HS code · 2-digit chapter

HS Code 72 – Iron and steel

What HS 72 covers

Chapter 72 of the Harmonized System (HS) serves as the foundational classification for 'Iron and steel' in international trade, encompassing the raw materials, semi-finished products, and basic forms of these critical metals. This extensive chapter sets the stage for the global trade of the primary building blocks of modern industry. Its scope primarily covers pig iron, ferro-alloys, ferrous waste and scrap, and various forms of iron and steel in their initial stages of manufacturing. This includes ingots, other primary forms, semi-finished products, and various flat-rolled products, bars, rods, angles, shapes, sections, and wire, meticulously categorized by their alloy content (non-alloy, stainless, and other alloy steel). Accurate classification under Chapter 72 is paramount for trade compliance. It directly impacts applicable import duties, potential anti-dumping or countervailing measures, quotas, and origin rules, which are particularly stringent for steel products given their strategic economic importance. Historically, iron and steel have been at the heart of industrial development, making trade in these commodities highly sensitive to economic shifts, political policies, and protectionist measures. Understanding the precise distinctions within this chapter — for instance, between hot-rolled and cold-rolled products, or different alloy compositions — is crucial for avoiding costly penalties and ensuring smooth customs clearance. Major headings within this chapter systematically differentiate products based on their chemical composition (e.g., stainless steel sub-chapters 7218-7223) and physical form, moving from bulk raw materials to more processed, but still foundational, shapes ready for further fabrication into finished goods.

Covers
  • Pig iron in pigs
  • Ferrochromium
  • Ferrosilicon
  • Direct reduced iron pellets
  • Heavy melting steel scrap
  • Stainless steel ingots
  • Hot-rolled coils of non-alloy steel
  • Cold-rolled sheets of non-alloy steel
  • Galvanized steel sheets
  • Grain-oriented electrical steel
  • Stainless steel bars
  • Carbon steel wire rod
  • Structural steel I-beams
  • Steel angles
  • Stainless steel wire
  • High-speed tool steel bars
  • Spring steel flats
  • Seamless steel billets
  • Reinforcing bars (rebar) in coils
  • Hot-rolled plates of non-alloy steel
  • Tinplate in coils
  • Prepainted galvanized steel coils
  • Steel wire for concrete reinforcement
  • Cast iron in pigs
  • Alloy steel billets
Examples

A major automotive manufacturer in Germany imports specialized high-strength low-alloy (HSLA) steel sheets (classified under 7209 or 7211) from a steel mill in South Korea for car body production. This route often involves sea freight through the Suez Canal to Rotterdam, subject to EU import duties and potentially anti-dumping measures. Separately, a construction company in the United States purchases hot-rolled steel reinforcing bars (rebar, 7214) from a supplier in Turkey for a new skyscraper project, with these shipments typically arriving via container ships on the Atlantic coast and subject to US tariffs and sometimes Section 232 duties on steel imports. Meanwhile, a Chinese steel producer frequently exports large quantities of hot-rolled non-alloy steel coils (7208) to Southeast Asian countries like Vietnam or Thailand for further processing into pipes or construction materials, benefiting from regional trade agreements that reduce tariffs. Furthermore, an Indian foundry imports ferrochromium (7202) from South Africa to produce stainless steel, with this crucial raw material transported in bulk carriers from Durban to major Indian ports. Lastly, a Brazilian company exports pig iron (7201) to steel mills in the Netherlands for use in electric arc furnaces, contributing to the global supply chain for primary steel production.

Headings in chapter 72 29

72.01Pig iron and spiegeleisen in pigs, blocks or other primary forms72.02Ferro-alloys72.03Ferrous products obtained by direct reduction of iron ore and other spongy ferrous products, in lumps, pellets or the like; iron having a minimum purity of 99.94%, in lumps, pellets or similar forms72.04Ferrous waste and scrap; remelting scrap ingots of iron or steel72.05Granules and powders, of pig iron, spiegeleisen, iron or steel72.06Iron and non-alloy steel in ingots or other primary forms (excluding iron of heading no. 7203)72.07Iron or non-alloy steel; semi-finished products thereof72.08Iron or non-alloy steel; flat-rolled products of a width of 600mm or more, hot-rolled, not clad, plated or coated72.09Iron or non-alloy steel; flat-rolled products, width 600mm or more, cold-rolled (cold-reduced), not clad, plated or coated72.10Iron or non-alloy steel; flat-rolled products, width 600mm or more, clad, plated or coated72.11Iron or non-alloy steel; flat-rolled products, width less than 600mm, not clad, plated or coated72.12Iron or non-alloy steel; flat-rolled products, width less than 600mm, clad, plated or coated72.13Iron or non-alloy steel; bars and rods, hot-rolled, in irregularly wound coils72.14Iron or non-alloy steel; bars and rods, not further worked than forged, hot-rolled, hot drawn or hot-extruded, but including those twisted after rolling72.15Iron or non-alloy steel; bars and rods, n.e.c. in chapter 7272.16Iron or non-alloy steel, angles, shapes and sections72.17Wire of iron or non-alloy steel72.18Stainless steel in ingots or other primary forms; semi-finished products of stainless steel72.19Stainless steel; flat-rolled products of width of 600mm or more72.20Stainless steel; flat-rolled products of width less than 600mm72.21Stainless steel bars and rods, hot-rolled, in irregularly wound coils72.22Stainless steel bars and rods, angles, shapes and sections72.23Stainless steel wire72.24Alloy steel in ingots or other primary forms, semi-finished products of other alloy steel72.25Alloy steel flat-rolled products, of a width 600mm or more72.26Alloy steel flat-rolled products, of a width of less than 600mm72.27Steel, alloy; bars and rods, hot-rolled, in irregularly wound coils72.28Alloy steel bars, rods, shapes and sections; hollow drill bars and rods, of alloy or non-alloy steel72.29Wire of other alloy steel

212 Brazil NCM codes in chapter 72 →

Codes often confused with 72

Common mistake. A common misclassification error involves confusing Chapter 72 (Iron and steel in primary forms, semi-finished products, and basic shapes) with Chapter 73 (Articles of iron or steel). The key distinction lies in the degree of processing: Chapter 72 is for raw materials and basic forms (e.g., steel beams or wire rod), while Chapter 73 covers finished articles made from iron or steel, such as tubes, pipes, structures, wire ropes, or bolts. For example, a steel I-beam is 7216, but a fabricated steel bridge section is 7308. Another potential pitfall is classifying a steel component under Chapter 72 when it's an integral part of a machine or electrical apparatus, which should instead be classified with the finished machine in Chapters 84 or 85. Less frequently, traders might confuse alloy steels with other base metals (Chapters 74-76) if not carefully checking the predominant metal content.

72.16Iron or non-alloy steel, angles, shapes and sections73.08Structures of iron or steel and parts thereof; plates, rods, angles, shapes, sections, tubes and the like, prepared for use in structures

Top exporters and importers of HS code 72, 2025

In 2025, the largest exporter of HS code 72 in UN Comtrade data was China, with 17% of world exports; the largest importer in UN Comtrade data was China, with 7.0% 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 $72.1B
  2. 2 Germany $29.6B
  3. 3 Indonesia $28.0B

World total: $422.1B Reported figures on UN Comtrade ↗

Top importers 2025 · share of world imports

  1. 1 China $30.9B
  2. 2 Germany $27.4B
  3. 3 United States $27.1B

World total: $442.8B 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.

EU Regulatory Requirements

This product falls under the Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM). Importers to the EU must declare embedded carbon emissions and purchase CBAM certificates.

Questions about HS 72

What is HS code 72?

HS code 72 is a 2-digit chapter in the Harmonized System that covers: Iron and steel. Chapter 72 of the Harmonized System (HS) serves as the foundational classification for 'Iron and steel' in international trade, encompassing the raw materials, semi-finished products, and basic forms of these critical metals. This extensive chapter sets the stage for the global trade of the primary building blocks of modern industry. Its scope primarily covers pig iron, ferro-alloys, ferrous waste and scrap, and various forms of iron and steel in their initial stages of manufacturing. This includes ingots, other primary forms, semi-finished products, and various flat-rolled products, bars, rods, angles, shapes, sections, and wire, meticulously categorized by their alloy content (non-alloy, stainless, and other alloy steel). Accurate classification under Chapter 72 is paramount for trade compliance. It directly impacts applicable import duties, potential anti-dumping or countervailing measures, quotas, and origin rules, which are particularly stringent for steel products given their strategic economic importance. Historically, iron and steel have been at the heart of industrial development, making trade in these commodities highly sensitive to economic shifts, political policies, and protectionist measures. Understanding the precise distinctions within this chapter — for instance, between hot-rolled and cold-rolled products, or different alloy compositions — is crucial for avoiding costly penalties and ensuring smooth customs clearance. Major headings within this chapter systematically differentiate products based on their chemical composition (e.g., stainless steel sub-chapters 7218-7223) and physical form, moving from bulk raw materials to more processed, but still foundational, shapes ready for further fabrication into finished goods.

What products fall under HS code 72?

Pig iron in pigs, Ferrochromium, Ferrosilicon, Direct reduced iron pellets, Heavy melting steel scrap, Stainless steel ingots, Hot-rolled coils of non-alloy steel, Cold-rolled sheets of non-alloy steel, Galvanized steel sheets, Grain-oriented electrical steel, Stainless steel bars, Carbon steel wire rod, Structural steel I-beams, Steel angles, Stainless steel wire, High-speed tool steel bars, Spring steel flats, Seamless steel billets, Reinforcing bars (rebar) in coils, Hot-rolled plates of non-alloy steel, Tinplate in coils, Prepainted galvanized steel coils, Steel wire for concrete reinforcement, Cast iron in pigs, Alloy steel billets

What are common misclassifications for HS code 72?

A common misclassification error involves confusing Chapter 72 (Iron and steel in primary forms, semi-finished products, and basic shapes) with Chapter 73 (Articles of iron or steel). The key distinction lies in the degree of processing: Chapter 72 is for raw materials and basic forms (e.g., steel beams or wire rod), while Chapter 73 covers finished articles made from iron or steel, such as tubes, pipes, structures, wire ropes, or bolts. For example, a steel I-beam is 7216, but a fabricated steel bridge section is 7308. Another potential pitfall is classifying a steel component under Chapter 72 when it's an integral part of a machine or electrical apparatus, which should instead be classified with the finished machine in Chapters 84 or 85. Less frequently, traders might confuse alloy steels with other base metals (Chapters 74-76) if not carefully checking the predominant metal content.

Which countries are the top exporters of goods under HS code 72?

In 2025, the top exporters of HS code 72 in UN Comtrade data were China ($72.1B, 17% of world exports), Germany ($29.6B) and Indonesia ($28.0B). World exports came to about $422.1B, 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.

Which countries are the top importers of goods under HS code 72?

In 2025, the top importers of HS code 72 in UN Comtrade data were China ($30.9B, 7.0% of world imports), Germany ($27.4B) and the United States ($27.1B). World imports came to about $442.8B, 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 72 structured?

HS code 72 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.