HS code · 6-digit subheading
HS Code 2621.90 – Slag and ash n.e.c. in chapter 26; including seaweed ash (kelp) but excluding ash and residues from the incineration of municipal waste
HS code 2621.90 is the 6-digit subheading for slag and ash n.e.c. in chapter 26, including seaweed ash (kelp) but excluding ash and residues from the incineration of municipal waste. It is used for seaweed ash (kelp ash), wood ash, biomass ash, coal ash (not from municipal waste) and volcanic ash.
What HS 2621.90 covers
This HS code serves as a residual category for slag and ash not elsewhere specified in Chapter 26, explicitly including seaweed ash (kelp) but excluding ash and residues from municipal waste incineration. This diverse category covers a wide range of industrial, agricultural, and natural ashes and slags, each with unique properties and potential applications. Seaweed ash, for instance, is valued for its mineral content in agriculture. Other industrial ashes might be used as fillers, binders, or for specific chemical recovery. Importers and exporters vary widely depending on the specific type of ash and its intended use, ranging from agricultural suppliers to industrial manufacturers. Key considerations include the chemical composition, particle size, and purity of the ash, as well as compliance with regulations pertinent to its specific application.
- Covers
- Seaweed ash (kelp ash)
- Wood ash
- Biomass ash
- Coal ash (not from municipal waste)
- Volcanic ash
- Furnace slag (non-ferrous, non-metallic)
- Rice husk ash
- Examples
- Acadian Seaplants kelp meal
- various power plant fly ash (if not specifically coal)
- agricultural wood ash
- cement kiln dust
Codes often confused with 2621.90
Common mistake. Often confused with 262110 if the origin is not clearly municipal waste, or 262099 if there's a significant metal content that was overlooked.
Top exporters and importers of HS code 262190, 2025
In 2025, the largest exporter of HS code 262190 in UN Comtrade data was India, with 23% of world exports; the largest importer in UN Comtrade data was Bangladesh, with about 13% 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 $78M 23% of world exports
- 2 China $51M 15% of world exports
- 3 Germany $27M 8.1% of world exports
World total: $338M Reported figures on UN Comtrade ↗
Top importers 2025 · share of world imports
- 1 Bangladesh* ~$52M 13% of world imports · partner records ↗
- 2 Germany $36M 8.8% of world imports
- 3 United States $35M 8.5% of world imports
World total: $410M 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 marked * did not, so their figures add up what other countries recorded trading with them, and their exports are valued at buyers' CIF prices. 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 2621.90 2
Brazil splits HS 2621.90 into 2 NCM codes, Mercosur's 8-digit tariff lines.
- 2621.90.10 Vegetable ash (incl. seaweed ash)Cinzas de origem vegetal
- 2621.90.90 Other slag and ashOutras
All Brazil NCM codes in heading 26.21 →
Source: Siscomex NCM table, updated Oct 2026. The Portuguese text is official; the English is our translation.
Questions about HS 2621.90
What is HS code 262190?
HS code 262190 is a 6-digit subheading in the Harmonized System that covers: Slag and ash n.e.c. in chapter 26; including seaweed ash (kelp) but excluding ash and residues from the incineration of municipal waste. This HS code serves as a residual category for slag and ash not elsewhere specified in Chapter 26, explicitly including seaweed ash (kelp) but excluding ash and residues from municipal waste incineration. This diverse category covers a wide range of industrial, agricultural, and natural ashes and slags, each with unique properties and potential applications. Seaweed ash, for instance, is valued for its mineral content in agriculture. Other industrial ashes might be used as fillers, binders, or for specific chemical recovery. Importers and exporters vary widely depending on the specific type of ash and its intended use, ranging from agricultural suppliers to industrial manufacturers. Key considerations include the chemical composition, particle size, and purity of the ash, as well as compliance with regulations pertinent to its specific application.
What products fall under HS code 262190?
Seaweed ash (kelp ash), wood ash, biomass ash, coal ash (not from municipal waste), volcanic ash, furnace slag (non-ferrous, non-metallic), rice husk ash
What are common misclassifications for HS code 262190?
Often confused with 262110 if the origin is not clearly municipal waste, or 262099 if there's a significant metal content that was overlooked.
Which countries are the top exporters of goods under HS code 262190?
In 2025, the top exporters of HS code 262190 in UN Comtrade data were India ($78M, 23% of world exports), China ($51M) and Germany ($27M). World exports came to about $338M, 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 262190?
In 2025, the top importers of HS code 262190 in UN Comtrade data were Bangladesh (about $52M, 13% of world imports), Germany ($36M) and the United States ($35M). World imports came to about $410M, 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 262190 structured?
HS code 262190 is a 6-digit subheading under the Harmonized System. The first 2 digits (26) identify the chapter, digits 3-4 (21) identify the heading, and digits 5-6 (90) specify the subheading. This code is standardized globally by the World Customs Organization.
What is the Brazil NCM code for HS code 262190?
Brazil splits HS code 262190 into 2 NCM codes: 2621.90.10 (Vegetable ash (incl. seaweed ash)), 2621.90.90 (Other slag and ash). The first 6 digits of each match the HS code.