Product classification
HS code for Crude lead: 7801.99
Lead, unwrought, unrefined, not containing by weight antimony as the principal other element.
Classification of crude lead under HS 7801.99
Crude lead is classified under HS code 7801.99. This classification is part of Chapter 78, which covers lead and articles thereof. Heading 7801 is for unwrought lead, which includes lead in the form of ingots, pigs, blocks, slabs, or similar mass forms. The subheading 7801.99 is a residual category for "other" unwrought lead. To be classified here, the lead must be unwrought but must not meet the definition of "refined lead" provided in the Chapter Notes. Refined lead (7801.10) must contain at least 99.9% lead by weight. Furthermore, 7801.99 is used when the lead is not an alloy where antimony is the principal other element (which would be 7801.91). Crude lead, often called lead bullion or work lead, is the primary product of smelting lead ores. It contains varying amounts of other elements like silver, copper, and bismuth. This material is usually destined for further electrolytic or thermal refining to produce high-purity lead or to recover precious metals. The classification is based on the physical form (unwrought) and the chemical purity (unrefined and not primarily alloyed with antimony).
- Covers
- Lead bullion
- Unrefined unwrought lead
- Work lead (containing silver)
- Unwrought lead blocks (non-refined)
- Also under 7801.99
- Crude lead from primary smelters (e.g., from Boliden, Nyrstar)
- unrefined lead from secondary recyclers before final purification
- lead bullion from mining operations
Codes often confused with 7801.99
Common mistake. Crude lead is frequently misclassified as 7801.10 (refined lead) if the purity level is not tested. It is also confused with 7801.91, which is specifically for lead-antimony alloys (hard lead). Another common error is using 7802.00, which is for lead waste and scrap; crude lead is a primary smelting product, not a waste product from used articles.
Top exporters and importers of HS 780199 (the code used for crude lead), 2025
In 2025, the largest exporter of HS 780199 (the code used for crude lead) in UN Comtrade data was Australia, with 18% of world exports; the largest importer in UN Comtrade data was India, with 22% 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 780199, not only crude lead.
Top exporters 2025 · share of world exports
- 1 Australia $373M 18% of world exports
- 2 United Kingdom $196M 9.5% of world exports
- 3 India $185M 8.9% of world exports
World total: $2.1B Reported figures on UN Comtrade ↗
Top importers 2025 · share of world imports
- 1 India $513M 22% of world imports
- 2 United Kingdom $299M 13% of world imports
- 3 China $228M 10.0% of world imports
World total: $2.3B 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 crude lead
Brazil classifies crude lead under NCM 7801.99.00: HS 7801.99 with 00 added.
Source: Siscomex NCM table, updated Oct 2026. The Portuguese text on each NCM page is the official one.
Questions about crude lead
What is the HS code for Crude lead?
The HS code for Crude lead is 780199 (Lead; unwrought, unrefined, not containing by weight antimony as the principal other element). The HS code for crude (unrefined, unwrought) lead is 7801.99.
How do I classify Crude lead for customs?
Crude lead is classified under HS code 780199 — Lead; unwrought, unrefined, not containing by weight antimony as the principal other element. This is a 6-digit subheading level code.
What is the difference between crude lead and refined lead?
Refined lead (7801.10) must have a purity of at least 99.9% by weight. Crude lead (7801.99) contains higher levels of impurities and is typically an intermediate product of smelting.
Which countries are the top exporters of crude lead (HS 780199)?
In 2025, the top exporters of HS 780199 (the code used for crude lead) in UN Comtrade data were Australia ($373M, 18% of world exports), the United Kingdom ($196M) and India ($185M). World exports came to about $2.1B, 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.
Which countries are the top importers of crude lead (HS 780199)?
In 2025, the top importers of HS 780199 (the code used for crude lead) in UN Comtrade data were India ($513M, 22% of world imports), the United Kingdom ($299M) and China ($228M). World imports came to about $2.3B, 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 Crude lead the same in all countries?
The base HS code 780199 for Crude lead 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 crude lead in Brazil?
In Brazil, crude lead (HS 780199) is classified under NCM 7801.99.00.