Product classification
HS code for Copper ash: 2620.30
Slag, ash and residues, (not from the manufacture of iron or steel), containing mainly copper.
Classification of copper ash under HS 2620.30
Copper ash is classified under HS code 2620.30, which covers slag, ash, and residues containing mainly copper. This classification falls under Chapter 26 (Ores, slag, and ash) rather than Chapter 74 (Copper and articles thereof) because the material is a residue of industrial processes rather than a primary metal product or scrap. These residues typically result from the smelting of copper or the treatment of copper-bearing waste. To be classified here, the material must be of a kind used in industry either for the extraction of copper or as a basis for the manufacture of copper chemical compounds. The classification is based on the fact that the copper is not in a metallic, workable form but is instead part of a mineralized or oxidized residue.
- Covers
- Copper smelting ash
- Residues from copper scrap melting
- Brass mill scale
- Copper-rich dross from refining furnaces
- Spent copper catalysts used for metal recovery
- Also under 2620.30
- Aurubis copper slag
- Glencore copper residues
- Freeport-McMoRan smelter dust
- Boliden copper dross
Codes often confused with 2620.30
Common mistake. A frequent error is classifying copper ash under HS code 7404.00 (copper waste and scrap). The distinction is that 7404.00 is for metallic waste that can be remelted directly, whereas 2620.30 is for non-metallic residues like ash and slag that require chemical or metallurgical processing to recover the metal. It is also sometimes confused with 2603.00 (copper ores and concentrates), but ores are naturally occurring minerals, while ash is a man-made industrial byproduct.
Top exporters and importers of HS 262030 (the code used for copper ash), 2025
In 2025, the largest exporter of HS 262030 (the code used for copper ash) in UN Comtrade data was Australia, with 69% of world exports; the largest importer in UN Comtrade data was Sweden, 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 262030, not only copper ash.
Top exporters 2025 · share of world exports
- 1 Australia $1.2B 69% of world exports
- 2 Chile $154M 9.1% of world exports
- 3 Netherlands $111M 6.6% of world exports
World total: $1.7B Reported figures on UN Comtrade ↗
Top importers 2025 · share of world imports
- 1 Sweden $113M 18% of world imports
- 2 Belgium $104M 17% of world imports
- 3 Taiwan* ~$75M 12% of world imports · partner records ↗
World total: $622M 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 code for copper ash
Brazil classifies copper ash under NCM 2620.30.00: HS 2620.30 with 00 added.
Source: Siscomex NCM table, updated Oct 2026. The Portuguese text on each NCM page is the official one.
Questions about copper ash
What is the HS code for Copper ash?
The HS code for Copper ash is 262030 (Slag, ash and residues; (not from the manufacture of iron or steel), containing mainly copper). Copper ash and residues containing mainly copper are classified under HS code 2620.30.
How do I classify Copper ash for customs?
Copper ash is classified under HS code 262030 — Slag, ash and residues; (not from the manufacture of iron or steel), containing mainly copper. This is a 6-digit subheading level code.
Is copper scrap the same as copper ash for customs purposes?
No, copper scrap is metallic waste classified under 7404.00, while copper ash is a residue from industrial processes classified under 2620.30.
Which countries are the top exporters of copper ash (HS 262030)?
In 2025, the top exporters of HS 262030 (the code used for copper ash) in UN Comtrade data were Australia ($1.2B, 69% of world exports), Chile ($154M) and the Netherlands ($111M). World exports came to about $1.7B, 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 copper ash (HS 262030)?
In 2025, the top importers of HS 262030 (the code used for copper ash) in UN Comtrade data were Sweden ($113M, 18% of world imports), Belgium ($104M) and Taiwan (about $75M). World imports came to about $622M, 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 Copper ash the same in all countries?
The base HS code 262030 for Copper ash 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 copper ash in Brazil?
In Brazil, copper ash (HS 262030) is classified under NCM 2620.30.00.