HS Code Heading

Stainless steel; flat-rolled products of width of 600mm or more

72.19 Heading
Section XV — Base metals and articles of base metal

About HS Code 7219

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.

Products Under This Code

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.

Real World 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.

Common Misclassification

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.

Subheadings 14

7219.11 Steel, stainless; flat-rolled, width 600mm or more, hot-rolled, in coils, of a thickness exceeding 10mm 7219.12 Steel, stainless; flat-rolled, width 600mm or more, hot-rolled, in coils, of a thickness of 4.75mm or more but not exceeding 10mm 7219.13 Steel, stainless; flat-rolled, width 600mm or more, hot-rolled, in coils, of a thickness of 3mm or more but less than 4.75mm 7219.14 Steel, stainless; flat-rolled, width 600mm or more, hot-rolled, in coils, of a thickness of less than 3mm 7219.21 Steel, stainless; flat-rolled, width 600mm or more, hot-rolled, (not in coils), of a thickness exceeding 10mm 7219.22 Steel, stainless; flat-rolled, width 600mm or more, hot-rolled, (not in coils), of a thickness of 4.75mm or more but not exceeding 10mm 7219.23 Steel, stainless; flat-rolled, width 600mm or more, hot-rolled, (not in coils), of a thickness of 3mm or more but less than 4.75mm 7219.24 Steel, stainless; flat-rolled, width 600mm or more, hot-rolled, (not in coils), of a thickness of less than 3mm 7219.31 Steel, stainless; flat-rolled, width 600mm or more, cold-rolled or cold-reduced, of a thickness of 4.75mm or more 7219.32 Steel, stainless; flat-rolled, width 600mm or more, cold-rolled, of a thickness of 3mm or more but less than 4.75mm 7219.33 Steel, stainless; flat-rolled, width 600mm or more, cold-rolled, of a thickness exceeding 1mm but less than 3mm 7219.34 Steel, stainless; flat-rolled, width 600mm or more, cold-rolled, of a thickness of 0.5mm or more but not exceeding 1mm 7219.35 Steel, stainless; flat-rolled, width 600mm or more, cold-rolled, of a thickness of less than 0.5mm 7219.90 Steel, stainless; flat-rolled, width 600mm or more, n.e.c. in heading no. 7219

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.

Related Codes

72.01 Pig iron and spiegeleisen in pigs, blocks or other primary forms 72.02 Ferro-alloys 72.03 Ferrous 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 forms 72.04 Ferrous waste and scrap; remelting scrap ingots of iron or steel 72.05 Granules and powders, of pig iron, spiegeleisen, iron or steel 72.06 Iron and non-alloy steel in ingots or other primary forms (excluding iron of heading no. 7203) 72.07 Iron or non-alloy steel; semi-finished products thereof 72.08 Iron or non-alloy steel; flat-rolled products of a width of 600mm or more, hot-rolled, not clad, plated or coated 72.09 Iron or non-alloy steel; flat-rolled products, width 600mm or more, cold-rolled (cold-reduced), not clad, plated or coated 72.10 Iron or non-alloy steel; flat-rolled products, width 600mm or more, clad, plated or coated

Industry

This code belongs to the Metals & Metal Products industry.

Trade Overview

Global leaders in the export of wide stainless steel flat-rolled products (HS 7219) include China, Japan, South Korea, Taiwan, and the European Union (notably Finland, Germany, Italy), which possess advanced rolling mill capabilities. Major importers are diverse, including the USA, EU members, Southeast Asian nations, Mexico, and Brazil, driven by demand from construction, automotive, and capital goods sectors. These products are frequently subject to anti-dumping and countervailing duties, particularly from Asian producers into the USA and EU, making origin verification and understanding specific trade agreement provisions (e.g., free trade agreements) critical for cost-effective importing and compliance.

Frequently Asked Questions

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 trade the most under HS code 7219?

Global leaders in the export of wide stainless steel flat-rolled products (HS 7219) include China, Japan, South Korea, Taiwan, and the European Union (notably Finland, Germany, Italy), which possess advanced rolling mill capabilities. Major importers are diverse, including the USA, EU members, Southeast Asian nations, Mexico, and Brazil, driven by demand from construction, automotive, and capital goods sectors. These products are frequently subject to anti-dumping and countervailing duties, particularly from Asian producers into the USA and EU, making origin verification and understanding specific trade agreement provisions (e.g., free trade agreements) critical for cost-effective importing and compliance.

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.