Product classification
HS code for Cold-finished steel bars: 7215.50
Iron or non-alloy steel, bars and rods, n.e.c. in chapter 72, cold-formed or cold-finished, (not free-cutting).
Classification of cold-finished steel bars under HS 7215.50
Cold-finished steel bars of non-alloy steel are classified under HS code 7215.50. This code serves as a residual or 'basket' category for bars and rods of iron or non-alloy steel that have been cold-formed or cold-finished but do not meet the specific definitions of free-cutting steel (7215.10). The classification is based on the manufacturing process where hot-rolled bars are further processed at room temperature. This typically involves cold drawing through a die, which reduces the diameter and increases the length while improving the tensile strength and surface finish. The absence of significant alloying elements (as defined in Chapter 72, Note 1(f)) and the absence of high sulfur or lead content (which would trigger 7215.10) leads the product to 7215.50. This classification follows the hierarchical structure of the Harmonized System, moving from general hot-rolled products in heading 7214 to more processed cold-finished products in heading 7215.
- Covers
- Cold-drawn 1018 carbon steel rounds
- 1045 turned and polished precision shafting
- Cold-finished non-alloy steel square bars
- Cold-rolled non-alloy steel flats (not flat-rolled products)
- Cold-drawn 1020 grade hexagonal bars
- Also under 7215.50
- POSCO cold-drawn round bars
- Tata Steel bright bars
- JFE Steel cold-finished flats
- Nucor cold-finished rounds
- SSAB cold-drawn squares.
Codes often confused with 7215.50
Common mistake. A frequent error is misclassifying these bars under HS code 7214.91 or 7214.99, which are reserved for hot-rolled bars. The distinction is the 'cold-working' step; if the bar has been drawn, ground, or turned after hot-rolling, it must move to 7215. Another common mistake is using 7228.50, which is for alloy steel. If the carbon steel contains even small amounts of alloying elements like boron or vanadium above the thresholds in Note 1(f), it is no longer 'non-alloy' and must be moved to Chapter 7228. Finally, if the product is a 'flat-rolled product' (width significantly greater than thickness), it should be in 7209 or 7211 rather than 7215.
Top exporters and importers of HS 721550 (the code used for cold-finished steel bars), 2025
In 2025, the largest exporter of HS 721550 (the code used for cold-finished steel bars) in UN Comtrade data was Italy, with 27% of world exports; the largest importer in UN Comtrade data was Germany, 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 721550, not only cold-finished steel bars.
Top exporters 2025 · share of world exports
- 1 Italy $266M 27% of world exports
- 2 Germany $132M 13% of world exports
- 3 Czechia $84M 8.4% of world exports
World total: $1.0B Reported figures on UN Comtrade ↗
Top importers 2025 · share of world imports
- 1 Germany $209M 18% of world imports
- 2 Mexico $87M 7.7% of world imports
- 3 France $80M 7.0% of world imports
World total: $1.1B 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 cold-finished steel bars
Brazil classifies cold-finished steel bars under NCM 7215.50.00: HS 7215.50 with 00 added.
Source: Siscomex NCM table, updated Oct 2026. The Portuguese text on each NCM page is the official one.
EU Regulatory Requirements
This product falls under the Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM). Importers to the EU must declare embedded carbon emissions and purchase CBAM certificates.
Questions about cold-finished steel bars
What is the HS code for Cold-finished steel bars?
The HS code for Cold-finished steel bars is 721550 (Iron or non-alloy steel; bars and rods, n.e.c. in chapter 72, cold-formed or cold-finished, (not free-cutting)). The standard HS code for non-alloy, non-free-cutting cold-finished steel bars is 7215.50.
How do I classify Cold-finished steel bars for customs?
Cold-finished steel bars is classified under HS code 721550 — Iron or non-alloy steel; bars and rods, n.e.c. in chapter 72, cold-formed or cold-finished, (not free-cutting). This is a 6-digit subheading level code.
What is the difference between 7215.50 and 7215.10?
HS code 7215.10 is specifically for free-cutting steel (high sulfur/lead), while 7215.50 is for standard non-alloy steel bars that do not meet the free-cutting chemical requirements.
Which countries are the top exporters of cold-finished steel bars (HS 721550)?
In 2025, the top exporters of HS 721550 (the code used for cold-finished steel bars) in UN Comtrade data were Italy ($266M, 27% of world exports), Germany ($132M) and Czechia ($84M). World exports came to about $1.0B, 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.
Which countries are the top importers of cold-finished steel bars (HS 721550)?
In 2025, the top importers of HS 721550 (the code used for cold-finished steel bars) in UN Comtrade data were Germany ($209M, 18% of world imports), Mexico ($87M) and France ($80M). World imports came to about $1.1B, 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 Cold-finished steel bars the same in all countries?
The base HS code 721550 for Cold-finished steel bars 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 cold-finished steel bars in Brazil?
In Brazil, cold-finished steel bars (HS 721550) is classified under NCM 7215.50.00.