Product classification

HS code for HRPO steel coil: 7208.26

Iron or non-alloy steel, in coils, without patterns in relief, flat-rolled, of a width 600mm or more, hot-rolled, pickled, of a thickness of 3mm or more but less than 4.75mm.

Classification of HRPO steel coil under HS 7208.26

Hot Rolled Pickled and Oiled (HRPO) steel coils are classified under HS code 7208.26. This code is specific to flat-rolled iron or non-alloy steel, in coils, hot-rolled, and "pickled." Pickling is a chemical process where the steel is passed through an acid solution (usually hydrochloric acid) to remove surface oxides and scale resulting from the hot-rolling process. Following pickling, oil is applied to prevent flash rusting. This specific subheading 7208.26 is used when the thickness of the steel is 3 mm or more but less than 4.75 mm. The width must be 600 mm or more. The "pickled" status is the primary differentiator from standard hot-rolled coils, as it indicates a higher level of surface finish suitable for painting or plating without further heavy cleaning.

Covers
  • HRPO (Hot Rolled Pickled and Oiled) steel in coils
  • Pickled hot-rolled non-alloy steel coils (3mm to 4.75mm thickness)
  • Acid-cleaned hot-rolled steel strip in coils
  • Oiled and pickled hot-rolled sheets in continuous coils
Also under 7208.26
  • ArcelorMittal HRPO coils (medium gauge)
  • Nucor medium gauge pickled steel
  • Tata Steel pickled coils
  • Baosteel hot-rolled pickled coils

Codes often confused with 7208.26

Common mistake. HRPO coils are frequently misclassified under 7208.38, which is for standard hot-rolled coils (not pickled) of the same thickness. The presence of the pickling process is a critical technical distinction in the HS nomenclature. Another error is 7208.25, which covers pickled coils with a thickness of 4.75 mm or more. Furthermore, HRPO is sometimes confused with cold-rolled steel (heading 7209). While HRPO has a cleaner surface than standard HR, it has not undergone the cold-reduction process that defines 7209, and thus must remain in 7208.

7208.27Iron or non-alloy steel; in coils, without patterns in relief, flat-rolled, of a width 600mm or more, hot-rolled, pickled, of a thickness of less than 3mm7208.25Iron or non-alloy steel; in coils, without patterns in relief, flat-rolled, of a width 600mm or more, hot-rolled, pickled, of a thickness of 4.75mm or more7208.38Iron or non-alloy steel; in coils, without patterns in relief, flat-rolled, of a width 600mm or more, hot-rolled, of a thickness of 3mm or more but less than 4.75mm72.09Iron or non-alloy steel; flat-rolled products, width 600mm or more, cold-rolled (cold-reduced), not clad, plated or coated72.08Iron or non-alloy steel; flat-rolled products of a width of 600mm or more, hot-rolled, not clad, plated or coated

Top exporters and importers of HS 720826 (the code used for HRPO steel coil), 2025

In 2025, the largest exporter of HS 720826 (the code used for HRPO steel coil) in UN Comtrade data was South Korea, with 17% of world exports; the largest importer in UN Comtrade data was Germany, with 13% 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 720826, not only HRPO steel coil.

Top exporters 2025 · share of world exports

  1. 1 South Korea $438M
  2. 2 Belgium $397M
  3. 3 Egypt $294M

World total: $2.5B Reported figures on UN Comtrade ↗

Top importers 2025 · share of world imports

  1. 1 Germany $298M
  2. 2 Thailand $223M
  3. 3 Mexico $167M

World total: $2.2B 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 HRPO steel coil

Brazil splits HS 7208.26 into 2 NCM codes. Pick the one that matches your product:

  • 7208.26.10Pickled hot-rolled coil 3-4.75 mm, 355 MPa yield
  • 7208.26.90Other pickled hot-rolled coil, 3 to under 4.75 mm

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 HRPO steel coil

What is the HS code for HRPO steel coil?

The HS code for HRPO steel coil is 720826 (Iron or non-alloy steel; in coils, without patterns in relief, flat-rolled, of a width 600mm or more, hot-rolled, pickled, of a thickness of 3mm or more but less than 4.75mm). The HS code for HRPO steel coil with a thickness between 3mm and 4.75mm and a width of at least 600mm is 7208.26.

How do I classify HRPO steel coil for customs?

HRPO steel coil is classified under HS code 720826 — Iron or non-alloy steel; in coils, without patterns in relief, flat-rolled, of a width 600mm or more, hot-rolled, pickled, of a thickness of 3mm or more but less than 4.75mm. This is a 6-digit subheading level code.

Why is pickling important for classification?

Pickling is a specific surface treatment recognized by the HS system that moves the product into the 7208.2x subheadings, separating it from non-treated hot-rolled steel.

Which countries are the top exporters of HRPO steel coil (HS 720826)?

In 2025, the top exporters of HS 720826 (the code used for HRPO steel coil) in UN Comtrade data were South Korea ($438M, 17% of world exports), Belgium ($397M) and Egypt ($294M). World exports came to about $2.5B, 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 HRPO steel coil (HS 720826)?

In 2025, the top importers of HS 720826 (the code used for HRPO steel coil) in UN Comtrade data were Germany ($298M, 13% of world imports), Thailand ($223M) and Mexico ($167M). World imports came to about $2.2B, 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 HRPO steel coil the same in all countries?

The base HS code 720826 for HRPO steel coil 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 HRPO steel coil in Brazil?

Brazil splits HS 720826 into 2 NCM codes, so the right one for HRPO steel coil depends on the product's details: 7208.26.10 (Pickled hot-rolled coil 3-4.75 mm, 355 MPa yield), 7208.26.90 (Other pickled hot-rolled coil, 3 to under 4.75 mm).