HS code · 6-digit subheading
HS Code 2501.00 – Salt (including table salt and denatured salt); pure sodium chloride whether or not in aqueous solution; sea water
HS code 2501.00 is the 6-digit subheading for salt (including table salt and denatured salt), pure sodium chloride whether or not in aqueous solution, sea water. It is used for table salt, industrial salt, road de-icing salt, rock salt and sea salt.
What HS 2501.00 covers
Salt, including table salt, denatured salt, pure sodium chloride, and sea water, is a fundamental commodity with vast global trade. It's essential for human consumption, food preservation, chemical manufacturing (e.g., chlorine, caustic soda), water treatment, and road de-icing. Major exporters are countries with extensive salt mines or coastal regions suitable for sea salt production, such as China, the USA, India, and Germany. Importers span nearly every country, driven by diverse industrial and consumer demands. The trade is characterized by high volume and relatively low value, making logistics and transportation costs significant. Purity levels and specific grades (e.g., food-grade, industrial-grade) are crucial for different applications, impacting pricing and market segments.
- Covers
- Table salt
- Industrial salt
- Road de-icing salt
- Rock salt
- Sea salt
- Brine
- Pure sodium chloride
- Denatured salt
- Examples
- Morton Salt
- Cargill Salt
- Diamond Crystal Salt
- K+S Salt
- Himalayan Pink Salt
Codes often confused with 2501.00
Common mistake. This code is generally straightforward, but confusion might arise with certain mineral salts used in specific industries (e.g., potassium chloride under 310420 for fertilizers) if not clearly identified as sodium chloride.
Top exporters and importers of HS code 250100, 2025
In 2025, the largest exporter of HS code 250100 in UN Comtrade data was India, with 11% of world exports; the largest importer in UN Comtrade data was the United States, with 16% of world imports. Countries that did not report 2025 data are estimated from partner records, which can understate them.
Top exporters 2025 · share of world exports
- 1 India $404M 11% of world exports
- 2 Germany $391M 11% of world exports
- 3 Netherlands $335M 9.5% of world exports
World total: $3.5B Reported figures on UN Comtrade ↗
Top importers 2025 · share of world imports
- 1 United States $812M 16% of world imports
- 2 China $485M 9.6% of world imports
- 3 Japan $312M 6.2% of world imports
World total: $5.1B Reported figures on UN Comtrade ↗
How these figures are built
109 countries reported 2025 trade to UN Comtrade in HS 2022, and their own totals are used. Countries that did not report are estimated from what other countries recorded trading with them. Those estimates miss trade with other non-reporting countries, so they can be low, and a non-reporting country can rank higher than shown or be missing from the list. World totals add both and leave out trade between two non-reporting countries. Figures are in current US dollars; reported imports are mostly valued CIF and exports FOB, and exports include re-exports. The UN Comtrade links show the underlying records; they can also list a few reporters left out here (regional groups and older HS editions).
Source: UN Comtrade (United Nations Statistics Division), 2025 annual data.
Brazil NCM codes for 2501.00 4
Brazil splits HS 2501.00 into 4 NCM codes, Mercosur's 8-digit tariff lines.
- 2501.00.1 Salt in bulk, without additivesSal a granel, sem agregados Group
- 2501.00.11 Bulk sea salt, without additivesSal marinho
- 2501.00.19 Other bulk salt, without additivesOutros
- 2501.00.20 Table saltSal de mesa
- 2501.00.90 Other salt, sodium chloride and sea waterOutros
All Brazil NCM codes in heading 25.01 →
Source: Siscomex NCM table, updated Oct 2026. The Portuguese text is official; the English is our translation.
Questions about HS 2501.00
What is HS code 250100?
HS code 250100 is a 6-digit subheading in the Harmonized System that covers: Salt (including table salt and denatured salt); pure sodium chloride whether or not in aqueous solution; sea water. Salt, including table salt, denatured salt, pure sodium chloride, and sea water, is a fundamental commodity with vast global trade. It's essential for human consumption, food preservation, chemical manufacturing (e.g., chlorine, caustic soda), water treatment, and road de-icing. Major exporters are countries with extensive salt mines or coastal regions suitable for sea salt production, such as China, the USA, India, and Germany. Importers span nearly every country, driven by diverse industrial and consumer demands. The trade is characterized by high volume and relatively low value, making logistics and transportation costs significant. Purity levels and specific grades (e.g., food-grade, industrial-grade) are crucial for different applications, impacting pricing and market segments.
What products fall under HS code 250100?
Table salt, industrial salt, road de-icing salt, rock salt, sea salt, brine, pure sodium chloride, denatured salt
What are common misclassifications for HS code 250100?
This code is generally straightforward, but confusion might arise with certain mineral salts used in specific industries (e.g., potassium chloride under 310420 for fertilizers) if not clearly identified as sodium chloride.
Which countries are the top exporters of goods under HS code 250100?
In 2025, the top exporters of HS code 250100 in UN Comtrade data were India ($404M, 11% of world exports), Germany ($391M) and the Netherlands ($335M). World exports came to about $3.5B, adding countries' reported figures and partner-based estimates for those that did not report (UN Comtrade data). Countries that did not report 2025 data are estimated from partner records, which can understate them.
Which countries are the top importers of goods under HS code 250100?
In 2025, the top importers of HS code 250100 in UN Comtrade data were the United States ($812M, 16% of world imports), China ($485M) and Japan ($312M). World imports came to about $5.1B, adding countries' reported figures and partner-based estimates for those that did not report (UN Comtrade data). Countries that did not report 2025 data are estimated from partner records, which can understate them.
How is HS code 250100 structured?
HS code 250100 is a 6-digit subheading under the Harmonized System. The first 2 digits (25) identify the chapter, digits 3-4 (01) identify the heading, and digits 5-6 (00) specify the subheading. This code is standardized globally by the World Customs Organization.
What is the Brazil NCM code for HS code 250100?
Brazil splits HS code 250100 into 4 NCM codes: 2501.00.11 (Bulk sea salt, without additives), 2501.00.19 (Other bulk salt, without additives), 2501.00.20 (Table salt), 2501.00.90 (Other salt, sodium chloride and sea water). The first 6 digits of each match the HS code.