Heading · Chapter 84
8442: Machinery, apparatus and equipment (other than the machines of headings 8456 to 8465) for preparing or making plates, cylinders or other printing components; plates, cylinders and other printing components; plates, cylinders and lithographic stones, prepared for printing purposes (for example, planed, grained or polished)
Heading 8442 is divided into 3 six-digit subheadings and sits in chapter 84, nuclear reactors, boilers, machinery and mechanical appliances; parts thereof.
Duty rates compared
UK Free Third-country duty 3 tariff lines 
EU Free Third-country duty 3 tariff lines 
Türkiye 1.7% Third-country duty 6 tariff lines 
USA Free General (MFN) 4 tariff lines 
Canada Free General (MFN) 4 tariff lines 
Mexico Free – 15% General (MFN) 7 tariff lines · average 2.9% 
Brazil 7.2% – 20% General (MFN) 7 tariff lines · average 13.9% 
Argentina Free – 12.6% General (MFN) 15 tariff lines · average 10.4% 
Peru Free General (MFN) 6 tariff lines 
New Zealand Free General (MFN) 9 tariff lines 
Japan Free General (MFN) 3 tariff lines 
Taiwan Free General (MFN) 9 tariff lines 
GCC 5% General (MFN) 5 tariff lines 
Switzerland Free General (MFN) 3 tariff lines 
Norway Free General (MFN) 3 tariff lines 
North Macedonia Free – 3% General (MFN) 3 tariff lines · average 1% 
Nigeria 5% General (MFN) 3 tariff lines Subheadings 3
EU: imports by month
World trade in 2024
Trade value (US$) no reported trade < US$339kUS$339k+US$4m+US$24m+> US$76m
Exports: 126
- Germany: US$276m
- China: US$220m
- United States: US$80m
- Italy: US$76m
- Switzerland: US$67m
- Japan: US$48m
- Netherlands: US$41m
- United Kingdom: US$36m
- Belgium: US$35m
- France: US$33m
- Poland: US$29m
- Czechia: US$28m
- Spain: US$24m
- South Korea: US$22m
- Malaysia: US$22m
- Türkiye: US$21m
- Austria: US$19m
- Canada: US$18m
- India: US$18m
- Slovakia: US$17m
- Bulgaria: US$15m
- Denmark: US$10m
- Romania: US$9m
- Taiwan: US$8m
- Hungary: US$8m
- Singapore: US$7m
- Australia: US$7m
- Greece: US$6m
- Brazil: US$5m
- South Africa: US$4m
- Portugal: US$4m
- Finland: US$4m
- Slovenia: US$3m
- United Arab Emirates: US$3m
- Vietnam: US$3m
- Sweden: US$3m
- Mexico: US$3m
- Croatia: US$3m
- Thailand: US$2m
- Israel: US$2m
- Kenya: US$2m
- Hong Kong SAR China: US$2m
- Lithuania: US$2m
- Bahrain: US$1m
- Russia: US$1m
- Indonesia: US$1m
- Ireland: US$1m
- Malta: US$1m
- Luxembourg: US$1m
- Estonia: US$902k
- New Zealand: US$774k
- Ukraine: US$749k
- Serbia: US$748k
- Armenia: US$568k
- Egypt: US$521k
- Saudi Arabia: US$519k
- Chile: US$406k
- Guatemala: US$357k
- Kyrgyzstan: US$355k
- El Salvador: US$355k
Trade value (US$) no reported trade < US$696kUS$696k+US$5m+US$23m+> US$37m
Imports: 205
- Germany: US$109m
- United States: US$104m
- France: US$57m
- China: US$56m
- Netherlands: US$48m
- India: US$42m
- Italy: US$37m
- Romania: US$35m
- United Kingdom: US$32m
- Poland: US$32m
- Türkiye: US$32m
- Mexico: US$30m
- Vietnam: US$30m
- Russia: US$27m
- Japan: US$26m
- Austria: US$26m
- Spain: US$25m
- Canada: US$24m
- Indonesia: US$24m
- Malaysia: US$23m
- Switzerland: US$23m
- Thailand: US$22m
- South Korea: US$17m
- Belgium: US$17m
- Portugal: US$17m
- Brazil: US$16m
- Czechia: US$16m
- United Arab Emirates: US$12m
- Singapore: US$11m
- Taiwan: US$11m
- Hungary: US$10m
- Pakistan: US$10m
- Greece: US$9m
- Sweden: US$8m
- Egypt: US$8m
- Saudi Arabia: US$8m
- Australia: US$7m
- Denmark: US$7m
- Kazakhstan: US$7m
- Serbia: US$7m
- Bangladesh: US$6m
- Philippines: US$6m
- Dominican Republic: US$6m
- Algeria: US$6m
- Hong Kong SAR China: US$6m
- Finland: US$5m
- Nigeria: US$5m
- South Africa: US$5m
- Colombia: US$5m
- Slovakia: US$5m
- Croatia: US$5m
- Ukraine: US$5m
- Bulgaria: US$5m
- Morocco: US$5m
- Ireland: US$5m
- Slovenia: US$5m
- Jamaica: US$4m
- Israel: US$4m
- Argentina: US$4m
- Laos: US$4m
Top exporters
| Rank | Country | Value | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |  Germany | US$276m | 21.9% |
| 2 |  China | US$220m | 17.4% |
| 3 | United States | US$80m | 6.3% |
| 4 |  Italy | US$76m | 6% |
| 5 | Switzerland | US$67m | 5.3% |
| 6 | Japan | US$48m | 3.8% |
| 7 |  Netherlands | US$41m | 3.3% |
| 8 | United Kingdom | US$36m | 2.8% |
| 9 |  Belgium | US$35m | 2.7% |
| 10 |  France | US$33m | 2.6% |
Top importers
| Rank | Country | Value | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Germany | US$109m | 8.6% |
| 2 | United States | US$104m | 8.3% |
| 3 | France | US$57m | 4.5% |
| 4 | China | US$56m | 4.4% |
| 5 | Netherlands | US$48m | 3.8% |
| 6 |  India | US$42m | 3.3% |
| 7 | Italy | US$37m | 2.9% |
| 8 |  Romania | US$35m | 2.7% |
| 9 | United Kingdom | US$32m | 2.6% |
| 10 |  Poland | US$32m | 2.6% |
Recent rule changes mentioning this code
Acts whose text cites this code or its heading. Check the act itself: a code can be cited for reasons other than a change of its duty.
- Sanctions · Applies from:
The Russia (Sanctions) (EU Exit) (Amendment) Regulations 2026
S.I. 2026/543 · Source: legislation.gov.uk
The UK Global Tariff divides heading 8442 into 3 tariff lines; the duty is duty-free.
In the EU Combined Nomenclature, heading 8442 covers 3 tariff lines and the duty is duty-free.
The Turkish Customs Tariff Schedule divides heading 8442 into 6 tariff lines; the duty is 1.7%.
In the Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States, heading 8442 covers 4 tariff lines and the duty is duty-free.
The Customs Tariff of Canada divides heading 8442 into 4 tariff lines; the duty is duty-free.
In the Mexican Tariff (TIGIE), heading 8442 covers 7 tariff lines and the duty is between 0% and 15%. 5 of them are duty-free.
The Brazilian Tariff (NCM/TEC) divides heading 8442 into 7 tariff lines; the duty is between 7.2% and 20% (average 13.9%).
In the Argentine Tariff (NCM-SIM), heading 8442 covers 15 tariff lines and the duty is between 0% and 12.6%. 2 of them are duty-free.
The Customs Tariff of Peru divides heading 8442 into 6 tariff lines; the duty is duty-free.
In the Working Tariff Document of New Zealand, heading 8442 covers 9 tariff lines and the duty is duty-free.
The Customs Tariff Schedules of Japan divides heading 8442 into 3 tariff lines; the duty is duty-free.
In the Customs Import Tariff of Taiwan, heading 8442 covers 9 tariff lines and the duty is duty-free.
The GCC Common Customs Tariff divides heading 8442 into 5 tariff lines; the duty is 5%.
In the Swiss Customs Tariff (Tares), heading 8442 covers 3 tariff lines and the duty is duty-free.
The Customs Tariff of Norway divides heading 8442 into 3 tariff lines; the duty is duty-free.
In the Customs Tariff of North Macedonia, heading 8442 covers 3 tariff lines and the duty is between 0% and 3%. 2 of them are duty-free.
The ECOWAS Common External Tariff (Nigeria) divides heading 8442 into 3 tariff lines; the duty is 5%.
In 2024, countries exported heading 8442 goods worth US$1.3bn (−3.1% year on year).
The largest exporter was Germany (US$276m), followed by China.
The biggest buyer was Germany, with imports of US$109m.
The United Kingdom ranked 8th among 126 exporters with US$36m.
The United Kingdom imported US$32m.
Questions and answers
What is the HS code for machinery, apparatus and equipment (other than the machines of headings 8456 to 8465) for preparing or making plates, cylinders or other printing components; plates, cylinders and other printing components; plates, cylinders and lithographic stones, prepared for printing purposes (for example, planed, grained or polished)?
Machinery, apparatus and equipment (other than the machines of headings 8456 to 8465) for preparing or making plates, cylinders or other printing components; plates, cylinders and other printing components; plates, cylinders and lithographic stones, prepared for printing purposes (for example, planed, grained or polished) fall under HS heading 8442, part of chapter 84, in section XVI of the Harmonized System.
What is the import duty on machinery, apparatus and equipment in the UK?
Under the UK Global Tariff, imports under 8442 from countries without a preferential agreement are free of duty. Preferential rates, anti-dumping duties and VAT are not included.
What is the import duty on machinery, apparatus and equipment in the EU?
Under the EU Combined Nomenclature, imports under 8442 from countries without a preferential agreement are free of duty. Preferential rates, anti-dumping duties and VAT are not included.
Which country exports the most machinery, apparatus and equipment?
Germany, with US$276m in 2024 (21.9% of world exports).