HS Code 79.04 – Zinc; bars, rods, profiles and wire

HS code 7904 is a 4-digit heading in the Harmonized System that covers: Zinc; bars, rods, profiles and wire. Heading 7904 encompasses zinc in the form of bars, rods, profiles, and wire, representing semi-finished forms of zinc that have undergone initial shaping processes. This classification covers products typically created through extrusion, drawing, or rolling, resulting in uniform cross-sections. Zinc bars are solid, usually rectangular or circular in cross-section; rods are similar but generally smaller in diameter; profiles are shapes with constant cross-sections other than simple rectangles or circles (e.g., L-shapes, T-shapes); and wire refers to elongated strands of zinc, typically of small, uniform cross-section. The scope includes both pure zinc and zinc alloys where zinc predominates by weight. These forms are distinct from unwrought zinc (7901) as they are processed beyond simple casting, but they are not yet finished articles (7907). Accurate classification is crucial for trade compliance as it influences tariff rates, especially in regions with specific duties for semi-finished metals. It also impacts trade statistics and supply chain management for industries relying on these forms. Historically, zinc has been shaped into these forms for construction, electrical, and cathodic protection applications. This heading is fundamental to Chapter 79, providing versatile intermediate products that are further processed into a vast array of final zinc articles, from architectural elements to battery components and sacrificial anodes.

Extruded zinc bars, drawn zinc rods, zinc profiles for architectural trim, zinc wire for thermal spraying, zinc wire for battery grids, zinc wire for sacrificial anodes, zinc welding wire, zinc alloy bars, rectangular zinc profiles, hexagonal zinc rods, zinc wire for fuse elements, zinc wire for electroplating, zinc wire for weaving, zinc wire for fasteners, zinc bars for alloying, zinc T-profiles, zinc U-profiles, zinc flat bars, zinc round bars, zinc square wire, zinc half-round wire, zinc corrugated wire, zinc solid profiles for window frames, zinc profiles for solar panel frames.

A common mistake is confusing these semi-finished forms (7904) with unwrought zinc (7901) if the bars or rods are very rudimentary or irregular, lacking the consistent cross-section indicative of drawing or extrusion. Another error involves misclassifying very wide and thin profiles as plates or sheets (7905). The key distinction lies in the 'bar, rod, profile, and wire' definition, implying a continuous, uniform cross-section typically produced by extrusion or drawing, as opposed to the broad, flat forms of plates and sheets or the unprocessed nature of unwrought metal.

In 2025, the top exporters of HS code 7904 in UN Comtrade data were Belgium ($32M, 25% of world exports), India ($26M) and China ($19M). World exports came to about $128M, 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.

In 2025, the top importers of HS code 7904 in UN Comtrade data were Austria ($26M, 11% of world imports), Saudi Arabia ($25M) and France ($21M). World imports came to about $241M, 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.

HS code 7904 is a 4-digit heading under Chapter 79 of the Harmonized System. The first 2 digits (79) identify the chapter, and digits 3-4 (04) specify the heading. This code contains multiple 6-digit subheadings for precise product classification.