Product classification
HS code for Germanium oxide: 2825.60
Germanium oxides and zirconium dioxide.
Classification of germanium oxide under HS 2825.60
Germanium oxide, specifically germanium dioxide (GeO2), is classified under HS code 2825.60. This classification is part of Chapter 28, which covers inorganic chemicals, precious metal compounds, and radioactive elements. Heading 2825 is dedicated to hydrazine and hydroxylamine and their inorganic salts, as well as other inorganic bases and metal oxides, hydroxides, and peroxides. Germanium oxide is specifically named in subheading 2825.60 alongside zirconium dioxide. The classification is based on the chemical identity of the substance as a metal oxide. It is a critical material in the manufacture of optical fibers, wide-angle camera lenses, and infrared optics. For customs purposes, the purity of the germanium oxide does not typically change the four-digit heading, though extremely high-purity electronic grades are still classified here unless they are part of a prepared chemical mixture or a finished optical element.
- Covers
- Germanium dioxide (GeO2) in powder form
- Germanium monoxide (GeO)
- High-purity germanium oxide for fiber optics
- Vitreous germanium oxide
- Crystalline germanium oxide (hexagonal or tetragonal)
- Also under 2825.60
- Heraeus (germanium products)
- Tosoh (zirconia)
- Saint-Gobain (advanced ceramics)
- CoorsTek (technical ceramics)
Codes often confused with 2825.60
Common mistake. Germanium oxide is often confused with unwrought germanium metal, which is classified under HS code 8112.92. The distinction lies in the chemical state: the oxide is a chemical compound (Chapter 28), while the metal is a base metal (Chapter 81). Another common misclassification involves germanium tetrachloride, which is a halide classified under HS code 2827.39. Furthermore, if the germanium oxide is presented as a finished optical element (like a lens), it would be classified under Chapter 90. It is also important not to confuse it with other metal oxides in subheading 2825.90.
Top exporters and importers of HS 282560 (the code used for germanium oxide), 2025
In 2025, the largest exporter of HS 282560 (the code used for germanium oxide) in UN Comtrade data was China, with 33% of world exports; the largest importer in UN Comtrade data was the United States, 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 282560, not only germanium oxide.
Top exporters 2025 · share of world exports
- 1 China $140M 33% of world exports
- 2 Canada $84M 19% of world exports
- 3 United States $39M 9.1% of world exports
World total: $429M Reported figures on UN Comtrade ↗
Top importers 2025 · share of world imports
- 1 United States $95M 19% of world imports
- 2 Germany $56M 11% of world imports
- 3 Japan $53M 11% of world imports
World total: $491M 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 codes for germanium oxide
Brazil splits HS 2825.60 into 2 NCM codes. Pick the one that matches your product:
- 2825.60.10Germanium oxides
- 2825.60.20Zirconium dioxide
Source: Siscomex NCM table, updated Oct 2026. The Portuguese text on each NCM page is the official one.
Questions about germanium oxide
What is the HS code for Germanium oxide?
The HS code for Germanium oxide is 282560 (Germanium oxides and zirconium dioxide). The HS code for germanium oxide is 2825.60.
How do I classify Germanium oxide for customs?
Germanium oxide is classified under HS code 282560 — Germanium oxides and zirconium dioxide. This is a 6-digit subheading level code.
Is germanium metal classified under the same code?
No, germanium metal is classified under Chapter 81 (specifically 8112.92 for unwrought forms), whereas the oxide is an inorganic chemical in Chapter 28.
Which countries are the top exporters of germanium oxide (HS 282560)?
In 2025, the top exporters of HS 282560 (the code used for germanium oxide) in UN Comtrade data were China ($140M, 33% of world exports), Canada ($84M) and the United States ($39M). World exports came to about $429M, 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 germanium oxide (HS 282560)?
In 2025, the top importers of HS 282560 (the code used for germanium oxide) in UN Comtrade data were the United States ($95M, 19% of world imports), Germany ($56M) and Japan ($53M). World imports came to about $491M, 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 Germanium oxide the same in all countries?
The base HS code 282560 for Germanium oxide 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 germanium oxide in Brazil?
Brazil splits HS 282560 into 2 NCM codes, so the right one for germanium oxide depends on the product's details: 2825.60.10 (Germanium oxides), 2825.60.20 (Zirconium dioxide).