HS Code 81.11 – Manganese; articles thereof, including waste and scrap

HS code 8111 is a 4-digit heading in the Harmonized System that covers: Manganese; articles thereof, including waste and scrap. HS Code 8111 covers Manganese and articles thereof, including waste and scrap. Manganese is a brittle, silvery-gray metal primarily valued as a critical alloying element in steel production, where it acts as a deoxidizer and desulfurizer, and improves strength, hardness, and wear resistance. Beyond steel, manganese is essential in the production of aluminum alloys, batteries (especially alkaline and lithium-ion), ceramics, chemicals, and agricultural supplements. This heading encompasses manganese in various forms, including electrolytic manganese metal, ferromanganese, silicomanganese, and manganese powders, as well as identifiable articles predominantly made of manganese. It also includes manganese waste and scrap, which are vital for recycling and sustainable resource management. This code, part of Chapter 81 ('Other base metals; cermets; articles thereof'), falls under Section XV ('Base metals and articles of base metals'). Accurate classification under 8111 is crucial for trade compliance, affecting duties, import quotas, and monitoring of this strategically important industrial metal, which underpins global infrastructure and manufacturing. The historical importance of manganese grew with the industrial revolution and the mass production of steel, cementing its role as an indispensable raw material.

Manganese metal (electrolytic), Manganese flakes, Manganese powder, Ferromanganese, Silicomanganese, Manganese dioxide (as primary form of metal), Manganese sulfate (as primary form of metal), Manganese alloys (primary forms), Battery cathodes (manganese-based), Welding electrodes (manganese-containing), Chemical catalysts (manganese-based), Agricultural additives (manganese compounds), Waste manganese scrap, Manganese-bronze (primary forms), Railway points (manganese steel), Special steel components (manganese-rich), Manganese ore (when processed for metal recovery), Manganese briquettes

Misclassification under HS 8111 often involves confusing manganese in its metallic forms or primary alloys with iron and steel alloys or specific chemical compounds. For instance, ferro-manganese is explicitly mentioned here, but other manganese-containing steel alloys might be incorrectly classified under Chapter 72 (Iron and Steel) if the essential character is deemed to be steel. Similarly, specific manganese chemical compounds (e.g., manganese sulfate used in fertilizers) could be mistakenly classified here instead of Chapter 28 (Inorganic chemicals) or Chapter 31 (Fertilizers). It is vital to determine if the product is 'manganese' in a metallic or primary alloy form, or if it is a chemical or a finished article where manganese is a component.

In 2025, the top exporters of HS code 8111 in UN Comtrade data were China ($579M, 63% of world exports), Indonesia ($94M) and South Africa ($82M). World exports came to about $922M, 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 8111 in UN Comtrade data were South Korea ($179M, 16% of world imports), the United States ($115M) and Germany ($111M). World imports came to about $1.1B, 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.

HS code 8111 is a 4-digit heading under Chapter 81 of the Harmonized System. The first 2 digits (81) identify the chapter, and digits 3-4 (11) specify the heading. This code contains multiple 6-digit subheadings for precise product classification.