HS Code 8521Video recording or reproducing apparatus
2 six-digit codes · Heading 20 of 48 in Chapter 85 · World Customs Organization Harmonized System
HS code 8521 is the customs heading for machines that record or play back video. Use this page to pick the right six-digit code and to see which nearby goods belong somewhere else.
Heading 8521 splits exactly two ways. Goods answering to “Video recording or reproducing apparatus” classify either at 852110 or at 852190, and the wording in the table below is the whole of what separates them. The heading is number 20 of 48 in Chapter 85, Electrical machinery and equipment and parts thereof; sound recorders and reproducers; television image and sound recorders and reproducers, parts and accessories of such articles, which runs to 296 six-digit codes in all.
How to choose between 852110 and 852190
The test is simple. Ask one question: does the machine work with magnetic tape? If yes, the goods go under 852110. If no, they go under 852190.
Think of a classic tape-based video recorder or player. It is magnetic tape-type video apparatus, so it fits 852110. A video player that does not use magnetic tape fits 852190, because that code is the catch-all for every other type.
The word “other” in 852190 matters. It does not mean a lesser product. It only means the machine is not tape-based. Customs officers and importers use that split to fill the tariff line on the shipping papers.
When you are unsure, check how the machine stores or reads its video. That is the fact that decides the code. If you still cannot tell, try the HS code classifier before you file.
- 852110: video recording or reproducing apparatus, magnetic tape-type
- 852190: video recording or reproducing apparatus, other than magnetic tape-type
What is not classified under heading 8521
Customs classification is about drawing lines. Several neighbours in Chapter 85 electrical machinery sound close to 8521 but sit in their own headings.
Sound-only machines go to heading 8519. If a device records or plays audio and no video, look there.
Parts and accessories do not stay in 8521. So a part for a video recorder is a heading 8522 matter, not an 8521 one.
Blank or recorded media are a different story.
Heading 8528 covers monitors, projectors and television reception apparatus, including sets that have video recording or reproducing parts built in.
In short, 8521 is for the stand-alone video recorder or video player. Cameras, TV sets, media and parts each have their own home.
HS code 8521 import export data
Once you know the code, the next step is to see who trades in it. On EximDataX you can search by HS code to see who imports and exports a product, and book a free demo.
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.
Open the import data or export data pages to start with a code, then move to buyer data or supplier data to find the companies behind the shipment records.
Related headings in Chapter 85
If this heading is not quite right for your goods, these are the closest places to look next.
- Heading 8519 for sound recording or reproducing apparatus
- Heading 8522 for parts and accessories
- Heading 8523 for discs, tapes and other recording media
- Heading 8525 for video camera recorders and television cameras
- Heading 8528 for monitors, projectors and television reception apparatus
Nearby headings in Chapter 85
- 8514Industrial or laboratory electric furnaces and ovens (including those…8 codes
- 8515Electric (electrically heated gas) soldering, brazing, welding machines and…8 codes
- 8516Electric water, space, soil heaters; electro-thermic hair-dressing apparatus…14 codes
- 8517Telephone sets, including smartphones and other telephones for…9 codes
- 8518Microphones and their stands; loudspeakers, mounted or not in their…8 codes
- 8519Sound recording or reproducing apparatus4 codes
- 8522Sound or video recording apparatus; parts and accessories suitable for use…2 codes
- 8523Discs, tapes, solid-state non-volatile storage devices, smart cards and other…8 codes
- 8524Flat panel display modules, whether or not incorporating touch-sensitive…6 codes
- 8525Transmission apparatus for radio-broadcasting or television, whether or not…6 codes
- 8526Radar apparatus, radio navigational aid apparatus and radio remote control…3 codes
- 8527Reception apparatus for radio-broadcasting, whether or not combined, in the…8 codes
Who ships under 8521?
EximDataX tracks the live import–export records filed under this heading and the 2 codes beneath it: named buyers, suppliers, quantities and values from official customs feeds.
Section XVI: Machinery, Electrical Equipment and Parts, chapters 84–85.
HS Code 8521: common questions
What is HS code 8521?
It sits in Chapter 85, under Section XVI, and has two six-digit codes.
What is the difference between HS 852110 and 852190?
852190 is for every other type that does not use magnetic tape.
Are parts of video recorders classified under 8521?
No. Heading 8522 covers parts and accessories suitable for use solely or principally with the apparatus of heading 8519 or 8521.
Which HS code covers video camera recorders?
Video camera recorders are named in heading 8525, along with television cameras and digital cameras. They are not part of 8521.
Who imports video recording apparatus?
Search the code 8521 on EximDataX and open the import data and buyer data pages. They show the companies behind the shipment records.
See what your buyers are buying.Then decide.
Everything we show you comes from official customs filings — records, not claims. 30 minutes. Your shipment. Your HS code. Real platform. If you don’t see something new about your market by the end of the call, we walk away. No follow-ups.