HS code · 6-digit subheading
HS Code 7203.90 – Ferrous products; spongy ferrous products and iron having a minimum purity by weight of 99.94%, in lumps, pellets or similar forms
HS code 7203.90 is the 6-digit subheading for ferrous products, spongy ferrous products and iron having a minimum purity by weight of 99.94%, in lumps, pellets or similar forms. It is used for high-purity iron pellets, electrolytic iron, carbonyl iron powder, atomized iron powder and spongy iron briquettes (other than HBI/CBI).
What HS 7203.90 covers
HS code 720390 covers other spongy ferrous products and iron having a minimum purity by weight of 99.94%, in lumps, pellets or similar forms. This category includes highly specialized iron products beyond standard DRI, often used in applications where exceptional purity is paramount. High-purity iron is critical for certain advanced alloys, magnetic materials, powder metallurgy, and research applications where impurities could compromise performance. Importers are typically specialized industries in developed economies like Japan, Germany, and the USA, which require stringent material specifications. Exporters include countries with advanced metallurgical processing capabilities capable of producing such refined iron. The trade is driven by high-tech manufacturing and niche industrial demands.
- Covers
- High-purity iron pellets
- Electrolytic iron
- Carbonyl iron powder
- Atomized iron powder
- Spongy iron briquettes (other than HBI/CBI)
- Pure iron lumps
- Examples
- JFE Steel's high-purity iron
- Höganäs AB's iron powders
- Rio Tinto's high-purity iron
- Alfa Aesar's high-purity iron
Codes often confused with 7203.90
Common mistake. Can be confused with iron powders (7205) if in powder form, or with pig iron (7201) if the purity isn't explicitly stated as 99.94% or higher.
Top exporters and importers of HS code 720390, 2025
In 2025, the largest exporter of HS code 720390 in UN Comtrade data was the United States, with 69% of world exports; the largest importer in UN Comtrade data was Türkiye, with 38% 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 United States $326M 69% of world exports
- 2 Libya* ~$51M 11% of world exports · partner records ↗
- 3 France $20M 4.3% of world exports
World total: $473M Reported figures on UN Comtrade ↗
Top importers 2025 · share of world imports
- 1 Türkiye $88M 38% of world imports
- 2 India $51M 22% of world imports
- 3 Indonesia $23M 9.9% of world imports
World total: $234M 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. 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 code for 7203.90
Brazil does not split HS 7203.90: its NCM code is 7203.90.00.
All Brazil NCM codes in heading 72.03 →
Source: Siscomex NCM table, updated Oct 2026. The Portuguese text is official; the English is our translation.
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 7203.90
What is HS code 720390?
HS code 720390 is a 6-digit subheading in the Harmonized System that covers: Ferrous products; spongy ferrous products and iron having a minimum purity by weight of 99.94%, in lumps, pellets or similar forms. HS code 720390 covers other spongy ferrous products and iron having a minimum purity by weight of 99.94%, in lumps, pellets or similar forms. This category includes highly specialized iron products beyond standard DRI, often used in applications where exceptional purity is paramount. High-purity iron is critical for certain advanced alloys, magnetic materials, powder metallurgy, and research applications where impurities could compromise performance. Importers are typically specialized industries in developed economies like Japan, Germany, and the USA, which require stringent material specifications. Exporters include countries with advanced metallurgical processing capabilities capable of producing such refined iron. The trade is driven by high-tech manufacturing and niche industrial demands.
What products fall under HS code 720390?
High-purity iron pellets, Electrolytic iron, Carbonyl iron powder, Atomized iron powder, Spongy iron briquettes (other than HBI/CBI), Pure iron lumps
What are common misclassifications for HS code 720390?
Can be confused with iron powders (7205) if in powder form, or with pig iron (7201) if the purity isn't explicitly stated as 99.94% or higher.
Which countries are the top exporters of goods under HS code 720390?
In 2025, the top exporters of HS code 720390 in UN Comtrade data were the United States ($326M, 69% of world exports), Libya (about $51M) and France ($20M). World exports came to about $473M, 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 720390?
In 2025, the top importers of HS code 720390 in UN Comtrade data were Türkiye ($88M, 38% of world imports), India ($51M) and Indonesia ($23M). World imports came to about $234M, 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 720390 structured?
HS code 720390 is a 6-digit subheading under the Harmonized System. The first 2 digits (72) identify the chapter, digits 3-4 (03) identify the heading, and digits 5-6 (90) specify the subheading. This code is standardized globally by the World Customs Organization.
What is the Brazil NCM code for HS code 720390?
In Brazil, HS code 720390 is NCM 7203.90.00. The last two digits are 00 because Brazil does not split this HS code further.