Product classification
HS code for Cadmium residues: 2620.91
Slag, ash and residues, (not from the manufacture of iron or steel), containing antimony, beryllium, cadmium, chromium or their mixtures.
Classification of cadmium residues under HS 2620.91
Cadmium residues are classified under HS code 2620.91. This classification falls within Chapter 26, which covers ores, slag, and ash. Heading 2620 is specifically for slag, ash, and residues (other than those from the manufacture of iron or steel) that contain metals, arsenic, or their compounds. Subheading 2620.91 is a specific category for residues containing antimony, beryllium, cadmium, chromium, or their mixtures. These residues are typically the by-products of industrial processes, such as the smelting and refining of non-ferrous metals or the treatment of metallic waste. To be classified here, the material must be of a type used in industry either for the extraction of metals or as a basis for the manufacture of chemical compounds of metals. It is distinct from finished metal or scrap metal because it is a residual byproduct of a process rather than a discarded end-product.
- Covers
- Cadmium-bearing slag
- Ash containing cadmium compounds
- Galvanic sludge containing cadmium
- Residues from cadmium refining
- Flue dust containing cadmium and antimony
- Also under 2620.91
- BASF spent catalysts
- Umicore recycling inputs
- various industrial plating sludges
- battery manufacturing residues
Codes often confused with 2620.91
Common mistake. Cadmium residues are frequently misclassified under HS code 8107.30, which covers cadmium waste and scrap. The distinction is that 8107.30 is for metallic waste (like old battery plates or discarded cadmium metal), whereas 2620.91 is for industrial residues like ash and slag. Another common error is using 2620.11 or 2620.19, which are for zinc-containing residues. Since cadmium is often found in association with zinc, the predominant metal or the specific mention of cadmium in 2620.91 dictates the classification. If the residue is from the iron and steel industry, it would fall under 2618 or 2619 instead.
Top exporters and importers of HS 262091 (the code used for cadmium residues), 2025
In 2025, the largest exporter of HS 262091 (the code used for cadmium residues) in UN Comtrade data was South Korea, with 48% of world exports; the largest importer in UN Comtrade data was Belgium, with 72% 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 262091, not only cadmium residues.
Top exporters 2025 · share of world exports
- 1 South Korea $9.2M 48% of world exports
- 2 Netherlands $4.4M 23% of world exports
- 3 Poland $2.2M 11% of world exports
World total: $19M Reported figures on UN Comtrade ↗
Top importers 2025 · share of world imports
- 1 Belgium $5.0M 72% of world imports
- 2 Germany $955K 14% of world imports
- 3 Taiwan* ~$411K 5.9% of world imports · partner records ↗
World total: $6.9M 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. UN Comtrade records Taiwan as "Other Asia, not elsewhere specified". Saudi Arabia's exports under that code are left out: they are far too large to be trade with Taiwan, so mostly undisclosed partners. 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 cadmium residues
Brazil classifies cadmium residues under NCM 2620.91.00: HS 2620.91 with 00 added.
Source: Siscomex NCM table, updated Oct 2026. The Portuguese text on each NCM page is the official one.
Questions about cadmium residues
What is the HS code for Cadmium residues?
The HS code for Cadmium residues is 262091 (Slag, ash and residues; (not from the manufacture of iron or steel), containing antimony, beryllium, cadmium, chromium or their mixtures). The HS code for industrial slag, ash, and residues containing cadmium is 2620.91.
How do I classify Cadmium residues for customs?
Cadmium residues is classified under HS code 262091 — Slag, ash and residues; (not from the manufacture of iron or steel), containing antimony, beryllium, cadmium, chromium or their mixtures. This is a 6-digit subheading level code.
How do residues differ from scrap metal in the HS system?
Residues (2620) are by-products like ash or sludge from industrial processing, while scrap (8107) consists of discarded metallic products or manufacturing waste in metallic form.
Which countries are the top exporters of cadmium residues (HS 262091)?
In 2025, the top exporters of HS 262091 (the code used for cadmium residues) in UN Comtrade data were South Korea ($9.2M, 48% of world exports), the Netherlands ($4.4M) and Poland ($2.2M). World exports came to about $19M, 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 cadmium residues (HS 262091)?
In 2025, the top importers of HS 262091 (the code used for cadmium residues) in UN Comtrade data were Belgium ($5.0M, 72% of world imports), Germany ($955K) and Taiwan (about $411K). World imports came to about $6.9M, 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 Cadmium residues the same in all countries?
The base HS code 262091 for Cadmium residues 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 cadmium residues in Brazil?
In Brazil, cadmium residues (HS 262091) is classified under NCM 2620.91.00.