HS code · 4-digit heading
HS Code 72.18 – Stainless steel in ingots or other primary forms; semi-finished products of stainless steel
What HS 72.18 covers
Heading 7218 is crucial for understanding the foundational stages of stainless steel production in international trade. It specifically covers 'Stainless steel in ingots or other primary forms; semi-finished products of stainless steel.' This classification encompasses the initial outputs from steelmaking furnaces, such as ingots, which are solidified blocks of steel, and other primary forms like continuous cast slabs, blooms, and billets. These are essentially raw or semi-processed forms of stainless steel, characterized by their significant chromium content (typically 10.5% or more by weight) which gives them corrosion resistance. The scope explicitly excludes finished or flat-rolled products, focusing solely on the intermediate stages before further rolling, forging, or shaping. For trade compliance, accurate classification under 7218 is vital for tracking raw material flows, assessing duties on upstream products, and understanding global steel supply chains. This heading is particularly important for countries that import semi-finished stainless steel for domestic rolling or further processing. As part of Chapter 72 (Iron and Steel) and Section XV (Base Metals), it highlights the unique metallurgical properties and high value of stainless steel, a material integral to industries ranging from construction and automotive to medical and food processing.
- Covers
- Stainless steel ingots
- Stainless steel continuous cast slabs
- Stainless steel blooms
- Stainless steel billets
- Stainless steel rough forgings
- Stainless steel cast blocks
- Stainless steel primary forms for re-melting
- Stainless steel wire rod (hot-rolled in coils, for drawing)
- Stainless steel granules (for re-melting)
- Stainless steel pellets (for re-melting)
- Stainless steel powder (for metallurgy)
- Stainless steel semi-finished bars
- Stainless steel remelting electrodes
- Stainless steel forging blanks
- Stainless steel primary bars
- Stainless steel primary plates (unfinished)
- Stainless steel primary sections (unfinished)
- Stainless steel primary shapes (unfinished)
- Stainless steel crude forms
- Stainless steel unworked blocks.
- Examples
A major Japanese steel producer exports large stainless steel slabs (HS 7218) to rolling mills in Taiwan, where they are further processed into flat-rolled products for electronics casing, transported by bulk cargo vessels across the East China Sea. In another scenario, European foundries import specialized stainless steel ingots (HS 7218) from South Africa, which are then re-melted and cast into high-value components for chemical processing plants, typically shipped via ocean freight. Additionally, a Brazilian steel company supplies stainless steel billets (HS 7218) to manufacturers in the United States for forging into critical automotive parts, utilizing intermodal shipping for efficiency.
Subheadings under 72.18 3
Codes often confused with 72.18
Common mistake. A frequent misclassification challenge for 7218 involves confusing its semi-finished products with more processed forms. Traders often mistakenly classify slabs or billets as flat-rolled products under 7219 or 7220, but 7218 is specifically for products that have not yet undergone the full rolling process to achieve definitive dimensions and finishes. Another common error is confusing stainless steel waste and scrap (7204) with primary forms; while both may be raw materials, 7218 covers newly produced or intended-for-processing forms, not discarded material. Lastly, general ferrous semi-finished products (7207) can be confused, but 7218 specifically requires the 'stainless steel' alloy composition.
Top exporters and importers of HS code 7218, 2025
In 2025, the largest exporter of HS code 7218 in UN Comtrade data was Indonesia, with 56% of world exports; the largest importer in UN Comtrade data was India, with 32% 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 Indonesia $2.4B 56% of world exports
- 2 United Kingdom $559M 13% of world exports
- 3 Sweden $298M 6.9% of world exports
World total: $4.3B Reported figures on UN Comtrade ↗
Top importers 2025 · share of world imports
- 1 India $1.3B 32% of world imports
- 2 Italy $657M 16% of world imports
- 3 Taiwan* ~$469M 12% of world imports · partner records ↗
World total: $4.1B 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.
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 72.18
What is HS code 7218?
HS code 7218 is a 4-digit heading in the Harmonized System that covers: Stainless steel in ingots or other primary forms; semi-finished products of stainless steel. Heading 7218 is crucial for understanding the foundational stages of stainless steel production in international trade. It specifically covers 'Stainless steel in ingots or other primary forms; semi-finished products of stainless steel.' This classification encompasses the initial outputs from steelmaking furnaces, such as ingots, which are solidified blocks of steel, and other primary forms like continuous cast slabs, blooms, and billets. These are essentially raw or semi-processed forms of stainless steel, characterized by their significant chromium content (typically 10.5% or more by weight) which gives them corrosion resistance. The scope explicitly excludes finished or flat-rolled products, focusing solely on the intermediate stages before further rolling, forging, or shaping. For trade compliance, accurate classification under 7218 is vital for tracking raw material flows, assessing duties on upstream products, and understanding global steel supply chains. This heading is particularly important for countries that import semi-finished stainless steel for domestic rolling or further processing. As part of Chapter 72 (Iron and Steel) and Section XV (Base Metals), it highlights the unique metallurgical properties and high value of stainless steel, a material integral to industries ranging from construction and automotive to medical and food processing.
What products fall under HS code 7218?
Stainless steel ingots, Stainless steel continuous cast slabs, Stainless steel blooms, Stainless steel billets, Stainless steel rough forgings, Stainless steel cast blocks, Stainless steel primary forms for re-melting, Stainless steel wire rod (hot-rolled in coils, for drawing), Stainless steel granules (for re-melting), Stainless steel pellets (for re-melting), Stainless steel powder (for metallurgy), Stainless steel semi-finished bars, Stainless steel remelting electrodes, Stainless steel forging blanks, Stainless steel primary bars, Stainless steel primary plates (unfinished), Stainless steel primary sections (unfinished), Stainless steel primary shapes (unfinished), Stainless steel crude forms, Stainless steel unworked blocks.
What are common misclassifications for HS code 7218?
A frequent misclassification challenge for 7218 involves confusing its semi-finished products with more processed forms. Traders often mistakenly classify slabs or billets as flat-rolled products under 7219 or 7220, but 7218 is specifically for products that have not yet undergone the full rolling process to achieve definitive dimensions and finishes. Another common error is confusing stainless steel waste and scrap (7204) with primary forms; while both may be raw materials, 7218 covers newly produced or intended-for-processing forms, not discarded material. Lastly, general ferrous semi-finished products (7207) can be confused, but 7218 specifically requires the 'stainless steel' alloy composition.
Which countries are the top exporters of goods under HS code 7218?
In 2025, the top exporters of HS code 7218 in UN Comtrade data were Indonesia ($2.4B, 56% of world exports), the United Kingdom ($559M) and Sweden ($298M). World exports came to about $4.3B, 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 7218?
In 2025, the top importers of HS code 7218 in UN Comtrade data were India ($1.3B, 32% of world imports), Italy ($657M) and Taiwan (about $469M). World imports came to about $4.1B, 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.
How is HS code 7218 structured?
HS code 7218 is a 4-digit heading under Chapter 72 of the Harmonized System. The first 2 digits (72) identify the chapter, and digits 3-4 (18) specify the heading. This code contains multiple 6-digit subheadings for precise product classification.