Product classification

HS code for Bauxite: 2606.00

Aluminium ores and concentrates.

Classification of bauxite under HS 2606.00

Bauxite is classified under HS code 2606.00 as the primary ore and concentrate of aluminum. This classification is straightforward as it encompasses the naturally occurring mineral used in the industrial production of aluminum. The heading includes bauxite that has been washed, ground, or calcined to remove impurities or moisture, provided the chemical structure of the ore remains essentially unchanged. The classification is based on the product's status as a raw mineral resource. In the global trade context, bauxite is the starting point of the aluminum value chain. The Harmonized System distinguishes between the raw ore and the chemically refined products derived from it. Even if the bauxite has undergone heat treatment (calcination) to facilitate transport or further processing, it remains within 2606.00 as long as it has not been transformed into aluminum oxide (alumina) through chemical processes like the Bayer process. This code is essential for tracking the movement of raw materials from mining regions to smelting facilities and is used by customs authorities to monitor the extraction and export of natural resources.

Covers
  • Raw bauxite ore
  • Calcined bauxite (heat-treated)
  • Ground bauxite powder
  • Washed bauxite concentrates
  • Activated bauxite (if not further processed into chemicals)
Also under 2606.00
  • Alcoa's bauxite
  • Rio Tinto Alcan bauxite
  • Rusal's bauxite
  • South32's Worsley bauxite

Codes often confused with 2606.00

Common mistake. Bauxite is often confused with aluminum oxide (alumina), which is classified under HS code 2818.20. Alumina is a chemically refined product, whereas bauxite is the raw ore. Additionally, some grades of bauxite used for refractories might be misclassified as fire-clay under HS code 2508.30, but if the material is mineralogically bauxite, 2606.00 takes precedence.

2818.20Aluminium oxide; other than artificial corundum2508.30Clays (excluding expanded clays of heading no. 6806); fireclay, whether or not calcined

Top exporters and importers of HS 260600 (the code used for bauxite), 2025

In 2025, the largest exporter of HS 260600 (the code used for bauxite) in UN Comtrade data was Guinea, with about 77% of world exports; the largest importer in UN Comtrade data was China, with 89% of world imports. Countries that did not report 2025 data are estimated from partner records, which can understate them.

Figures cover everything classified under HS 260600, not only bauxite.

Top exporters 2025 · share of world exports

  1. 1 Guinea* ~$13.0B
  2. 2 Australia $2.3B
  3. 3 Guyana* ~$316M

World total: $16.7B Reported figures on UN Comtrade ↗

Top importers 2025 · share of world imports

  1. 1 China $15.8B
  2. 2 India $464M
  3. 3 Ireland $304M

World total: $17.9B 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 marked * did not, so their figures add up what other countries recorded trading with them, and their exports are valued at buyers' CIF prices. 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 codes for bauxite

Brazil splits HS 2606.00 into 3 NCM codes. Pick the one that matches your product:

Source: Siscomex NCM table, updated Oct 2026. The Portuguese text on each NCM page is the official one.

Questions about bauxite

What is the HS code for Bauxite?

The HS code for Bauxite is 260600 (Aluminium ores and concentrates). The HS code for bauxite (aluminum ores and concentrates) is 2606.00.

How do I classify Bauxite for customs?

Bauxite is classified under HS code 260600 — Aluminium ores and concentrates. This is a 6-digit subheading level code.

Does this code include calcined bauxite?

Yes, calcined bauxite is included under 2606.00 as long as it has not been chemically processed into aluminum oxide.

Which countries are the top exporters of bauxite (HS 260600)?

In 2025, the top exporters of HS 260600 (the code used for bauxite) in UN Comtrade data were Guinea (about $13.0B, 77% of world exports), Australia ($2.3B) and Guyana (about $316M). World exports came to about $16.7B, 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 bauxite (HS 260600)?

In 2025, the top importers of HS 260600 (the code used for bauxite) in UN Comtrade data were China ($15.8B, 89% of world imports), India ($464M) and Ireland ($304M). World imports came to about $17.9B, 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.

Is the HS code for Bauxite the same in all countries?

The base HS code 260600 for Bauxite is internationally standardized for the first 6 digits across 200+ countries. Individual countries may add additional digits for national tariff lines and specific classifications.

What is the NCM code for bauxite in Brazil?

Brazil splits HS 260600 into 3 NCM codes, so the right one for bauxite depends on the product's details: 2606.00.11 (Bauxite, not calcined), 2606.00.12 (Calcined bauxite), 2606.00.90 (Other aluminium ores and concentrates).