Product classification
HS code for Cerium oxide: 2846.10
Cerium compounds.
Classification of cerium oxide under HS 2846.10
Cerium oxide is classified under HS code 2846.10, which specifically covers cerium compounds. As part of Chapter 28 (Inorganic chemicals), this classification is reserved for chemically defined compounds. Cerium is a rare-earth metal, and its oxides (such as CeO2, also known as ceric oxide or cerium dioxide) are vital in various industrial applications, including glass polishing, catalysis, and self-cleaning ovens. The classification remains in 2846.10 regardless of the purity level, provided it is not a "prepared" mixture for a specific functional use that would classify it elsewhere. For example, a polishing powder consisting of cerium oxide mixed with other abrasives and binders might be classified in Chapter 38. Customs authorities require technical documentation to confirm the chemical composition as a cerium-based compound to distinguish it from mixed rare-earth oxides (which fall under 2846.90). The classification is driven by the chemical identity of the rare-earth element present in the compound.
- Covers
- Cerium dioxide (CeO2)
- Cerous oxide (Ce2O3)
- High-purity cerium oxide powder
- Cerium hydroxide
- Cerium salts of inorganic acids
- Also under 2846.10
- Solvay (Rhône-Poulenc)
- Lynas Rare Earths
- Neo Performance Materials.
Codes often confused with 2846.10
Common mistake. Cerium oxide is often misclassified under HS code 2530.90 (natural rare-earth minerals) if the product is an unrefined ore. It can also be confused with HS code 3824.99 if it is part of a complex chemical mixture. Furthermore, mixtures of different rare-earth oxides are classified under 2846.90 rather than 2846.10.
Top exporters and importers of HS 284610 (the code used for cerium oxide), 2025
In 2025, the largest exporter of HS 284610 (the code used for cerium oxide) in UN Comtrade data was Japan, with 46% of world exports; the largest importer in UN Comtrade data was Japan, with 23% 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 284610, not only cerium oxide.
Top exporters 2025 · share of world exports
- 1 Japan $100M 46% of world exports
- 2 France $50M 23% of world exports
- 3 China $23M 11% of world exports
World total: $219M Reported figures on UN Comtrade ↗
Top importers 2025 · share of world imports
- 1 Japan $53M 23% of world imports
- 2 Taiwan* ~$37M 16% of world imports · partner records ↗
- 3 South Korea $32M 14% of world imports
World total: $232M 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 codes for cerium oxide
Brazil splits HS 2846.10 into 2 NCM codes. Pick the one that matches your product:
- 2846.10.10Ceric oxide
- 2846.10.90Other cerium compounds
Source: Siscomex NCM table, updated Oct 2026. The Portuguese text on each NCM page is the official one.
Questions about cerium oxide
What is the HS code for Cerium oxide?
The HS code for Cerium oxide is 284610 (Cerium compounds). The HS code for cerium oxide and other cerium compounds is 2846.10.
How do I classify Cerium oxide for customs?
Cerium oxide is classified under HS code 284610 — Cerium compounds. This is a 6-digit subheading level code.
Is cerium oxide classified as a radioactive chemical?
No, cerium is a rare-earth metal but is not typically classified as radioactive under Chapter 28 unless it contains specific isotopes defined in heading 2844.
Which countries are the top exporters of cerium oxide (HS 284610)?
In 2025, the top exporters of HS 284610 (the code used for cerium oxide) in UN Comtrade data were Japan ($100M, 46% of world exports), France ($50M) and China ($23M). World exports came to about $219M, 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 cerium oxide (HS 284610)?
In 2025, the top importers of HS 284610 (the code used for cerium oxide) in UN Comtrade data were Japan ($53M, 23% of world imports), Taiwan (about $37M) and South Korea ($32M). World imports came to about $232M, 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 Cerium oxide the same in all countries?
The base HS code 284610 for Cerium oxide 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 cerium oxide in Brazil?
Brazil splits HS 284610 into 2 NCM codes, so the right one for cerium oxide depends on the product's details: 2846.10.10 (Ceric oxide), 2846.10.90 (Other cerium compounds).