HS code · 4-digit heading

HS Code 72.19 – Stainless steel; flat-rolled products of width of 600mm or more

What HS 72.19 covers

Heading 7219 is dedicated to 'Stainless steel; flat-rolled products of width of 600mm or more,' a cornerstone category for industries requiring wide sheets, plates, and coils of corrosion-resistant material. This classification covers both hot-rolled and cold-rolled products, encompassing various finishes (e.g., 2B, BA, No. 4) and thicknesses. Key to this heading is the minimum width criterion of 600mm, distinguishing it from narrower flat-rolled products. These materials are indispensable in large-scale applications such as architectural cladding, industrial tanks, chemical processing equipment, shipbuilding, and heavy-duty automotive components. For international trade professionals, accurate classification under 7219 is paramount, as duties, anti-dumping measures, and import quotas are frequently applied to these high-volume, high-value products, varying significantly by origin, grade (e.g., 304, 316, 430), and finish. This heading, part of Chapter 72 (Iron and Steel) and Section XV (Base Metals), represents a crucial stage in the value chain where semi-finished stainless steel is transformed into its most versatile and widely used forms, impacting global manufacturing and construction sectors.

Covers
  • Stainless steel hot-rolled coils (>600mm width)
  • Stainless steel cold-rolled sheets (>600mm width)
  • Stainless steel plates (>600mm width)
  • Stainless steel wide strips (>600mm width)
  • Stainless steel clad plates (>600mm width)
  • Stainless steel checkered plates (>600mm width)
  • Stainless steel polished sheets (>600mm width)
  • Stainless steel mirror finish sheets (>600mm width)
  • Stainless steel embossed sheets (>600mm width)
  • Stainless steel corrugated sheets (>600mm width)
  • Stainless steel perforated sheets (>600mm width)
  • Stainless steel architectural panels
  • Stainless steel tank walls
  • Stainless steel industrial equipment components
  • Stainless steel shipbuilding plates
  • Stainless steel heat exchanger plates
  • Stainless steel pressure vessel plates
  • Stainless steel kitchen equipment panels
  • Stainless steel automotive body panels
  • Stainless steel structural components
  • Stainless steel flooring plates.
Examples

A major South Korean steel producer frequently exports large coils of 304-grade stainless steel (HS 7219) to appliance manufacturers in Mexico, where they are used for refrigerator and washing machine panels, typically shipped via trans-Pacific container vessels. In another instance, a specialty European mill supplies high-grade 316L stainless steel plates (HS 7219) to chemical processing plants in the United States for constructing corrosion-resistant reaction vessels, utilizing transatlantic ocean freight. Furthermore, Chinese manufacturers export wide stainless steel sheets with a 2B finish (HS 7219) to large construction projects in the Middle East for exterior cladding and interior architectural features, transported by bulk cargo ships.

Subheadings under 72.19 14

7219.11Steel, stainless; flat-rolled, width 600mm or more, hot-rolled, in coils, of a thickness exceeding 10mm7219.12Steel, stainless; flat-rolled, width 600mm or more, hot-rolled, in coils, of a thickness of 4.75mm or more but not exceeding 10mm7219.13Steel, stainless; flat-rolled, width 600mm or more, hot-rolled, in coils, of a thickness of 3mm or more but less than 4.75mm7219.14Steel, stainless; flat-rolled, width 600mm or more, hot-rolled, in coils, of a thickness of less than 3mm7219.21Steel, stainless; flat-rolled, width 600mm or more, hot-rolled, (not in coils), of a thickness exceeding 10mm7219.22Steel, stainless; flat-rolled, width 600mm or more, hot-rolled, (not in coils), of a thickness of 4.75mm or more but not exceeding 10mm7219.23Steel, stainless; flat-rolled, width 600mm or more, hot-rolled, (not in coils), of a thickness of 3mm or more but less than 4.75mm7219.24Steel, stainless; flat-rolled, width 600mm or more, hot-rolled, (not in coils), of a thickness of less than 3mm7219.31Steel, stainless; flat-rolled, width 600mm or more, cold-rolled or cold-reduced, of a thickness of 4.75mm or more7219.32Steel, stainless; flat-rolled, width 600mm or more, cold-rolled, of a thickness of 3mm or more but less than 4.75mm7219.33Steel, stainless; flat-rolled, width 600mm or more, cold-rolled, of a thickness exceeding 1mm but less than 3mm7219.34Steel, stainless; flat-rolled, width 600mm or more, cold-rolled, of a thickness of 0.5mm or more but not exceeding 1mm7219.35Steel, stainless; flat-rolled, width 600mm or more, cold-rolled, of a thickness of less than 0.5mm7219.90Steel, stainless; flat-rolled, width 600mm or more, n.e.c. in heading no. 7219

15 Brazil NCM codes in heading 72.19 →

Codes often confused with 72.19

Common mistake. The primary misclassification for 7219 often involves its narrower counterpart, 7220 (Flat-rolled products of stainless steel, width less than 600mm); the 600mm width threshold is the absolute determinant. Traders also sometimes confuse these finished flat products with semi-finished forms under 7218 (Stainless steel in ingots or other primary forms; semi-finished products), which lack the specific dimensions and finishes characteristic of 7219. Another error is classifying these raw materials as fabricated articles or structures under Chapter 73, such as 7308 (Structures and parts of structures), which covers assembled or further-worked steel products, not the basic flat sheets or plates.

72.20Stainless steel; flat-rolled products of width less than 600mm72.18Stainless steel in ingots or other primary forms; semi-finished products of stainless steel73.08Structures 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 7219, 2025

In 2025, the largest exporter of HS code 7219 in UN Comtrade data was Indonesia, with 17% of world exports; the largest importer in UN Comtrade data was Germany, with 11% 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 Indonesia $5.4B
  2. 2 China $4.7B
  3. 3 Belgium $3.2B

World total: $30.8B Reported figures on UN Comtrade ↗

Top importers 2025 · share of world imports

  1. 1 Germany $3.6B
  2. 2 Italy $3.4B
  3. 3 China $2.1B

World total: $32.0B 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 72.19

What is HS code 7219?

HS code 7219 is a 4-digit heading in the Harmonized System that covers: Stainless steel; flat-rolled products of width of 600mm or more. Heading 7219 is dedicated to 'Stainless steel; flat-rolled products of width of 600mm or more,' a cornerstone category for industries requiring wide sheets, plates, and coils of corrosion-resistant material. This classification covers both hot-rolled and cold-rolled products, encompassing various finishes (e.g., 2B, BA, No. 4) and thicknesses. Key to this heading is the minimum width criterion of 600mm, distinguishing it from narrower flat-rolled products. These materials are indispensable in large-scale applications such as architectural cladding, industrial tanks, chemical processing equipment, shipbuilding, and heavy-duty automotive components. For international trade professionals, accurate classification under 7219 is paramount, as duties, anti-dumping measures, and import quotas are frequently applied to these high-volume, high-value products, varying significantly by origin, grade (e.g., 304, 316, 430), and finish. This heading, part of Chapter 72 (Iron and Steel) and Section XV (Base Metals), represents a crucial stage in the value chain where semi-finished stainless steel is transformed into its most versatile and widely used forms, impacting global manufacturing and construction sectors.

What products fall under HS code 7219?

Stainless steel hot-rolled coils (>600mm width), Stainless steel cold-rolled sheets (>600mm width), Stainless steel plates (>600mm width), Stainless steel wide strips (>600mm width), Stainless steel clad plates (>600mm width), Stainless steel checkered plates (>600mm width), Stainless steel polished sheets (>600mm width), Stainless steel mirror finish sheets (>600mm width), Stainless steel embossed sheets (>600mm width), Stainless steel corrugated sheets (>600mm width), Stainless steel perforated sheets (>600mm width), Stainless steel architectural panels, Stainless steel tank walls, Stainless steel industrial equipment components, Stainless steel shipbuilding plates, Stainless steel heat exchanger plates, Stainless steel pressure vessel plates, Stainless steel kitchen equipment panels, Stainless steel automotive body panels, Stainless steel structural components, Stainless steel flooring plates.

What are common misclassifications for HS code 7219?

The primary misclassification for 7219 often involves its narrower counterpart, 7220 (Flat-rolled products of stainless steel, width less than 600mm); the 600mm width threshold is the absolute determinant. Traders also sometimes confuse these finished flat products with semi-finished forms under 7218 (Stainless steel in ingots or other primary forms; semi-finished products), which lack the specific dimensions and finishes characteristic of 7219. Another error is classifying these raw materials as fabricated articles or structures under Chapter 73, such as 7308 (Structures and parts of structures), which covers assembled or further-worked steel products, not the basic flat sheets or plates.

Which countries are the top exporters of goods under HS code 7219?

In 2025, the top exporters of HS code 7219 in UN Comtrade data were Indonesia ($5.4B, 17% of world exports), China ($4.7B) and Belgium ($3.2B). World exports came to about $30.8B, 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.

Which countries are the top importers of goods under HS code 7219?

In 2025, the top importers of HS code 7219 in UN Comtrade data were Germany ($3.6B, 11% of world imports), Italy ($3.4B) and China ($2.1B). World imports came to about $32.0B, 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 7219 structured?

HS code 7219 is a 4-digit heading under Chapter 72 of the Harmonized System. The first 2 digits (72) identify the chapter, and digits 3-4 (19) specify the heading. This code contains multiple 6-digit subheadings for precise product classification.