HS code · 2-digit chapter

HS Code 68 – Stone, plaster, cement, asbestos, mica or similar materials; articles thereof

What HS 68 covers

Chapter 68 of the Harmonized System (HS) encompasses a vast array of articles made from stone, plaster, cement, asbestos, mica, and similar mineral materials. This chapter serves as a crucial classification point for products integral to the construction, manufacturing, and industrial sectors globally. Its scope covers materials that have undergone some degree of processing beyond their raw mineral state, but generally excludes finished ceramic (Chapter 69) or glass (Chapter 70) articles. Key sub-categories within this chapter include abrasive articles (e.g., grinding wheels, polishing stones), articles of natural or artificial stone (e.g., slabs, tiles, monuments), articles of plaster or cement (e.g., plasterboard, concrete blocks, pipes), and articles of asbestos, mica, or similar materials like mineral wool. Proper classification under Chapter 68 is paramount for trade compliance, as it directly impacts applicable duties, eligibility for preferential trade agreements, and adherence to specific import/export regulations, particularly concerning materials like asbestos. Historically, this chapter's significance has grown with global infrastructure development and urbanization, making it a cornerstone for the international trade of building and industrial components. Major headings include 6801-6803 for stone articles, 6804-6805 for abrasive articles, 6806 for mineral wool, 6810 for articles of cement, concrete or artificial stone, and 6811-6813 for articles of asbestos and mica, among others.

Covers
  • Grinding wheels
  • Millstones
  • Abrasive paper
  • Marble slabs
  • Granite countertops
  • Roofing slates
  • Concrete blocks
  • Cement pipes
  • Plasterboard
  • Gypsum panels
  • Fiber-cement siding
  • Precast concrete elements
  • Mica washers
  • Asbestos-free gaskets
  • Mineral wool insulation
  • Rockwool panels
  • Slag wool
  • Expanded perlite boards
  • Vermiculite products
  • Refractory cement
  • Artificial stone tiles
  • Terrazzo flooring
  • Carved stone monuments
  • Fireplace surrounds made of stone
  • Pumice blocks
Examples

A major construction firm in the United States imports polished granite countertops and marble floor tiles (6802) from quarries and fabricators in India and China, utilizing ocean freight routes across the Pacific. These materials are then installed in new residential and commercial developments across the country. Separately, a German automotive parts manufacturer exports specialized abrasive grinding wheels (6804) to its subsidiary plants in Mexico and Brazil for precision finishing of engine components, typically shipped via air cargo for speed. In another scenario, Canada exports large volumes of precast concrete elements (6810), such as bridge sections and culverts, to the northern United States for infrastructure projects, often transported by specialized trucks across the border. Furthermore, an Australian importer sources fiber-cement siding panels (6811) from Vietnam to meet demand in the booming residential construction sector, with bulk shipments arriving via sea freight. Finally, a Japanese electronics company imports mica insulating sheets and washers (6814) from India for use in high-temperature applications within their electronic devices, usually by air freight.

Headings in chapter 68 15

68.01Stone; setts, curbstones and flagstones, of natural stone (except slate)68.02Monumental or building stone, worked (except slate) and articles thereof (not of heading no. 6801) mosaic cubes etc., of natural stone including slate; artificially coloured granules of natural stone68.03Slate, worked; and articles of slate or of agglomerated slate68.04Millstones, grindstones, grinding wheels, etc without frameworks, for grinding, sharpening, polishing, etc and parts thereof, natural stone, agglomerated natural or artificial abrasives or of ceramics68.05Abrasive powder or grain; natural or artificial, on a base of textile material, of paper, paperboard or of other material, whether or not cut to shape or sewn or otherwise made up68.06Slag, rock wool and similar mineral wools; exfoliated vermiculite, expanded clays, foamed slag, mixtures and articles of heat, sound insulating or sound-absorbing mineral materials68.07Asphalt or similar material; articles (e.g. petroleum bitumen or coal tar pitch)68.08Panels, boards, tiles, blocks and the like; of vegetable fibre, of straw, shavings, chips, particles, sawdust or other waste, of wood, agglomerated with cement, plaster or other mineral binders68.09Plaster or compositions based on plaster; articles thereof68.10Cement, concrete or artificial stone; whether or not reinforced, articles thereof68.11Asbestos-cement, of cellulose fibre-cement or the like68.12Fabricated asbestos fibres; mixtures with a basis of asbestos or of asbestos and magnesium carbonate; articles of such mixtures or of asbestos (e.g. thread, woven fabric, clothing, footwear), whether or not reinforced, not goods of heading 6811 or 681368.13Friction material and articles thereof (e.g. sheets, rolls, strips, segments, discs, washers, pads) not mounted; for brakes, clutches or the like, with a basis of asbestos, other mineral substances, or cellulose68.14Mica; worked, articles of, including agglomerated or reconstituted mica; whether or not on a support of paper, paperboard or other materials68.15Stone or other mineral substances; articles thereof (including carbon fibres, articles of carbon fibres and articles of peat), not elsewhere specified or included

70 Brazil NCM codes in chapter 68 →

Codes often confused with 68

Common mistake. Traders frequently misclassify products under Chapter 68, often confusing them with raw minerals (Chapter 25), ceramic products (Chapter 69), or glass products (Chapter 70). A common mistake is classifying unworked or roughly cut stone as articles of stone (6801-6803), when it might belong in Chapter 25 as raw material. For instance, natural building stone that is merely sawn or roughly trimmed is in 2515 or 2516, whereas cut, polished, or further worked stone is in 6802. Another error involves distinguishing between artificial stone tiles (6810) and ceramic tiles (6907-6908); the key lies in the manufacturing process and composition. Similarly, mineral wool (6806) can be confused with glass wool (7019), necessitating careful examination of the base material. The degree of processing and the specific material composition are critical differentiators.

68.01Stone; setts, curbstones and flagstones, of natural stone (except slate)68.03Slate, worked; and articles of slate or of agglomerated slate25.15Marble, travertine, ecaussine and other calcareous stone; of an apparent specific gravity of less than 2.5, alabaster, whether cut by sawing etc, into blocks, slabs of a rectangular (square) shape25.16Granite, porphyry, basalt, sandstone, other monumental and building stone, whether or not roughly trimmed, cut, by sawing etc, into blocks or slabs of a rectangular (including square) shape68.02Monumental or building stone, worked (except slate) and articles thereof (not of heading no. 6801) mosaic cubes etc., of natural stone including slate; artificially coloured granules of natural stone68.10Cement, concrete or artificial stone; whether or not reinforced, articles thereof69.07Ceramic flags and paving, hearth or wall tiles; ceramic mosaic cubes and the like, whether or not on a backing; finishing ceramics68.06Slag, rock wool and similar mineral wools; exfoliated vermiculite, expanded clays, foamed slag, mixtures and articles of heat, sound insulating or sound-absorbing mineral materials70.19Glass fibres (including glass wool) and articles thereof (e.g. yarn, rovings, woven fabrics)

Top exporters and importers of HS code 68, 2025

In 2025, the largest exporter of HS code 68 in UN Comtrade data was China, with 18% 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. 1 China $10.4B
  2. 2 Germany $6.3B
  3. 3 United States $4.3B

World total: $59.3B Reported figures on UN Comtrade ↗

Top importers 2025 · share of world imports

  1. 1 United States $9.6B
  2. 2 Germany $4.1B
  3. 3 United Kingdom $2.5B

World total: $58.9B 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.

Questions about HS 68

What is HS code 68?

HS code 68 is a 2-digit chapter in the Harmonized System that covers: Stone, plaster, cement, asbestos, mica or similar materials; articles thereof. Chapter 68 of the Harmonized System (HS) encompasses a vast array of articles made from stone, plaster, cement, asbestos, mica, and similar mineral materials. This chapter serves as a crucial classification point for products integral to the construction, manufacturing, and industrial sectors globally. Its scope covers materials that have undergone some degree of processing beyond their raw mineral state, but generally excludes finished ceramic (Chapter 69) or glass (Chapter 70) articles. Key sub-categories within this chapter include abrasive articles (e.g., grinding wheels, polishing stones), articles of natural or artificial stone (e.g., slabs, tiles, monuments), articles of plaster or cement (e.g., plasterboard, concrete blocks, pipes), and articles of asbestos, mica, or similar materials like mineral wool. Proper classification under Chapter 68 is paramount for trade compliance, as it directly impacts applicable duties, eligibility for preferential trade agreements, and adherence to specific import/export regulations, particularly concerning materials like asbestos. Historically, this chapter's significance has grown with global infrastructure development and urbanization, making it a cornerstone for the international trade of building and industrial components. Major headings include 6801-6803 for stone articles, 6804-6805 for abrasive articles, 6806 for mineral wool, 6810 for articles of cement, concrete or artificial stone, and 6811-6813 for articles of asbestos and mica, among others.

What products fall under HS code 68?

Grinding wheels, millstones, abrasive paper, marble slabs, granite countertops, roofing slates, concrete blocks, cement pipes, plasterboard, gypsum panels, fiber-cement siding, precast concrete elements, mica washers, asbestos-free gaskets, mineral wool insulation, rockwool panels, slag wool, expanded perlite boards, vermiculite products, refractory cement, artificial stone tiles, terrazzo flooring, carved stone monuments, fireplace surrounds made of stone, pumice blocks

What are common misclassifications for HS code 68?

Traders frequently misclassify products under Chapter 68, often confusing them with raw minerals (Chapter 25), ceramic products (Chapter 69), or glass products (Chapter 70). A common mistake is classifying unworked or roughly cut stone as articles of stone (6801-6803), when it might belong in Chapter 25 as raw material. For instance, natural building stone that is merely sawn or roughly trimmed is in 2515 or 2516, whereas cut, polished, or further worked stone is in 6802. Another error involves distinguishing between artificial stone tiles (6810) and ceramic tiles (6907-6908); the key lies in the manufacturing process and composition. Similarly, mineral wool (6806) can be confused with glass wool (7019), necessitating careful examination of the base material. The degree of processing and the specific material composition are critical differentiators.

Which countries are the top exporters of goods under HS code 68?

In 2025, the top exporters of HS code 68 in UN Comtrade data were China ($10.4B, 18% of world exports), Germany ($6.3B) and the United States ($4.3B). World exports came to about $59.3B, 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 68?

In 2025, the top importers of HS code 68 in UN Comtrade data were the United States ($9.6B, 16% of world imports), Germany ($4.1B) and the United Kingdom ($2.5B). World imports came to about $58.9B, 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 68 structured?

HS code 68 is a 2-digit chapter code in the Harmonized System maintained by the World Customs Organization. It represents a broad category of goods and contains multiple 4-digit headings and 6-digit subheadings for more specific classifications.