HS code · 4-digit heading
HS Code 82.09 – Tools; plates, sticks, tips and the like for tools, unmounted, of sintered metal carbides or cermets
What HS 82.09 covers
Heading 8209 is highly specialized, covering plates, sticks, tips, and similar unmounted components for tools, specifically made of sintered metal carbides or cermets. These materials, such as tungsten carbide, are renowned for their extreme hardness, wear resistance, and high-temperature performance, making them indispensable for demanding cutting, drilling, and machining applications where conventional steel tools would quickly degrade. The crucial aspect of this classification is that these items are 'unmounted,' meaning they are not yet affixed to a tool body, shank, or holder. They represent the raw or semi-finished cutting edges that tool manufacturers then integrate into finished tools. For trade compliance, accurate classification under 8209 is vital for industries involved in precision tool manufacturing, advanced material processing, and high-performance machining. It ensures correct duty assessments, adherence to material-specific regulations, and proper tracking of these critical, high-technology inputs. This heading highlights the advanced material science within Chapter 82, showcasing components that enable the cutting-edge capabilities of modern industrial tools.
- Covers
- Tungsten carbide inserts (unmounted)
- Cermet tips (unmounted)
- Carbide cutting blanks
- Carbide rods (unmounted, for tool manufacturing)
- Carbide plates (unmounted, for tool inserts)
- Polycrystalline diamond (PCD) blanks (unmounted)
- Cubic boron nitride (CBN) inserts (unmounted)
- Carbide wear parts (unmounted, for tools)
- Carbide turning inserts (unmounted)
- Carbide milling inserts (unmounted)
- Carbide drilling inserts (unmounted)
- Carbide tool tips for brazing
- Carbide reamer blanks
- Carbide engraving tips (unmounted)
- Carbide saw tooth blanks
- Carbide pellets for tool making
- Carbide strips for wear parts.
- Examples
A precision tool manufacturer in Germany imports large quantities of unmounted tungsten carbide inserts from China, which are subsequently brazed onto steel shanks to create high-performance cutting tools for the automotive and aerospace industries. An aerospace component manufacturer in the USA sources specialized cermet tips, unmounted, from Japan to produce custom cutting tools optimized for machining superalloys and composite materials. A tooling supply company in South Korea exports various unmounted carbide rods and plates to manufacturers in Southeast Asia, who then process these materials into end mills, drills, and other specialized cutting tools.
Subheadings under 82.09 1
Codes often confused with 82.09
Common mistake. The primary point of confusion for 8209 is with 8207 (interchangeable tools). If these plates, sticks, or tips are already mounted onto a shank or tool body and are ready for use as an interchangeable tool, they would fall under 8207. The 'unmounted' status is the key differentiator for 8209. Another common mistake is confusing these processed, sintered forms with raw, unwrought metals or metal powders (e.g., tungsten in Chapter 81). While they are made of metal, their specific 'sintered' and 'shaped for tools' nature places them here. Items that are abrasive materials in a more general sense might fall under Chapter 68, but 8209 is specific to tool components.
Top exporters and importers of HS code 8209, 2025
In 2025, the largest exporter of HS code 8209 in UN Comtrade data was Germany, with 20% of world exports; the largest importer in UN Comtrade data was the United States, with 18% 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 $1.2B 20% of world exports
- 2 Japan $785M 13% of world exports
- 3 China $778M 13% of world exports
World total: $6.2B Reported figures on UN Comtrade ↗
Top importers 2025 · share of world imports
- 1 United States $1.1B 18% of world imports
- 2 Germany $780M 13% of world imports
- 3 Italy $389M 6.5% of world imports
World total: $6.0B 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.
Questions about HS 82.09
What is HS code 8209?
HS code 8209 is a 4-digit heading in the Harmonized System that covers: Tools; plates, sticks, tips and the like for tools, unmounted, of sintered metal carbides or cermets. Heading 8209 is highly specialized, covering plates, sticks, tips, and similar unmounted components for tools, specifically made of sintered metal carbides or cermets. These materials, such as tungsten carbide, are renowned for their extreme hardness, wear resistance, and high-temperature performance, making them indispensable for demanding cutting, drilling, and machining applications where conventional steel tools would quickly degrade. The crucial aspect of this classification is that these items are 'unmounted,' meaning they are not yet affixed to a tool body, shank, or holder. They represent the raw or semi-finished cutting edges that tool manufacturers then integrate into finished tools. For trade compliance, accurate classification under 8209 is vital for industries involved in precision tool manufacturing, advanced material processing, and high-performance machining. It ensures correct duty assessments, adherence to material-specific regulations, and proper tracking of these critical, high-technology inputs. This heading highlights the advanced material science within Chapter 82, showcasing components that enable the cutting-edge capabilities of modern industrial tools.
What products fall under HS code 8209?
Tungsten carbide inserts (unmounted), cermet tips (unmounted), carbide cutting blanks, carbide rods (unmounted, for tool manufacturing), carbide plates (unmounted, for tool inserts), polycrystalline diamond (PCD) blanks (unmounted), cubic boron nitride (CBN) inserts (unmounted), carbide wear parts (unmounted, for tools), carbide turning inserts (unmounted), carbide milling inserts (unmounted), carbide drilling inserts (unmounted), carbide tool tips for brazing, carbide reamer blanks, carbide engraving tips (unmounted), carbide saw tooth blanks, carbide pellets for tool making, carbide strips for wear parts.
What are common misclassifications for HS code 8209?
The primary point of confusion for 8209 is with 8207 (interchangeable tools). If these plates, sticks, or tips are already mounted onto a shank or tool body and are ready for use as an interchangeable tool, they would fall under 8207. The 'unmounted' status is the key differentiator for 8209. Another common mistake is confusing these processed, sintered forms with raw, unwrought metals or metal powders (e.g., tungsten in Chapter 81). While they are made of metal, their specific 'sintered' and 'shaped for tools' nature places them here. Items that are abrasive materials in a more general sense might fall under Chapter 68, but 8209 is specific to tool components.
Which countries are the top exporters of goods under HS code 8209?
In 2025, the top exporters of HS code 8209 in UN Comtrade data were Germany ($1.2B, 20% of world exports), Japan ($785M) and China ($778M). World exports came to about $6.2B, 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 8209?
In 2025, the top importers of HS code 8209 in UN Comtrade data were the United States ($1.1B, 18% of world imports), Germany ($780M) and Italy ($389M). World imports came to about $6.0B, 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 8209 structured?
HS code 8209 is a 4-digit heading under Chapter 82 of the Harmonized System. The first 2 digits (82) identify the chapter, and digits 3-4 (09) specify the heading. This code contains multiple 6-digit subheadings for precise product classification.