Product classification
HS code for Hydrated lime: 2522.20
Slaked lime, excluding calcium oxide and hydroxide of heading no. 2825.
Classification of hydrated lime under HS 2522.20
Hydrated lime, also known as slaked lime or calcium hydroxide, is classified under HS code 2522.20. This classification is found within Chapter 25, which covers salt, sulfur, earths, and stone, specifically focusing on lime and cement. According to the Explanatory Notes for heading 2522, this code includes lime obtained by the hydration of quicklime (calcium oxide). The process involves adding water to quicklime, resulting in a chemical reaction that produces calcium hydroxide. It is important to note that this classification is for industrial or construction-grade hydrated lime. If the product is chemically pure or presented in specific forms for pharmaceutical use, it might be excluded from this chapter, but for the vast majority of commercial and industrial applications, 2522.20 is the definitive code.
- Covers
- Slaked lime
- Calcium hydroxide (industrial grade)
- Building lime (hydrated)
- Agricultural hydrated lime
- Also under 2522.20
- Carmeuse hydrated lime
- Graymont hydrated lime
- Lhoist hydrated lime
- Mississippi Lime hydrated lime
Codes often confused with 2522.20
Common mistake. Hydrated lime is frequently confused with quicklime, which is classified under HS code 2522.10. The difference is that quicklime is calcium oxide (unslaked), while hydrated lime has undergone the slaking process. Another common error is classifying it under HS code 2825.90, which covers chemically pure calcium hydroxide. However, Chapter 25 notes specify that heading 2522 includes slaked lime even if it is relatively pure, provided it is not prepared as a laboratory reagent or for specific chemical synthesis requiring high-purity standards.
Top exporters and importers of HS 252220 (the code used for hydrated lime), 2025
In 2025, the largest exporter of HS 252220 (the code used for hydrated lime) in UN Comtrade data was Germany, with 13% of world exports; the largest importer in UN Comtrade data was France, with 11% 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 252220, not only hydrated lime.
Top exporters 2025 · share of world exports
- 1 Germany $33M 13% of world exports
- 2 United Kingdom $23M 8.8% of world exports
- 3 Belgium $22M 8.2% of world exports
World total: $263M Reported figures on UN Comtrade ↗
Top importers 2025 · share of world imports
- 1 France $30M 11% of world imports
- 2 Netherlands $25M 9.1% of world imports
- 3 United States $23M 8.3% of world imports
World total: $277M 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 hydrated lime
Brazil classifies hydrated lime under NCM 2522.20.00: HS 2522.20 with 00 added.
Source: Siscomex NCM table, updated Oct 2026. The Portuguese text on each NCM page is the official one.
Questions about hydrated lime
What is the HS code for Hydrated lime?
The HS code for Hydrated lime is 252220 (Slaked lime; excluding calcium oxide and hydroxide of heading no. 2825). The HS code for hydrated lime (slaked lime) is 2522.20.
How do I classify Hydrated lime for customs?
Hydrated lime is classified under HS code 252220 — Slaked lime; excluding calcium oxide and hydroxide of heading no. 2825. This is a 6-digit subheading level code.
Is calcium hydroxide always classified under 2522.20?
No, while industrial-grade calcium hydroxide is 2522.20, chemically pure calcium hydroxide is classified under HS code 2825.90.
Which countries are the top exporters of hydrated lime (HS 252220)?
In 2025, the top exporters of HS 252220 (the code used for hydrated lime) in UN Comtrade data were Germany ($33M, 13% of world exports), the United Kingdom ($23M) and Belgium ($22M). World exports came to about $263M, 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 hydrated lime (HS 252220)?
In 2025, the top importers of HS 252220 (the code used for hydrated lime) in UN Comtrade data were France ($30M, 11% of world imports), the Netherlands ($25M) and the United States ($23M). World imports came to about $277M, 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 Hydrated lime the same in all countries?
The base HS code 252220 for Hydrated lime 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 hydrated lime in Brazil?
In Brazil, hydrated lime (HS 252220) is classified under NCM 2522.20.00.