Product classification

HS code for Lead ingots: 7801.10

Lead, unwrought, refined.

Classification of lead ingots under HS 7801.10

Lead ingots are classified under HS code 7801.10 because they represent the primary, unwrought form of refined lead. According to the General Rules of Interpretation (GRI) and the Chapter 78 notes of the Harmonized System, unwrought lead is lead that has not been worked beyond simple casting into shapes such as ingots, blocks, billets, or slabs. The subheading 7801.10 specifically designates refined lead, which is defined as metal containing at least 99.9% lead by weight, or lead where the content of other elements like silver, tin, or arsenic does not exceed specific thresholds defined in the legal notes. This classification ensures that the raw material is distinguished from lead alloys or lead waste and scrap. The process of refining involves removing impurities from lead bullion to reach these high purity levels, making 7801.10 the correct designation for high-purity industrial ingots used in further manufacturing processes such as battery production or chemical piping.

Covers
  • Refined lead ingots
  • High-purity lead blocks
  • Lead billets for extrusion
  • Lead slabs for rolling
  • 99.9% pure lead pigs
Also under 7801.10
  • Doe Run lead ingots
  • Teck Resources refined lead
  • Glencore lead ingots
  • recycled lead from battery manufacturers

Codes often confused with 7801.10

Common mistake. Lead ingots are frequently confused with HS code 7801.91, which covers lead containing antimony as the main other element by weight (lead alloys). Another common error is using 7802.00, which is strictly for lead waste and scrap. If the ingot is not refined to 99.9% purity and contains significant alloying elements, it must be moved to the 7801.9x subheadings. Additionally, if the lead has been rolled into a shape, it is no longer unwrought and moves to 7804.

7801.91Lead; unwrought, unrefined, containing by weight antimony as the principal other element7802.00Lead; waste and scrap78.01Lead; unwrought78.04Lead; plates, sheets, strip and foil, lead powders and flakes

Top exporters and importers of HS 780110 (the code used for lead ingots), 2025

In 2025, the largest exporter of HS 780110 (the code used for lead ingots) in UN Comtrade data was India, with 19% of world exports; the largest importer in UN Comtrade data was the United States, with 18% 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 780110, not only lead ingots.

Top exporters 2025 · share of world exports

  1. 1 India $906M
  2. 2 South Korea $499M
  3. 3 Australia $306M

World total: $4.8B Reported figures on UN Comtrade ↗

Top importers 2025 · share of world imports

  1. 1 United States $941M
  2. 2 Singapore $608M
  3. 3 Vietnam* ~$529M

World total: $5.2B 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 marked * did not, so their figures add up what other countries recorded trading with them, and their exports are valued at buyers' CIF prices. 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 lead ingots

Brazil splits HS 7801.10 into 3 NCM codes. Pick the one that matches your product:

Source: Siscomex NCM table, updated Oct 2026. The Portuguese text on each NCM page is the official one.

Questions about lead ingots

What is the HS code for Lead ingots?

The HS code for Lead ingots is 780110 (Lead; unwrought, refined). The HS code for refined lead ingots is 7801.10. If the ingots are made of lead alloys, the code is 7801.91 or 7801.99.

How do I classify Lead ingots for customs?

Lead ingots is classified under HS code 780110 — Lead; unwrought, refined. This is a 6-digit subheading level code.

What defines refined lead for this classification?

Refined lead must contain at least 99.9% lead by weight, or meet specific low-impurity thresholds for elements like bismuth, copper, and iron as per Chapter 78 Note 1.

Which countries are the top exporters of lead ingots (HS 780110)?

In 2025, the top exporters of HS 780110 (the code used for lead ingots) in UN Comtrade data were India ($906M, 19% of world exports), South Korea ($499M) and Australia ($306M). World exports came to about $4.8B, 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 lead ingots (HS 780110)?

In 2025, the top importers of HS 780110 (the code used for lead ingots) in UN Comtrade data were the United States ($941M, 18% of world imports), Singapore ($608M) and Vietnam (about $529M). World imports came to about $5.2B, 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 Lead ingots the same in all countries?

The base HS code 780110 for Lead ingots 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 lead ingots in Brazil?

Brazil splits HS 780110 into 3 NCM codes, so the right one for lead ingots depends on the product's details: 7801.10.11 (Electrolytic refined lead ingots), 7801.10.19 (Other unwrought electrolytic lead), 7801.10.90 (Other unwrought refined lead).