Product classification

HS code for Mica waste: 2525.30

Mica, waste.

Classification of mica waste under HS 2525.30

Mica waste is classified under HS code 2525.30. This classification is determined by the Harmonized System's Chapter 25, which encompasses salt, sulfur, earths, and stone, as well as plastering materials, lime, and cement. Heading 2525 is specifically dedicated to mica, including its various forms such as splittings and waste. The subheading 2525.30 is reserved for mica waste, which is defined as the scrap or byproduct resulting from the mining, trimming, or processing of mica sheets. According to the General Rules of Interpretation (GRI) 1 and 6, the classification is dictated by the terms of the headings and subheadings. Since the material is a mineral byproduct that has not been further worked or bonded into finished products, it remains within the mineral chapter rather than moving to Chapter 68 for worked stone or mica articles.

Covers
  • Scrap mica from mining operations
  • Mica flakes generated during trimming
  • Damaged or broken mica sheets
  • Mica dust and small particles from industrial processing
Also under 2525.30
  • Mica waste for grinding into powder
  • mica waste for reconstituted mica paper
  • mica waste for insulation fill

Codes often confused with 2525.30

Common mistake. Mica waste is frequently confused with mica powder, which falls under HS code 2525.20. The distinction lies in the level of processing; powder is typically ground to a specific mesh size, whereas waste is the raw byproduct. Additionally, worked mica (such as bonded mica plates or split sheets) is classified under HS code 6814.10 or 6814.90. Importers often mistakenly use 2525.10, which is reserved for crude mica or mica rifted into sheets or splittings, rather than the waste material.

2525.20Mica; powder6814.10Mica; plates, sheets and strips of agglomerated or reconstituted mica, whether or not on a support of paper, paperboard or other materials6814.90Mica; worked mica and articles of mica (excluding plates, sheets and strips) whether or not on a support of paper, paperboard or other materials2525.10Mica; crude and rifted into sheets or splittings

Top exporters and importers of HS 252530 (the code used for mica waste), 2025

In 2025, the largest exporter of HS 252530 (the code used for mica waste) in UN Comtrade data was India, with 89% of world exports; the largest importer in UN Comtrade data was the United States, with 29% 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 252530, not only mica waste.

Top exporters 2025 · share of world exports

  1. 1 India $3.5M
  2. 2 Malaysia $135K
  3. 3 Tanzania $87K

World total: $3.9M Reported figures on UN Comtrade ↗

Top importers 2025 · share of world imports

  1. 1 United States $490K
  2. 2 Tanzania $421K
  3. 3 Japan $220K

World total: $1.7M 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 mica waste

Brazil classifies mica waste under NCM 2525.30.00: HS 2525.30 with 00 added.

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

Questions about mica waste

What is the HS code for Mica waste?

The HS code for Mica waste is 252530 (Mica; waste). The specific HS code for mica waste is 2525.30, which covers scrap and byproducts of mica processing.

How do I classify Mica waste for customs?

Mica waste is classified under HS code 252530 — Mica; waste. This is a 6-digit subheading level code.

How does mica waste differ from mica powder in classification?

Mica waste (2525.30) consists of irregular scraps and fragments, while mica powder (2525.20) has undergone a grinding process to achieve a uniform, fine consistency.

Which countries are the top exporters of mica waste (HS 252530)?

In 2025, the top exporters of HS 252530 (the code used for mica waste) in UN Comtrade data were India ($3.5M, 89% of world exports), Malaysia ($135K) and Tanzania ($87K). World exports came to about $3.9M, 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 mica waste (HS 252530)?

In 2025, the top importers of HS 252530 (the code used for mica waste) in UN Comtrade data were the United States ($490K, 29% of world imports), Tanzania ($421K) and Japan ($220K). World imports came to about $1.7M, 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 Mica waste the same in all countries?

The base HS code 252530 for Mica waste 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 mica waste in Brazil?

In Brazil, mica waste (HS 252530) is classified under NCM 2525.30.00.