Product classification
HS code for Carbide tips: 8209.00
Tools, plates, sticks, tips and the like for tools, unmounted, of sintered metal carbides or cermets.
Classification of carbide tips under HS 8209.00
Carbide tips, also known as inserts, are classified under HS code 8209.00. This heading is specifically designated for plates, sticks, tips, and the like for tools, unmounted, of sintered metal carbides or cermets. The classification logic is based on the material composition and the state of the product. Chapter 82 covers tools, implements, cutlery, spoons, and forks of base metal, and parts thereof. Heading 8209 is unique because it covers these items even if they are not yet mounted onto a tool. The primary material is usually tungsten carbide or a similar sintered metal carbide, which provides the extreme hardness required for cutting, grinding, or drilling. The classification remains in 8209.00 as long as the tips are unmounted. Once these tips are brazed, welded, or mechanically fixed to a tool shank, the entire assembly is classified under the heading for the specific tool (such as 8207). This distinction is crucial for customs purposes, as the tips are often traded as consumables for the machining and mining industries.
- Covers
- Tungsten carbide cutting inserts
- Indexable carbide tips for lathes
- Sintered metal carbide plates for wear resistance
- Carbide tips for circular saw blades
- Cermet tips for precision machining
- Unmounted carbide sticks for tool making
- Also under 8209.00
- Sandvik Coromant carbide inserts (unmounted)
- Kennametal carbide blanks
- Iscar cermet tips
- Sumitomo Electric carbide rods
- Ceratizit carbide plates
Codes often confused with 8209.00
Common mistake. Carbide tips are frequently misclassified under HS code 8207, which covers interchangeable tools for hand tools or machine tools. The distinction is that 8207 is for the finished tool (like a drill bit or milling cutter), while 8209 is for the unmounted tip itself. Another common error is 8466, which covers parts and accessories for machine tools; however, Chapter 82 headings are generally more specific for cutting elements. Finally, if the tips are made of industrial diamonds rather than metal carbides, they would be classified under 7105 or 8207 depending on their form.
Top exporters and importers of HS 820900 (the code used for carbide tips), 2025
In 2025, the largest exporter of HS 820900 (the code used for carbide tips) 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.
Figures cover everything classified under HS 820900, not only carbide tips.
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.
Brazil NCM codes for carbide tips
Brazil splits HS 8209.00 into 3 NCM codes. Pick the one that matches your product:
- 8209.00.11Interchangeable cermet tool inserts
- 8209.00.19Other cermet tool plates and inserts
- 8209.00.90Cermet tool sticks, tips and similar
Source: Siscomex NCM table, updated Oct 2026. The Portuguese text on each NCM page is the official one.
Questions about carbide tips
What is the HS code for Carbide tips?
The HS code for Carbide tips is 820900 (Tools; plates, sticks, tips and the like for tools, unmounted, of sintered metal carbides or cermets). The HS code for unmounted carbide tips, plates, and sticks of sintered metal carbides is 8209.00.
How do I classify Carbide tips for customs?
Carbide tips is classified under HS code 820900 — Tools; plates, sticks, tips and the like for tools, unmounted, of sintered metal carbides or cermets. This is a 6-digit subheading level code.
Are these tips classified differently if they are coated?
No, carbide tips coated with thin layers of titanium nitride or other materials for performance enhancement remain classified under 8209.00.
Which countries are the top exporters of carbide tips (HS 820900)?
In 2025, the top exporters of HS 820900 (the code used for carbide tips) 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 carbide tips (HS 820900)?
In 2025, the top importers of HS 820900 (the code used for carbide tips) 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.
Is the HS code for Carbide tips the same in all countries?
The base HS code 820900 for Carbide tips 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 carbide tips in Brazil?
Brazil splits HS 820900 into 3 NCM codes, so the right one for carbide tips depends on the product's details: 8209.00.11 (Interchangeable cermet tool inserts), 8209.00.19 (Other cermet tool plates and inserts), 8209.00.90 (Cermet tool sticks, tips and similar).