it away.
• They press soil or road surfaces flat and firm.
• 842951: front-end loaders. The bucket sits on the front and lifts loose material.
• The cab and arm can spin all the way round on the base.
• 842959: other mechanical shovels, excavators and shovel loaders that do not fit the two codes above.

How to pick the right 8429 code

Use three simple tests, in this order.

First, look at the blade machines. Does the bulldozer or angledozer run on tracks? If yes, use 842911. If no, use 842919.

Second, look at the shovel machines. Does the upper part turn a full circle on the undercarriage? If yes, the code is 842952. If the machine is a front-end loader, the code is 842951. Any other mechanical shovel, excavator or shovel loader goes to 842959.

Third, check the job of the machine. Graders and levellers, scrapers, and rollers each have their own code, so do not place them under the shovel codes.

If you are still unsure, try the HS code classifier. Customs in your country has the final say, so keep your product papers ready.

What is not in heading 8429

Several nearby headings sound alike, so mix-ups are common. Heading 8430 covers other machinery for moving, grading, levelling, excavating, compacting or boring earth, minerals or ores. It also holds pile drivers, snow ploughs and snow blowers. A good rule is that 8429 is for self-propelled machines and 8430 is for the rest.

Cranes and mobile lifting frames belong to heading 8426. Fork-lift and other works trucks belong to heading 8427. Other lifting and loading machinery, such as lifts and conveyors, is in heading 8428. Crushing and screening machinery for stone and ores is in heading 8474.

Parts are a separate case. A bucket, track part or other spare for these machines is not classed as a whole machine. Parts used with the machinery of headings 8425 to 8430 go to heading 8431.

Importers and exporters of bulldozers and excavators

Buyers and sellers of earthmoving machines use customs records to see who trades what. You can open the Import data and Export data pages to start from a product or a country.

EximDataX shows shipment-level import and export records from official customs sources. Coverage: 43 direct customs feeds plus 184 mirror-derived countries. Named buyers and named suppliers are available in 38 of the 43 direct markets. Most markets refresh weekly and some refresh daily.

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