Product classification
HS code for Hafnium scrap: 8112.31
Hafnium and articles thereof, unwrought, powders, waste and scrap.
Classification of hafnium scrap under HS 8112.31
Hafnium waste and scrap are classified under HS code 8112.31. According to the General Rules of Interpretation and the specific notes for Chapter 81, hafnium and its articles are grouped under heading 8112. Subheading 8112.31 specifically aggregates unwrought hafnium, powders, and waste/scrap. Waste and scrap are defined as metallic products resulting from the manufacture or mechanical working of metals, or metal goods definitely not usable as such because of breakage, cutting-up, wear, or other reasons. For hafnium, because it is a high-value specialty metal, the scrap is often recovered for recycling. The classification remains in 8112.31 regardless of whether the scrap originated from wrought or unwrought sources, as long as it is intended for recovery or chemical processing. This classification is consistent with Section XV Note 8(a), which defines waste and scrap. The high value of hafnium ensures that even small quantities of scrap are traded internationally for secondary smelting. The classification is straightforward as the subheading text explicitly includes waste and scrap alongside the unwrought metal forms.
- Covers
- Hafnium metal turnings and shavings
- Broken hafnium rod ends
- Spent hafnium sputtering targets
- Hafnium manufacturing rejects
- Discarded hafnium components for recycling
- Also under 8112.31
- Framatome's hafnium for nuclear applications
- ATI's hafnium products
- specialized metal recyclers handling hafnium scrap
Codes often confused with 8112.31
Common mistake. Hafnium scrap is often misclassified under 8112.39 if the user assumes it should be grouped with wrought products. It may also be confused with 2615.10, which covers zirconium ores and concentrates that may contain hafnium, but 8112.31 is for the metal itself after extraction. Another error is using 8112.92, which is for other metals like vanadium scrap.
Top exporters and importers of HS 811231 (the code used for hafnium scrap), 2025
In 2025, the largest exporter of HS 811231 (the code used for hafnium scrap) in UN Comtrade data was Germany, with 45% of world exports; the largest importer in UN Comtrade data was the United States, with 45% 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 811231, not only hafnium scrap.
Top exporters 2025 · share of world exports
- 1 Germany $106M 45% of world exports
- 2 China $43M 18% of world exports
- 3 United Kingdom $26M 11% of world exports
World total: $236M Reported figures on UN Comtrade ↗
Top importers 2025 · share of world imports
- 1 United States $115M 45% of world imports
- 2 United Kingdom $58M 23% of world imports
- 3 Germany $54M 21% of world imports
World total: $255M 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 hafnium scrap
Brazil classifies hafnium scrap under NCM 8112.31.00: HS 8112.31 with 00 added.
Source: Siscomex NCM table, updated Oct 2026. The Portuguese text on each NCM page is the official one.
Questions about hafnium scrap
What is the HS code for Hafnium scrap?
The HS code for Hafnium scrap is 811231 (Hafnium and articles thereof; unwrought, powders, waste and scrap). Hafnium waste and scrap are classified under HS code 8112.31.
How do I classify Hafnium scrap for customs?
Hafnium scrap is classified under HS code 811231 — Hafnium and articles thereof; unwrought, powders, waste and scrap. This is a 6-digit subheading level code.
Can hafnium scrap be classified as hazardous waste?
While it is classified under 8112.31 for customs purposes, it may also require environmental permits under different regulations if the scrap is considered hazardous due to reactivity.
Which countries are the top exporters of hafnium scrap (HS 811231)?
In 2025, the top exporters of HS 811231 (the code used for hafnium scrap) in UN Comtrade data were Germany ($106M, 45% of world exports), China ($43M) and the United Kingdom ($26M). World exports came to about $236M, 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 hafnium scrap (HS 811231)?
In 2025, the top importers of HS 811231 (the code used for hafnium scrap) in UN Comtrade data were the United States ($115M, 45% of world imports), the United Kingdom ($58M) and Germany ($54M). World imports came to about $255M, 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 Hafnium scrap the same in all countries?
The base HS code 811231 for Hafnium scrap 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 hafnium scrap in Brazil?
In Brazil, hafnium scrap (HS 811231) is classified under NCM 8112.31.00.