HS Code 9012Microscopes (excluding optical microscopes); diffraction apparatus

What HS code 9012 covers

These are microscopes that do not work by passing light through glass lenses. The heading also includes diffraction apparatus, which is equipment used to study how waves bend and spread.

The World Customs Organization sets the wording. Customs offices around the world use the same first six digits, so a 9012 shipment is described the same way in every country that follows the Harmonized System.

If you see the phrase "other than optical" in a tariff, it points to this heading. The ordinary light microscope is somewhere else, and the next section of this page shows where.

901210 vs 901290: choosing the six-digit code

Only two six-digit codes sit under heading 9012. The choice between them depends on what you are shipping.

Use 901210 when the item is a complete instrument. That means a non-optical microscope or a piece of diffraction apparatus sold as a working unit.

Use 901290 for parts and accessories. This code carries the extra words "parts and accessories" in its official description. A spare part made for one of these instruments goes here, not under 901210.

The hs code for microscope parts and accessories in this family is therefore 901290. If a part is general and fits many Chapter 90 instruments, check heading 9033 instead.

• 901210: complete non-optical microscopes and diffraction apparatus
• 901290: parts and accessories for those instruments

Difference between HS 9011 and 9012

The two headings sit side by side, and they are easy to mix up. These include the ones made for photomicrography and microprojection. Heading 9012 is for the microscopes that are left out of that group.

A simple test helps. If the instrument is a compound optical microscope, look at 9011. Diffraction apparatus always belongs with 9012.

Other nearby headings cover different goods. Heading 9013 is for lasers and other optical appliances not named elsewhere in the chapter. Heading 9027 is for instruments that do physical or chemical analysis. Heading 9033 is for parts and accessories not named elsewhere in Chapter 90.

If you are still unsure, the HS code classifier can help you narrow down the right heading before you file.

Import export data for HS code 9012 microscopes

A code tells you what a product is. Shipment records tell you who trades it. 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. Use the buyer data and supplier data pages to start from the company side, or open the import and export pages to start from the trade flow.

Nearby headings in Chapter 90

Chapter 90 is a large group of measuring, medical and optical goods. If heading 9012 is not the right fit, these neighbours are the most likely matches for microscope and lab work: 9011 for compound optical microscopes, 9013 for lasers and optical appliances, and 9027 for analysis instruments. You can also return to the full chapter page to browse the other headings.