Product classification
HS code for Chalk: 2509.00
Chalk.
Classification of chalk under HS 2509.00
Natural chalk is classified under HS code 2509.00. This code is situated within Chapter 25, which covers salt, sulfur, earths, and stone, as well as plastering materials, lime, and cement. The classification is strictly for natural chalk, which is a form of limestone composed of the mineral calcite. Under the Harmonized System, this heading includes chalk that is crude, washed, or ground, provided it has not been prepared as a finished writing or drawing instrument. The classification depends on the chemical composition and the lack of significant processing that would transform the mineral into a manufactured article of another chapter. It is essentially the raw or minimally processed mineral extracted from the earth.
- Covers
- Crude natural chalk
- Washed chalk in powder form
- Ground natural calcium carbonate (chalk)
- Chalk used as a filler in industrial applications
- Unrefined chalk blocks
- Also under 2509.00
- Omya (calcium carbonate products)
- Imerys (calcium carbonate)
- Carmeuse (lime and chalk products)
- Mississippi Lime Company
- Sibelco.
Codes often confused with 2509.00
Common mistake. The most frequent misclassification for this product is HS code 9609.90, which covers writing or drawing chalks and pastels. The distinction lies in the level of processing: 2509.00 is for the raw mineral, while 9609.90 is for chalk that has been shaped into sticks or prepared for retail sale for writing purposes. Additionally, importers may confuse natural chalk with HS code 2521.00 (limestone flux), but 2509.00 is specific to the soft, white, porous sedimentary carbonate rock known as chalk. It should also not be confused with magnesium carbonate (2836.99), often used by athletes, which is chemically distinct.
Top exporters and importers of HS 250900 (the code used for chalk), 2025
In 2025, the largest exporter of HS 250900 (the code used for chalk) in UN Comtrade data was France, with 29% of world exports; the largest importer in UN Comtrade data was Belgium, with 19% 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 250900, not only chalk.
Top exporters 2025 · share of world exports
- 1 France $30M 29% of world exports
- 2 Germany $12M 12% of world exports
- 3 Jordan* ~$8.8M 8.6% of world exports · partner records ↗
World total: $103M Reported figures on UN Comtrade ↗
Top importers 2025 · share of world imports
- 1 Belgium $25M 19% of world imports
- 2 Germany $19M 14% of world imports
- 3 Netherlands $18M 13% of world imports
World total: $137M 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 code for chalk
Brazil classifies chalk under NCM 2509.00.00: HS 2509.00 with 00 added.
Source: Siscomex NCM table, updated Oct 2026. The Portuguese text on each NCM page is the official one.
Questions about chalk
What is the HS code for Chalk?
The HS code for Chalk is 250900 (Chalk). The HS code for natural, raw, or ground chalk is 2509.00.
How do I classify Chalk for customs?
Chalk is classified under HS code 250900 — Chalk. This is a 6-digit subheading level code.
Is blackboard chalk classified here?
No, blackboard chalk or school chalk that has been shaped into sticks is classified under HS code 9609.90.
Which countries are the top exporters of chalk (HS 250900)?
In 2025, the top exporters of HS 250900 (the code used for chalk) in UN Comtrade data were France ($30M, 29% of world exports), Germany ($12M) and Jordan (about $8.8M). World exports came to about $103M, 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 chalk (HS 250900)?
In 2025, the top importers of HS 250900 (the code used for chalk) in UN Comtrade data were Belgium ($25M, 19% of world imports), Germany ($19M) and the Netherlands ($18M). World imports came to about $137M, 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 Chalk the same in all countries?
The base HS code 250900 for Chalk 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 chalk in Brazil?
In Brazil, chalk (HS 250900) is classified under NCM 2509.00.00.