HS code · 2-digit chapter

HS Code 70 – Glass and glassware

What HS 70 covers

Chapter 70 of the Harmonized System (HS) encompasses 'Glass and glassware,' a broad and economically significant category covering glass in virtually all its forms, from raw materials to sophisticated finished articles. This chapter's scope begins with basic glass cullet and unworked glass in balls, rods, or tubes, extending through various types of flat glass (cast, rolled, drawn, float glass), safety glass for automotive and architectural applications, and mirrors. It also includes an extensive range of containers (bottles, jars, ampoules), specialized glassware for laboratory, hygienic, or pharmaceutical uses, and diverse articles for table, kitchen, toilet, office, or decorative purposes. Furthermore, the chapter covers glass fibers and articles made thereof, such as yarns, woven fabrics, and non-wovens, which are critical for insulation and composite materials. Accurate classification within Chapter 70 is paramount for trade compliance, directly influencing applicable duties, eligibility for preferential tariffs under free trade agreements, and adherence to specific import/export regulations (e.g., food contact safety standards for containers, building codes for architectural glass). The global glass industry is ancient yet continuously evolving, with specialized manufacturing processes leading to a vast array of products essential for construction, automotive, packaging, electronics, and consumer goods sectors. Its trade significance is underscored by its ubiquitous application across industries worldwide. Understanding the detailed headings—from 70.01 for waste glass to 70.20 for other articles of glass—is crucial for importers, exporters, and customs brokers to navigate the complexities of international trade in these versatile materials.

Covers
  • Glass cullet
  • Unworked glass rods
  • Float glass sheets
  • Laminated safety glass for automotive use
  • Toughened glass for shower doors
  • Silvered glass mirrors
  • Pharmaceutical glass ampoules
  • Glass beverage bottles
  • Decorative glass vases
  • Crystal wine glasses
  • Laboratory beakers
  • Glass fiber insulation rolls
  • Woven glass fiber fabric
  • Glass beads for road marking
  • Stained glass panels
  • Glass oven dishes
  • Glass light diffusers
  • Glass Christmas ornaments
  • Ophthalmic lens blanks (not optically worked)
  • Glass bricks for construction
  • Glass carboys for chemicals
  • Glass microscope slides
  • Glass aquariums
  • Fiberglass mesh
  • Glass tumblers
Examples

A German manufacturer exports high-quality float glass sheets to a construction company in the United States for use in modern skyscraper facades, typically shipped via ocean freight from Hamburg to New York, requiring careful handling due to the product's fragility and size. A Chinese glass bottle factory ships millions of pharmaceutical-grade glass vials and ampoules to an Indian pharmaceutical company for vaccine packaging, often utilizing container ships on the Asia-Europe route, requiring strict quality and safety certifications for medical use. An Italian design house imports specialized colored art glass rods from Murano to create bespoke decorative glassware for luxury hotels in Dubai, transported by air freight to maintain product integrity and speed to market. A Mexican automotive supplier imports laminated safety glass windshields from a factory in Japan for assembly into new vehicle models, moving these delicate components via specialized sea containers across the Pacific to ensure damage-free delivery. A US-based kitchenware retailer sources heat-resistant borosilicate glass oven dishes and mixing bowls from a manufacturing plant in France, importing them through major ports like Charleston or Savannah for distribution across North America.

Headings in chapter 70 19

70.01Glass; cullet and other waste and scrap of glass, excluding glass from cathode ray tubes or other activated glass of heading 85.49, glass in the mass70.02Glass in balls (other than microspheres of heading no. 7018), rods or tubes, unworked70.03Glass; cast glass and rolled glass in sheets or profiles, whether or not having an absorbent, reflecting or non-reflecting layer, but not otherwise worked70.04Glass; drawn glass and blown glass, in sheets, whether or not having an absorbent, reflecting or non-reflecting layer, but not otherwise worked70.05Glass; float glass and surface ground or polished glass, in sheets, whether or not having an absorbent, reflecting or non-reflecting layer, but not otherwise worked70.06Glass of heading no. 7003, 7004 or 7005, bent, edge-worked, engraved, drilled, enamelled or otherwise worked, not framed or fitted with other materials70.07Safety glass, consisting of toughened (tempered) or laminated glass70.08Glass; multiple-walled insulating units of glass70.09Glass mirrors; whether or not framed, including rear-view mirrors70.10Carboys, bottles, flasks, jars, pots, phials, ampoules, containers of glass of a kind used for the conveyance or packing of goods; preserving jars of glass; stoppers, lids and other closures of glass70.11Glass envelopes (including bulbs and tubes), open and glass parts thereof, without fittings, for electric lamps and light sources, cathode-ray tubes or the like70.13Glassware of a kind used for table, kitchen, toilet, office, indoor decoration or similar purposes (other than of heading no. 7010 or 7018)70.14Signalling glassware and optical elements of glass (other than those of heading no. 7015), not optically worked70.15Clock, watch and similar glasses, glasses for non-corrective or corrective spectacles, curved, bent, hallowed etc, not optically worked; hollow glass spheres and their segments for manufacture70.16Glass; paving blocks, slabs, bricks, tiles etc, of pressed, moulded glass, whether or not wired, glass smallwares for decorative purposes leaded lights and the like; multicellular or foam glass70.17Laboratory, hygienic or pharmaceutical glassware, whether or not graduated or calibrated70.18Glass beads, imitation pearls, precious or semi-precious stones and similar glass smallwares, statuettes and other ornaments of worked glass; glass microspheres not exceeding 1mm in diameter70.19Glass fibres (including glass wool) and articles thereof (e.g. yarn, rovings, woven fabrics)70.20Glass; articles n.e.c. in chapter 70

90 Brazil NCM codes in chapter 70 →

Codes often confused with 70

Common mistake. Common misclassifications in Chapter 70 often arise from confusing primary glass forms with more processed articles or mistaking glass for similar materials. For instance, optical elements of glass that have been optically worked (e.g., lenses for cameras, telescopes) are frequently misplaced in 70.14 or 70.15 (unworked optical elements) instead of Chapter 90 (Optical, Photographic, Cinematographic, Measuring, Checking, Precision, Medical or Surgical Instruments and Apparatus). Another frequent error is classifying electrical insulators of glass under general glassware headings in Chapter 70, when they correctly belong in 85.46 (Electrical insulators of any material). Similarly, glass fibers combined with other materials to form composite articles, such as fiberglass boat hulls or certain sporting goods, should be classified according to their predominant material or function in other chapters (e.g., Chapter 39 for plastics and articles thereof if glass fiber is a reinforcing material in a plastic matrix), rather than solely under 70.19. The key is to assess the degree of processing, the primary function, and the material composition of the final product.

Top exporters and importers of HS code 70, 2025

In 2025, the largest exporter of HS code 70 in UN Comtrade data was China, with 27% of world exports; the largest importer in UN Comtrade data was the United States, with 10% 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 $24.2B
  2. 2 Germany $8.1B
  3. 3 United States $5.8B

World total: $90.3B Reported figures on UN Comtrade ↗

Top importers 2025 · share of world imports

  1. 1 United States $9.3B
  2. 2 Germany $6.6B
  3. 3 China $6.5B

World total: $89.2B 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 70

What is HS code 70?

HS code 70 is a 2-digit chapter in the Harmonized System that covers: Glass and glassware. Chapter 70 of the Harmonized System (HS) encompasses 'Glass and glassware,' a broad and economically significant category covering glass in virtually all its forms, from raw materials to sophisticated finished articles. This chapter's scope begins with basic glass cullet and unworked glass in balls, rods, or tubes, extending through various types of flat glass (cast, rolled, drawn, float glass), safety glass for automotive and architectural applications, and mirrors. It also includes an extensive range of containers (bottles, jars, ampoules), specialized glassware for laboratory, hygienic, or pharmaceutical uses, and diverse articles for table, kitchen, toilet, office, or decorative purposes. Furthermore, the chapter covers glass fibers and articles made thereof, such as yarns, woven fabrics, and non-wovens, which are critical for insulation and composite materials. Accurate classification within Chapter 70 is paramount for trade compliance, directly influencing applicable duties, eligibility for preferential tariffs under free trade agreements, and adherence to specific import/export regulations (e.g., food contact safety standards for containers, building codes for architectural glass). The global glass industry is ancient yet continuously evolving, with specialized manufacturing processes leading to a vast array of products essential for construction, automotive, packaging, electronics, and consumer goods sectors. Its trade significance is underscored by its ubiquitous application across industries worldwide. Understanding the detailed headings—from 70.01 for waste glass to 70.20 for other articles of glass—is crucial for importers, exporters, and customs brokers to navigate the complexities of international trade in these versatile materials.

What products fall under HS code 70?

Glass cullet, unworked glass rods, float glass sheets, laminated safety glass for automotive use, toughened glass for shower doors, silvered glass mirrors, pharmaceutical glass ampoules, glass beverage bottles, decorative glass vases, crystal wine glasses, laboratory beakers, glass fiber insulation rolls, woven glass fiber fabric, glass beads for road marking, stained glass panels, glass oven dishes, glass light diffusers, glass Christmas ornaments, ophthalmic lens blanks (not optically worked), glass bricks for construction, glass carboys for chemicals, glass microscope slides, glass aquariums, fiberglass mesh, glass tumblers

What are common misclassifications for HS code 70?

Common misclassifications in Chapter 70 often arise from confusing primary glass forms with more processed articles or mistaking glass for similar materials. For instance, optical elements of glass that have been optically worked (e.g., lenses for cameras, telescopes) are frequently misplaced in 70.14 or 70.15 (unworked optical elements) instead of Chapter 90 (Optical, Photographic, Cinematographic, Measuring, Checking, Precision, Medical or Surgical Instruments and Apparatus). Another frequent error is classifying electrical insulators of glass under general glassware headings in Chapter 70, when they correctly belong in 85.46 (Electrical insulators of any material). Similarly, glass fibers combined with other materials to form composite articles, such as fiberglass boat hulls or certain sporting goods, should be classified according to their predominant material or function in other chapters (e.g., Chapter 39 for plastics and articles thereof if glass fiber is a reinforcing material in a plastic matrix), rather than solely under 70.19. The key is to assess the degree of processing, the primary function, and the material composition of the final product.

Which countries are the top exporters of goods under HS code 70?

In 2025, the top exporters of HS code 70 in UN Comtrade data were China ($24.2B, 27% of world exports), Germany ($8.1B) and the United States ($5.8B). World exports came to about $90.3B, 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 70?

In 2025, the top importers of HS code 70 in UN Comtrade data were the United States ($9.3B, 10% of world imports), Germany ($6.6B) and China ($6.5B). World imports came to about $89.2B, 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 70 structured?

HS code 70 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.