HS code · 6-digit subheading
HS Code 3818.00 – Chemical elements; doped for use in electronics, in the form of discs, wafers or similar forms; chemical compounds doped for use in electronics
HS code 3818.00 is the 6-digit subheading for chemical elements, doped for use in electronics, in the form of discs, wafers or similar forms, chemical compounds doped for use in electronics. It is used for doped silicon wafers, doped germanium wafers, gallium arsenide wafers, silicon carbide wafers and indium phosphide wafers.
What HS 3818.00 covers
This category covers highly specialized chemical elements and compounds that have been 'doped' for use in electronics, typically in the form of discs, wafers, or similar shapes. These materials, most commonly silicon or germanium, are intentionally modified with impurities to alter their electrical conductivity, making them fundamental building blocks for semiconductors and microchips. Importers and exporters are primarily semiconductor manufacturers, electronics companies, and specialized material suppliers. The trade involves high-value, high-precision products that are critical for the global electronics industry, with stringent quality control and purity requirements being paramount for device performance.
- Covers
- Doped silicon wafers
- Doped germanium wafers
- Gallium arsenide wafers
- Silicon carbide wafers
- Indium phosphide wafers
- Doped polysilicon ingots
- Epitaxial wafers
- Examples
- Shin-Etsu Chemical silicon wafers
- SUMCO silicon wafers
- GlobalWafers
- Siltronic
- SK Siltron
Codes often confused with 3818.00
Common mistake. Often confused with undoped silicon (2804) or other raw chemical elements (Chapter 28) if the doping process and specific electronic application in disc/wafer form are not highlighted. The 'doped for electronics' aspect is key.
Top exporters and importers of HS code 381800, 2025
In 2025, the largest exporter of HS code 381800 in UN Comtrade data was Japan, with 27% of world exports; the largest importer in UN Comtrade data was South Korea, with 17% 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 Japan $4.7B 27% of world exports
- 2 China $2.6B 15% of world exports
- 3 South Korea $2.6B 15% of world exports
World total: $17.6B Reported figures on UN Comtrade ↗
Top importers 2025 · share of world imports
- 1 South Korea $3.3B 17% of world imports
- 2 Taiwan* ~$3.2B 16% of world imports · partner records ↗
- 3 China $2.4B 13% of world imports
World total: $19.5B 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. UN Comtrade records Taiwan as "Other Asia, not elsewhere specified". Saudi Arabia's exports under that code are left out: they are far too large to be trade with Taiwan, so mostly undisclosed partners. 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 3818.00 2
Brazil splits HS 3818.00 into 2 NCM codes, Mercosur's 8-digit tariff lines.
- 3818.00.10 Doped silicon for electronicsDe silício
- 3818.00.90 Other doped elements and compounds, electronicsOutros
All Brazil NCM codes in heading 38.18 →
Source: Siscomex NCM table, updated Oct 2026. The Portuguese text is official; the English is our translation.
Questions about HS 3818.00
What is HS code 381800?
HS code 381800 is a 6-digit subheading in the Harmonized System that covers: Chemical elements; doped for use in electronics, in the form of discs, wafers or similar forms; chemical compounds doped for use in electronics. This category covers highly specialized chemical elements and compounds that have been 'doped' for use in electronics, typically in the form of discs, wafers, or similar shapes. These materials, most commonly silicon or germanium, are intentionally modified with impurities to alter their electrical conductivity, making them fundamental building blocks for semiconductors and microchips. Importers and exporters are primarily semiconductor manufacturers, electronics companies, and specialized material suppliers. The trade involves high-value, high-precision products that are critical for the global electronics industry, with stringent quality control and purity requirements being paramount for device performance.
What products fall under HS code 381800?
Doped silicon wafers, doped germanium wafers, gallium arsenide wafers, silicon carbide wafers, indium phosphide wafers, doped polysilicon ingots, epitaxial wafers
What are common misclassifications for HS code 381800?
Often confused with undoped silicon (2804) or other raw chemical elements (Chapter 28) if the doping process and specific electronic application in disc/wafer form are not highlighted. The 'doped for electronics' aspect is key.
Which countries are the top exporters of goods under HS code 381800?
In 2025, the top exporters of HS code 381800 in UN Comtrade data were Japan ($4.7B, 27% of world exports), China ($2.6B) and South Korea ($2.6B). World exports came to about $17.6B, 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 381800?
In 2025, the top importers of HS code 381800 in UN Comtrade data were South Korea ($3.3B, 17% of world imports), Taiwan (about $3.2B) and China ($2.4B). World imports came to about $19.5B, 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.
How is HS code 381800 structured?
HS code 381800 is a 6-digit subheading under the Harmonized System. The first 2 digits (38) identify the chapter, digits 3-4 (18) 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 381800?
Brazil splits HS code 381800 into 2 NCM codes: 3818.00.10 (Doped silicon for electronics), 3818.00.90 (Other doped elements and compounds, electronics). The first 6 digits of each match the HS code.