HS code · 6-digit subheading
HS Code 8101.97 – Tungsten (wolfram); waste and scrap
HS code 8101.97 is the 6-digit subheading for tungsten (wolfram), waste and scrap. It is used for tungsten carbide scrap, tungsten heavy alloy scrap, spent tungsten electrodes, tungsten filament waste and tungsten powder residue.
What HS 8101.97 covers
This HS code covers tungsten (wolfram) waste and scrap, a crucial category within the global tungsten recycling industry. Given tungsten's strategic importance, high cost, and limited primary reserves, recycling is both economically vital and environmentally beneficial. This includes spent cutting tools, manufacturing offcuts, end-of-life filaments, and other tungsten-containing residues. Importers are typically specialized recycling facilities and refiners that process the scrap to recover the valuable metal for reuse in various applications, reducing the need for virgin material. Exporters are often industrial facilities, metal processors, or scrap dealers. The trade in tungsten scrap requires careful sorting and analysis to ensure purity and maximize recovery efficiency, playing a key role in the circular economy for this critical metal.
- Covers
- Tungsten carbide scrap
- Tungsten heavy alloy scrap
- Spent tungsten electrodes
- Tungsten filament waste
- Tungsten powder residue
- Tungsten grinding sludge
- Tungsten machining chips
- Tungsten alloy turnings
- Examples
- Recycled tungsten carbide inserts
- Tungsten-containing battery scrap
- Tungsten lamp filament waste
- Tungsten alloy machining chips
- Spent X-ray tube components
Codes often confused with 8101.97
Common mistake. Can be confused with unwrought tungsten (810194) if the scrap is in large, relatively pure pieces, or with waste of other refractory metals (e.g., molybdenum scrap 810297) if not properly identified.
Top exporters and importers of HS code 810197, 2025
In 2025, the largest exporter of HS code 810197 in UN Comtrade data was Germany, with 39% of world exports; the largest importer in UN Comtrade data was Germany, with 34% 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 $284M 39% of world exports
- 2 India $62M 8.5% of world exports
- 3 Japan $59M 8.1% of world exports
World total: $725M Reported figures on UN Comtrade ↗
Top importers 2025 · share of world imports
- 1 Germany $237M 34% of world imports
- 2 United States $115M 17% of world imports
- 3 Finland $76M 11% of world imports
World total: $692M 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 code for 8101.97
Brazil does not split HS 8101.97: its NCM code is 8101.97.00.
All Brazil NCM codes in heading 81.01 →
Source: Siscomex NCM table, updated Oct 2026. The Portuguese text is official; the English is our translation.
Questions about HS 8101.97
What is HS code 810197?
HS code 810197 is a 6-digit subheading in the Harmonized System that covers: Tungsten (wolfram); waste and scrap. This HS code covers tungsten (wolfram) waste and scrap, a crucial category within the global tungsten recycling industry. Given tungsten's strategic importance, high cost, and limited primary reserves, recycling is both economically vital and environmentally beneficial. This includes spent cutting tools, manufacturing offcuts, end-of-life filaments, and other tungsten-containing residues. Importers are typically specialized recycling facilities and refiners that process the scrap to recover the valuable metal for reuse in various applications, reducing the need for virgin material. Exporters are often industrial facilities, metal processors, or scrap dealers. The trade in tungsten scrap requires careful sorting and analysis to ensure purity and maximize recovery efficiency, playing a key role in the circular economy for this critical metal.
What products fall under HS code 810197?
Tungsten carbide scrap, Tungsten heavy alloy scrap, Spent tungsten electrodes, Tungsten filament waste, Tungsten powder residue, Tungsten grinding sludge, Tungsten machining chips, Tungsten alloy turnings
What are common misclassifications for HS code 810197?
Can be confused with unwrought tungsten (810194) if the scrap is in large, relatively pure pieces, or with waste of other refractory metals (e.g., molybdenum scrap 810297) if not properly identified.
Which countries are the top exporters of goods under HS code 810197?
In 2025, the top exporters of HS code 810197 in UN Comtrade data were Germany ($284M, 39% of world exports), India ($62M) and Japan ($59M). World exports came to about $725M, 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 810197?
In 2025, the top importers of HS code 810197 in UN Comtrade data were Germany ($237M, 34% of world imports), the United States ($115M) and Finland ($76M). World imports came to about $692M, 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 810197 structured?
HS code 810197 is a 6-digit subheading under the Harmonized System. The first 2 digits (81) identify the chapter, digits 3-4 (01) identify the heading, and digits 5-6 (97) specify the subheading. This code is standardized globally by the World Customs Organization.
What is the Brazil NCM code for HS code 810197?
In Brazil, HS code 810197 is NCM 8101.97.00. The last two digits are 00 because Brazil does not split this HS code further.