Product classification
HS code for Industrial waste macadam: 2517.20
Macadam of slag, dross or similar industrial waste, whether or not incorporating the materials in Tariff item 2517.10.00.
Classification of industrial waste macadam under HS 2517.20
Industrial waste macadam is classified under HS code 2517.20 because it consists of slag, dross, or similar industrial by-products that have been processed for use in civil engineering and road construction. Chapter 25 of the Harmonized System covers salt, sulfur, earths, and stone. Heading 2517 specifically addresses pebbles, gravel, and broken or crushed stone of a kind commonly used for concrete aggregates, for road metalling, or for railway ballast. Subheading 2517.20 is dedicated to macadam made from industrial waste. The classification is based on the material's origin and its physical form. Macadam typically refers to a layer of crushed stone or slag where the fragments are relatively uniform in size and are compacted to form a durable surface. When this material is derived from the waste products of metallurgical processes, such as the slag from iron or steel production, it is directed to this specific code. The inclusion of natural stone materials from subheading 2517.10 within the mixture does not change the classification, provided the industrial waste component is the defining characteristic of the product. This material is valued in the construction industry for its sustainability and its ability to provide a stable base for heavy-duty pavements and railway tracks.
- Covers
- Crushed blast furnace slag for road base
- Steel dross macadam for railway ballast
- Processed industrial waste aggregates
- Slag-based road metalling materials
- Also under 2517.20
- Basic oxygen furnace (BOF) slag macadam
- electric arc furnace (EAF) slag aggregate
- granulated blast furnace slag (GBFS) road material
- recycled concrete aggregate (RCA) macadam
Codes often confused with 2517.20
Common mistake. This code is often confused with 2618.00 (granulated slag from the manufacture of iron or steel) or 2619.00 (slag, dross, and other waste). The distinction lies in the level of processing; 2517.20 refers to material that has been crushed and graded specifically for use as macadam, whereas Chapter 26 codes refer to raw or minimally processed metallurgical waste.
Top exporters and importers of HS 251720 (the code used for industrial waste macadam), 2025
In 2025, the largest exporter of HS 251720 (the code used for industrial waste macadam) in UN Comtrade data was China, with 25% of world exports; the largest importer in UN Comtrade data was the United States, with 28% 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 251720, not only industrial waste macadam.
Top exporters 2025 · share of world exports
- 1 China $11M 25% of world exports
- 2 Canada $9.7M 22% of world exports
- 3 United States $6.3M 14% of world exports
World total: $44M Reported figures on UN Comtrade ↗
Top importers 2025 · share of world imports
- 1 United States $9.7M 28% of world imports
- 2 Belgium $4.4M 13% of world imports
- 3 Oman $3.9M 12% of world imports
World total: $34M 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 industrial waste macadam
Brazil classifies industrial waste macadam under NCM 2517.20.00: HS 2517.20 with 00 added.
Source: Siscomex NCM table, updated Oct 2026. The Portuguese text on each NCM page is the official one.
Questions about industrial waste macadam
What is the HS code for Industrial waste macadam?
The HS code for Industrial waste macadam is 251720 (Macadam of slag, dross or similar industrial waste; whether or not incorporating the materials in Tariff item 2517.10.00). The HS code for macadam made of slag, dross, or similar industrial waste is 2517.20.
How do I classify Industrial waste macadam for customs?
Industrial waste macadam is classified under HS code 251720 — Macadam of slag, dross or similar industrial waste; whether or not incorporating the materials in Tariff item 2517.10.00. This is a 6-digit subheading level code.
Can this code include natural gravel?
Natural gravel and crushed stone are classified under 2517.10; however, if they are mixed with industrial waste macadam, the mixture may still fall under 2517.20.
Which countries are the top exporters of industrial waste macadam (HS 251720)?
In 2025, the top exporters of HS 251720 (the code used for industrial waste macadam) in UN Comtrade data were China ($11M, 25% of world exports), Canada ($9.7M) and the United States ($6.3M). World exports came to about $44M, 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 industrial waste macadam (HS 251720)?
In 2025, the top importers of HS 251720 (the code used for industrial waste macadam) in UN Comtrade data were the United States ($9.7M, 28% of world imports), Belgium ($4.4M) and Oman ($3.9M). World imports came to about $34M, 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 Industrial waste macadam the same in all countries?
The base HS code 251720 for Industrial waste macadam 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 industrial waste macadam in Brazil?
In Brazil, industrial waste macadam (HS 251720) is classified under NCM 2517.20.00.