HS Code 8502Electric generating sets and rotary converters

What HS code 8502 covers

A generating set is an engine or a turbine joined to a generator. The engine spins the generator, and the generator makes power. Traders often call these generator sets or gensets. Heading 8502 is the home of these sets, whatever drives them.

The heading also holds electric rotary converters. A rotary converter is a spinning machine that changes one kind of electric current into another. It has its own code, 850240.

Because the heading is split into several six-digit subheadings, the exact wording of the subheading decides the code, not the heading name alone.

How to choose the right 8502 subheading

Work through the choice in order. Ask what drives the set first. Then check its power in kVA. Then look at the special cases.

• Diesel or semi-diesel engine (a compression-ignition piston engine): use 850211, 850212 or 850213, depending on kVA output.
• Output above 375 kVA: 850213.
• Spark-ignition piston engine, such as a petrol engine: 850220.
• Wind-powered generating sets: 850231.
• Any other set that has neither of the two piston engine types and is not wind powered: 850239.
• Electric rotary converters: 850240.

8502 vs 8501, 8503 and 8511

The most common mistake is mixing up the nearby headings. Here is how to tell them apart.

A bare generator with no engine attached goes to 8501. A complete set that pairs an engine with a generator goes to 8502.

Heading 8503 covers parts that are made for use mainly with the machines of 8501 or 8502. If you ship a part and not the whole set, look there.

Heading 8511 covers ignition or starting equipment for internal combustion engines. It also covers generators and cut outs used with such engines. These are engine accessories, not complete generating sets.

Heading 8504 covers transformers, static converters such as rectifiers, and inductors. A rotary converter is a different machine and stays in 8502.

The six-digit code is only the shared part of a code. Each country adds its own digits for national tariff lines. Check the full national code before you file, and use the HS code classifier if you are unsure.

Import data under HS code 8502

Many buyers want more than a code. They want to know who buys diesel generating sets, who sells wind-powered sets, and where the shipments move. Customs records can answer these questions when they are searched by HS code.

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 subheading that matches your product. Then open the import data or export data pages, or go straight to buyer data and supplier data, to find importers and suppliers.