Product classification
HS code for Coal tar: 2706.00
Tar, distilled from coal, lignite or peat, and other mineral tars, whether or not dehydrated or partially distilled, including reconstituted tars.
Classification of coal tar under HS 2706.00
Coal tar is classified under HS code 270600. This heading is designated for tars distilled from coal, lignite, or peat, as well as other mineral tars. Coal tar is a complex, viscous liquid produced as a byproduct during the carbonization of coal to produce coke or coal gas. The classification includes crude coal tar, as well as tar that has been dehydrated or partially distilled. Reconstituted tars, which are made by blending pitch with creosote oil or other coal tar distillation products, also fall under this heading. The Harmonized System places this product in Chapter 27 because it is a mineral fuel byproduct. The classification is determined by the origin of the material (mineral coal) and its state as a primary distillation product. It serves as a foundational material for the chemical industry, eventually being refined into various oils, phenols, and aromatic hydrocarbons, but in its bulk or partially processed form, it remains under 270600.
- Covers
- Crude coal tar
- Dehydrated coal tar
- Partially distilled coal tar
- Reconstituted coal tar
- Lignite tar
- Peat tar
- Also under 2706.00
- Koppers coal tar products
- Rain Carbon Inc. coal tar pitch
- various chemical industry suppliers of crude tar
Codes often confused with 2706.00
Common mistake. Coal tar is frequently confused with the products of its further distillation, which are classified under HS code 2707. While 270600 covers the tar itself, 2707 covers specific oils like benzole, toluole, and xylole where the weight of the aromatic constituents exceeds that of the non-aromatic constituents. Another common error is misclassifying coal tar as pitch under HS code 270810. Pitch is the solid residue left after the complete distillation of coal tar; if the material is still a liquid or semi-solid tar, it belongs in 270600. Finally, bitumen and asphalt (HS code 2713) are petroleum-based and should not be confused with coal-derived tar.
Top exporters and importers of HS 270600 (the code used for coal tar), 2025
In 2025, the largest exporter of HS 270600 (the code used for coal tar) in UN Comtrade data was Poland, with 23% of world exports; the largest importer in UN Comtrade data was China, with 43% 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 270600, not only coal tar.
Top exporters 2025 · share of world exports
- 1 Poland $158M 23% of world exports
- 2 Indonesia $128M 19% of world exports
- 3 United States $61M 9.0% of world exports
World total: $679M Reported figures on UN Comtrade ↗
Top importers 2025 · share of world imports
- 1 China $147M 43% of world imports
- 2 South Korea $65M 19% of world imports
- 3 Canada $60M 18% of world imports
World total: $339M 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 code for coal tar
Brazil classifies coal tar under NCM 2706.00.00: HS 2706.00 with 00 added.
Source: Siscomex NCM table, updated Oct 2026. The Portuguese text on each NCM page is the official one.
Questions about coal tar
What is the HS code for Coal tar?
The HS code for Coal tar is 270600 (Tar; distilled from coal, lignite or peat, and other mineral tars, whether or not dehydrated or partially distilled, including reconstituted tars). The HS code for coal tar, including dehydrated and reconstituted versions, is 270600.
How do I classify Coal tar for customs?
Coal tar is classified under HS code 270600 — Tar; distilled from coal, lignite or peat, and other mineral tars, whether or not dehydrated or partially distilled, including reconstituted tars. This is a 6-digit subheading level code.
What is the difference between HS 2706 and HS 2707?
HS 2706 covers the bulk tar byproduct, while HS 2707 covers the specific oils and aromatic chemicals extracted from that tar through further distillation.
Which countries are the top exporters of coal tar (HS 270600)?
In 2025, the top exporters of HS 270600 (the code used for coal tar) in UN Comtrade data were Poland ($158M, 23% of world exports), Indonesia ($128M) and the United States ($61M). World exports came to about $679M, 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 coal tar (HS 270600)?
In 2025, the top importers of HS 270600 (the code used for coal tar) in UN Comtrade data were China ($147M, 43% of world imports), South Korea ($65M) and Canada ($60M). World imports came to about $339M, 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 Coal tar the same in all countries?
The base HS code 270600 for Coal tar 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 coal tar in Brazil?
In Brazil, coal tar (HS 270600) is classified under NCM 2706.00.00.