HS code · 6-digit subheading
HS Code 7212.40 – Iron or non-alloy steel; flat-rolled, width less than 600mm, painted, varnished or coated with plastics
HS code 7212.40 is the 6-digit subheading for iron or non-alloy steel, flat-rolled, width less than 600mm, painted, varnished or coated with plastics. It is used for pre-painted steel strips, PVC-coated steel, color-coated steel coils, laminated steel sheets and appliance exterior panels.
What HS 7212.40 covers
This category includes flat-rolled iron or non-alloy steel, with a width less than 600mm, that has been painted, varnished, or coated with plastics. These pre-finished materials offer aesthetic appeal, enhanced corrosion resistance, and often additional functional properties like scratch resistance or insulation. They eliminate the need for post-fabrication finishing, saving time and cost in manufacturing. Widely used in appliances, building panels, automotive interior trim, and furniture, these products are traded globally by specialized coil coating facilities and manufacturers of finished goods. The variety of colors, textures, and coating types makes this a diverse and dynamic trade segment.
- Covers
- Pre-painted steel strips
- PVC-coated steel
- Color-coated steel coils
- Laminated steel sheets
- Appliance exterior panels
- Automotive interior trim
- Insulated metal panels.
- Examples
- AkzoNobel coil coated steel (using their paints)
- Nippon Steel pre-painted sheets
- Tata Steel Colorcoat
- BlueScope Steel COLORBOND (narrow width)
- SSAB GreenCoat.
Codes often confused with 7212.40
Common mistake. Can be confused with 721070 (width 600mm or more, painted, varnished or coated with plastics) if width is misjudged, or with other coated steel categories (e.g., 721250) if the specific coating type is not accurately identified.
Top exporters and importers of HS code 721240, 2025
In 2025, the largest exporter of HS code 721240 in UN Comtrade data was Germany, with 23% of world exports; the largest importer in UN Comtrade data was the United States, with 7.8% 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 Germany $196M 23% of world exports
- 2 China $192M 23% of world exports
- 3 Belgium $79M 9.3% of world exports
World total: $854M Reported figures on UN Comtrade ↗
Top importers 2025 · share of world imports
- 1 United States $61M 7.8% of world imports
- 2 Germany $55M 7.0% of world imports
- 3 France $45M 5.7% of world imports
World total: $783M 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.
Brazil NCM codes for 7212.40 3
Brazil splits HS 7212.40 into 3 NCM codes, Mercosur's 8-digit tariff lines.
- 7212.40.10 Narrow painted or varnished flat steelPintados ou envernizados
- 7212.40.2 Coated with plasticsRevestidos de plástico Group
- 7212.40.21 Narrow plastic-coated steel, sintered bronze layerCom uma camada intermediária de liga cobre-estanho ou cobre-estanho-chumbo, aplicada por sinterização
- 7212.40.29 Other narrow plastic-coated flat steelOutros
All Brazil NCM codes in heading 72.12 →
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 7212.40
What is HS code 721240?
HS code 721240 is a 6-digit subheading in the Harmonized System that covers: Iron or non-alloy steel; flat-rolled, width less than 600mm, painted, varnished or coated with plastics. This category includes flat-rolled iron or non-alloy steel, with a width less than 600mm, that has been painted, varnished, or coated with plastics. These pre-finished materials offer aesthetic appeal, enhanced corrosion resistance, and often additional functional properties like scratch resistance or insulation. They eliminate the need for post-fabrication finishing, saving time and cost in manufacturing. Widely used in appliances, building panels, automotive interior trim, and furniture, these products are traded globally by specialized coil coating facilities and manufacturers of finished goods. The variety of colors, textures, and coating types makes this a diverse and dynamic trade segment.
What products fall under HS code 721240?
Pre-painted steel strips, PVC-coated steel, color-coated steel coils, laminated steel sheets, appliance exterior panels, automotive interior trim, insulated metal panels.
What are common misclassifications for HS code 721240?
Can be confused with 721070 (width 600mm or more, painted, varnished or coated with plastics) if width is misjudged, or with other coated steel categories (e.g., 721250) if the specific coating type is not accurately identified.
Which countries are the top exporters of goods under HS code 721240?
In 2025, the top exporters of HS code 721240 in UN Comtrade data were Germany ($196M, 23% of world exports), China ($192M) and Belgium ($79M). World exports came to about $854M, 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 721240?
In 2025, the top importers of HS code 721240 in UN Comtrade data were the United States ($61M, 7.8% of world imports), Germany ($55M) and France ($45M). World imports came to about $783M, 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 721240 structured?
HS code 721240 is a 6-digit subheading under the Harmonized System. The first 2 digits (72) identify the chapter, digits 3-4 (12) identify the heading, and digits 5-6 (40) specify the subheading. This code is standardized globally by the World Customs Organization.
What is the Brazil NCM code for HS code 721240?
Brazil splits HS code 721240 into 3 NCM codes: 7212.40.10 (Narrow painted or varnished flat steel), 7212.40.21 (Narrow plastic-coated steel, sintered bronze layer), 7212.40.29 (Other narrow plastic-coated flat steel). The first 6 digits of each match the HS code.