HS Code 8456Machine-tools; for working any material by removal of material, by laser or other light or photon beam, ultrasonic, electro-discharge, electro-chemical, electron beam, ionic-beam, or plasma arc processes; water-jet cutting machines

What HS code 8456 covers

It groups machine tools that take material away from a workpiece without a classic cutting blade or grinding wheel. Instead, they use a beam of light, a sound wave, an electric spark, a hot gas arc or a fast stream of water.

You may also see it written as HSN code 8456 or HTS code 8456. The logic is the same in each case. The machine is sorted by the process it uses to remove material, and the heading says the work material can be any material.

So the first question is never what the machine makes. The first question is how the machine removes material. Once you know that, the right subheading is usually easy to spot.

HS code for laser cutting machine, EDM and water-jet: which subheading?

Check the data sheet or the maker's description to see how it removes material. Then match it to one line below.

• A laser cutting machine goes here.
• 845620: ultrasonic machine tools, which use high-frequency vibration to remove material.
• 845630: electro-discharge machine tools. This is the code for EDM, where electric sparks erode the material.
• 845640: plasma arc machine tools. A plasma arc cutting machine goes here.
• 845650: water-jet cutting machines, which cut with a high-pressure stream of water.
• 845690: other processes not elsewhere classified in the heading. Electro-chemical, electron beam and ionic-beam machining are named in the heading text, so check their exact wording against this catch-all code.

Machine tools not classified in 8456

Many machine tools look similar but belong in other headings. The simple test is the process. Heading 8456 is for the beam, spark, arc, ultrasonic and water-jet processes listed above. Machines that cut with a tool edge, an abrasive or a press are usually somewhere else.

Check these neighbours before you settle on a code:

• 8457: machining centres, single-station unit construction machines and multi-station transfer machines for working metal.
• 8458: lathes for removing metal.
• 8459: machine tools for drilling, boring, milling, threading or tapping metal.
• 8460: machine tools for grinding, honing, lapping, polishing and similar finishing of metal.
• 8466: parts and accessories for machines of headings 8456 to 8465, including work holders and tool holders. A spare part is not classified with the machine.
• 8468: machinery for soldering, brazing and welding, whether or not it can also cut.
• 8485: machines for additive manufacturing, which build an object up instead of removing material.

HS 8456 import export data on EximDataX

Classification is only half the job. Many users also want to know who buys and who sells these machines. 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. You can search by HS code to see who imports and exports a product, and book a free demo.

Start with the code that fits your machine, such as the laser or EDM subheading, and open the live records from there.