HS code · 2-digit chapter

HS Code 69 – Ceramic products

What HS 69 covers

HS Chapter 69 encompasses a vast array of 'Ceramic products,' defined broadly as articles made from inorganic, non-metallic materials processed by heat, typically through firing at high temperatures. This chapter serves as a critical classification for importers, exporters, and trade professionals dealing with goods ranging from basic building materials to intricate ornamental pieces and advanced technical ceramics. Its scope is extensive, covering everything from refractory bricks designed for high-temperature industrial applications to delicate porcelain tableware and essential sanitary fixtures. However, it carefully delineates boundaries, excluding glass and glassware (Chapter 70), certain abrasive articles (Chapter 68), finished electrical insulators (85.46), and ceramic parts of machinery identifiable as complete articles of Section XVI or medical/dental products of Chapter 90. Key sub-categories within Chapter 69 include refractory ceramic products (69.01-69.03), ceramic building materials like bricks and roofing tiles (69.04-69.06), ceramic flags, paving, hearth or wall tiles (69.07-69.08), ceramic wares for laboratory, chemical or technical uses (69.09), ceramic sanitary fixtures (69.10), and ceramic tableware, kitchenware, household, and ornamental articles (69.11-69.14). Proper classification within this chapter is paramount for trade compliance. Misclassification can lead to significant issues, including incorrect duty calculations, exposure to anti-dumping or countervailing duties (common for certain ceramic products like tiles), customs delays, fines, and potential penalties. Historically, ceramics have been foundational to human development, evolving from ancient pottery to modern high-performance materials. Today, the global ceramic market remains robust, driven by construction, industrial, and consumer demand, making accurate HS classification a cornerstone of efficient and compliant international trade.

Covers
  • Refractory bricks
  • Ceramic roofing tiles
  • Porcelain floor tiles
  • Glazed ceramic wall tiles
  • Vitrified ceramic pipes
  • Ceramic sinks
  • Ceramic toilets
  • Ceramic bidets
  • Ceramic washbasins
  • Porcelain dinner plates
  • Stoneware mugs
  • Ceramic vases
  • Decorative ceramic figurines
  • Terracotta garden pots
  • Ceramic electrical capacitor bodies
  • Laboratory ceramic crucibles
  • Ceramic grinding media
  • Dental ceramic blanks
  • Ceramic catalyst supports
  • High-tech ceramic sensors
  • Ceramic cutting tool inserts
  • Ceramic filters for water purification
  • Ceramic heating elements
  • Ceramic ovenware
  • Ceramic mosaic tiles.
Examples

A US-based home improvement retailer imports container loads of glazed ceramic floor and wall tiles (6907.21) from factories in China and India, typically via ocean freight through the Port of Los Angeles, where these imports are subject to specific anti-dumping duties. A German automotive supplier exports advanced technical ceramic components (e.g., ceramic catalyst supports, 6909.19) to vehicle manufacturers in Japan and South Korea, often utilizing air cargo for their high value and time-critical supply chains. An Italian luxury kitchenware brand ships its artisanal porcelain dinnerware sets and stoneware mugs (6911.10) across the European Union to various boutique stores and department chains, benefiting from the EU's single market for duty-free movement, primarily using road freight for careful handling. A construction firm in Saudi Arabia imports large quantities of ceramic sanitary fixtures, including toilets, sinks, and bidets (6910.90), from Turkey and Spain to furnish new residential and commercial developments, with shipments arriving by sea freight through the Port of Jeddah.

Headings in chapter 69 13

69.01Bricks, blocks, tiles and other ceramic goods of siliceous fossil meals (e.g. kieselguhr, tripolite or diatomite) or of similar siliceous earths69.02Refractory bricks, blocks, tiles and similar refractory ceramic constructional goods; other than those of siliceous fossil meals or similar siliceous earths69.03Ceramic goods; (e.g. retorts, crucibles, muffles, nozzles, plugs, supports cupels, tubes, pipes, sheaths, rods and slide gates) excluding those of siliceous fossil meals or of similar siliceous earths69.04Ceramic building bricks, floor blocks, support or filler tiles and the like69.05Roofing tiles, chimney-pots, cowls, chimney liners, architectural ornaments and other ceramic constructional goods69.06Ceramic pipes, conduits, guttering and pipe fittings69.07Ceramic flags and paving, hearth or wall tiles; ceramic mosaic cubes and the like, whether or not on a backing; finishing ceramics69.09Ceramic ware for laboratory, chemical, other technical uses; ceramic troughs, tubs, similar receptacles used in agriculture; ceramic pots, jars and similar used in the conveyance or packing of goods69.10Ceramic sinks, wash basins, wash basin pedestals, baths, bidets, water closet pans, flushing cisterns, urinals and similar sanitary fixtures69.11Tableware, kitchenware, other household articles and toilet articles; of porcelain or china69.12Ceramic tableware, kitchenware, other household articles and toilet articles; other than of porcelain or china69.13Statuettes and other ornamental ceramic articles69.14Ceramic articles; n.e.c. in chapter 69

62 Brazil NCM codes in chapter 69 →

Codes often confused with 69

Common mistake. Traders often misclassify ceramic products, leading to compliance issues. A common mistake is confusing ceramic articles with those of Chapter 70 (Glass and Glassware), especially for items like ceramic-glass cooktops or highly vitrified products. The key differentiator is the material structure: ceramics are crystalline, while glass is amorphous. Another frequent error involves Chapter 68 (Articles of Stone, Plaster, Cement, etc.), particularly with building materials; natural stone tiles (6802) versus fired ceramic tiles (6907/6908) requires careful distinction based on manufacturing process. Finally, ceramic components that are complete electrical articles, such as finished electrical insulators (8546), are often mistakenly placed in Chapter 69 rather than Chapter 85. The 'completeness' and 'principal function' rules are crucial here to avoid errors.

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 stone69.07Ceramic flags and paving, hearth or wall tiles; ceramic mosaic cubes and the like, whether or not on a backing; finishing ceramics85.46Electrical insulators of any material

Top exporters and importers of HS code 69, 2025

In 2025, the largest exporter of HS code 69 in UN Comtrade data was China, with 34% of world exports; the largest importer in UN Comtrade data was the United States, with 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. 1 China $21.3B
  2. 2 Italy $5.9B
  3. 3 Spain $4.9B

World total: $61.7B Reported figures on UN Comtrade ↗

Top importers 2025 · share of world imports

  1. 1 United States $7.5B
  2. 2 Germany $3.6B
  3. 3 France $2.4B

World total: $57.1B 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.

Questions about HS 69

What is HS code 69?

HS code 69 is a 2-digit chapter in the Harmonized System that covers: Ceramic products. HS Chapter 69 encompasses a vast array of 'Ceramic products,' defined broadly as articles made from inorganic, non-metallic materials processed by heat, typically through firing at high temperatures. This chapter serves as a critical classification for importers, exporters, and trade professionals dealing with goods ranging from basic building materials to intricate ornamental pieces and advanced technical ceramics. Its scope is extensive, covering everything from refractory bricks designed for high-temperature industrial applications to delicate porcelain tableware and essential sanitary fixtures. However, it carefully delineates boundaries, excluding glass and glassware (Chapter 70), certain abrasive articles (Chapter 68), finished electrical insulators (85.46), and ceramic parts of machinery identifiable as complete articles of Section XVI or medical/dental products of Chapter 90. Key sub-categories within Chapter 69 include refractory ceramic products (69.01-69.03), ceramic building materials like bricks and roofing tiles (69.04-69.06), ceramic flags, paving, hearth or wall tiles (69.07-69.08), ceramic wares for laboratory, chemical or technical uses (69.09), ceramic sanitary fixtures (69.10), and ceramic tableware, kitchenware, household, and ornamental articles (69.11-69.14). Proper classification within this chapter is paramount for trade compliance. Misclassification can lead to significant issues, including incorrect duty calculations, exposure to anti-dumping or countervailing duties (common for certain ceramic products like tiles), customs delays, fines, and potential penalties. Historically, ceramics have been foundational to human development, evolving from ancient pottery to modern high-performance materials. Today, the global ceramic market remains robust, driven by construction, industrial, and consumer demand, making accurate HS classification a cornerstone of efficient and compliant international trade.

What products fall under HS code 69?

Refractory bricks, ceramic roofing tiles, porcelain floor tiles, glazed ceramic wall tiles, vitrified ceramic pipes, ceramic sinks, ceramic toilets, ceramic bidets, ceramic washbasins, porcelain dinner plates, stoneware mugs, ceramic vases, decorative ceramic figurines, terracotta garden pots, ceramic electrical capacitor bodies, laboratory ceramic crucibles, ceramic grinding media, dental ceramic blanks, ceramic catalyst supports, high-tech ceramic sensors, ceramic cutting tool inserts, ceramic filters for water purification, ceramic heating elements, ceramic ovenware, ceramic mosaic tiles.

What are common misclassifications for HS code 69?

Traders often misclassify ceramic products, leading to compliance issues. A common mistake is confusing ceramic articles with those of Chapter 70 (Glass and Glassware), especially for items like ceramic-glass cooktops or highly vitrified products. The key differentiator is the material structure: ceramics are crystalline, while glass is amorphous. Another frequent error involves Chapter 68 (Articles of Stone, Plaster, Cement, etc.), particularly with building materials; natural stone tiles (6802) versus fired ceramic tiles (6907/6908) requires careful distinction based on manufacturing process. Finally, ceramic components that are complete electrical articles, such as finished electrical insulators (8546), are often mistakenly placed in Chapter 69 rather than Chapter 85. The 'completeness' and 'principal function' rules are crucial here to avoid errors.

Which countries are the top exporters of goods under HS code 69?

In 2025, the top exporters of HS code 69 in UN Comtrade data were China ($21.3B, 34% of world exports), Italy ($5.9B) and Spain ($4.9B). World exports came to about $61.7B, 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 69?

In 2025, the top importers of HS code 69 in UN Comtrade data were the United States ($7.5B, 13% of world imports), Germany ($3.6B) and France ($2.4B). World imports came to about $57.1B, 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 69 structured?

HS code 69 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.