HS code · 6-digit subheading
HS Code 6909.12 – Ceramic wares; for laboratory, chemical or other technical uses, articles having a hardness equivalent to 9 or more on the Mohs scale
HS code 6909.12 is the 6-digit subheading for ceramic wares, for laboratory, chemical or other technical uses, articles having a hardness equivalent to 9 or more on the Mohs scale. It is used for alumina grinding media, zirconia ceramic bearings, silicon carbide nozzles, boron carbide armor plates and high-purity alumina crucibles.
What HS 6909.12 covers
This category encompasses highly specialized ceramic wares for laboratory, chemical, or technical uses that possess exceptional hardness, equivalent to 9 or more on the Mohs scale. These advanced ceramics, often made from materials like alumina, zirconia, or silicon carbide, are engineered for extreme wear resistance, high-temperature stability, and chemical inertness, making them indispensable in demanding industrial applications. Importers include aerospace, semiconductor, medical device, and advanced manufacturing industries. Exporters are typically highly specialized material science companies at the forefront of ceramic technology. The defining characteristic is their superior hardness, which dictates their use in critical, high-performance components.
- Covers
- Alumina grinding media
- Zirconia ceramic bearings
- Silicon carbide nozzles
- Boron carbide armor plates
- High-purity alumina crucibles
- Ceramic pump components
- Wear-resistant ceramic liners
- Examples
- Kyocera advanced ceramics
- Saint-Gobain NorPro grinding media
- Morgan Advanced Materials technical ceramics
- CeramTec components
Codes often confused with 6909.12
Common mistake. Often confused with 690919 (other technical ceramics) if the specific Mohs hardness isn't confirmed, or 8479 (machines with individual functions) if the ceramic component is integrated into a larger system.
Top exporters and importers of HS code 690912, 2025
In 2025, the largest exporter of HS code 690912 in UN Comtrade data was Japan, with 43% of world exports; the largest importer in UN Comtrade data was China, with 18% 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 $795M 43% of world exports
- 2 China $335M 18% of world exports
- 3 Germany $145M 7.8% of world exports
World total: $1.9B Reported figures on UN Comtrade ↗
Top importers 2025 · share of world imports
- 1 China $250M 18% of world imports
- 2 United States $171M 12% of world imports
- 3 Taiwan* ~$126M 9.0% of world imports · partner records ↗
World total: $1.4B 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 6909.12 4
Brazil splits HS 6909.12 into 4 NCM codes, Mercosur's 8-digit tariff lines.
- 6909.12.10 Hard (Mohs 9+) ceramic textile thread guidesGuia-fios para máquina têxtil
- 6909.12.20 Hard (Mohs 9+) ceramic print-head needle guidesGuias de agulhas para cabeças de impressão
- 6909.12.30 Silicon carbide (Mohs 9+) mechanical seal ringsAnéis de carboneto de silício para juntas de vedação mecânicas
- 6909.12.90 Other hard (Mohs 9+) technical ceramic articlesOutros
All Brazil NCM codes in heading 69.09 →
Source: Siscomex NCM table, updated Oct 2026. The Portuguese text is official; the English is our translation.
Questions about HS 6909.12
What is HS code 690912?
HS code 690912 is a 6-digit subheading in the Harmonized System that covers: Ceramic wares; for laboratory, chemical or other technical uses, articles having a hardness equivalent to 9 or more on the Mohs scale. This category encompasses highly specialized ceramic wares for laboratory, chemical, or technical uses that possess exceptional hardness, equivalent to 9 or more on the Mohs scale. These advanced ceramics, often made from materials like alumina, zirconia, or silicon carbide, are engineered for extreme wear resistance, high-temperature stability, and chemical inertness, making them indispensable in demanding industrial applications. Importers include aerospace, semiconductor, medical device, and advanced manufacturing industries. Exporters are typically highly specialized material science companies at the forefront of ceramic technology. The defining characteristic is their superior hardness, which dictates their use in critical, high-performance components.
What products fall under HS code 690912?
Alumina grinding media, zirconia ceramic bearings, silicon carbide nozzles, boron carbide armor plates, high-purity alumina crucibles, ceramic pump components, wear-resistant ceramic liners
What are common misclassifications for HS code 690912?
Often confused with 690919 (other technical ceramics) if the specific Mohs hardness isn't confirmed, or 8479 (machines with individual functions) if the ceramic component is integrated into a larger system.
Which countries are the top exporters of goods under HS code 690912?
In 2025, the top exporters of HS code 690912 in UN Comtrade data were Japan ($795M, 43% of world exports), China ($335M) and Germany ($145M). World exports came to about $1.9B, 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.
Which countries are the top importers of goods under HS code 690912?
In 2025, the top importers of HS code 690912 in UN Comtrade data were China ($250M, 18% of world imports), the United States ($171M) and Taiwan (about $126M). World imports came to about $1.4B, 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 690912 structured?
HS code 690912 is a 6-digit subheading under the Harmonized System. The first 2 digits (69) identify the chapter, digits 3-4 (09) identify the heading, and digits 5-6 (12) specify the subheading. This code is standardized globally by the World Customs Organization.
What is the Brazil NCM code for HS code 690912?
Brazil splits HS code 690912 into 4 NCM codes: 6909.12.10 (Hard (Mohs 9+) ceramic textile thread guides), 6909.12.20 (Hard (Mohs 9+) ceramic print-head needle guides), 6909.12.30 (Silicon carbide (Mohs 9+) mechanical seal rings), 6909.12.90 (Other hard (Mohs 9+) technical ceramic articles). The first 6 digits of each match the HS code.