Product classification
HS code for Oil shale: 2714.10
Bituminous or oil shale and tar sands.
Classification of oil shale under HS 2714.10
Oil shale and tar sands are classified under HS code 2714.10. This code is situated in Chapter 27, which covers mineral fuels, mineral oils, and products of their distillation, bituminous substances, and mineral waxes. Heading 2714 specifically includes bitumen and asphalt, natural; bituminous or oil shale and tar sands; asphaltites and asphaltic rocks. The classification 2714.10 is dedicated to the raw mineral form of bituminous or oil shale. These are sedimentary rocks containing kerogen, from which liquid hydrocarbons can be extracted through heating and distillation. The classification is based on the geological and chemical nature of the substance as a naturally occurring bituminous mineral, distinguishing it from refined petroleum products or standard coal. Because these materials require significant processing to yield usable oil, they are categorized as raw mineral substances rather than finished fuels.
- Covers
- Raw oil shale rock
- Crushed oil shale for processing
- Natural tar sands (bituminous sands)
- Kerogen-rich sedimentary rocks
- Bituminous shale in bulk form
- Also under 2714.10
- Syncrude Canada Tar Sands
- Suncor Energy Tar Sands
- Eesti Energia Oil Shale
- Shell Canada Tar Sands
Codes often confused with 2714.10
Common mistake. Oil shale is often confused with HS code 2701, which covers coal and solid fuels manufactured from coal. Although both are mined solid fuels, their chemical composition and the nature of the hydrocarbons they contain are different. Another common misclassification is 2713, which covers petroleum coke, petroleum bitumen, and other residues of petroleum oils. While 2713 deals with the byproducts of refining, 2714.10 deals with the naturally occurring mineral. Additionally, shale oil (the liquid extracted from the rock) is classified under 2710, not 2714.10, as it has been processed into a liquid fuel.
Top exporters and importers of HS 271410 (the code used for oil shale), 2025
In 2025, the largest exporter of HS 271410 (the code used for oil shale) in UN Comtrade data was Malaysia, with 36% of world exports; the largest importer in UN Comtrade data was Romania, with 40% 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 271410, not only oil shale.
Top exporters 2025 · share of world exports
- 1 Malaysia $2.7M 36% of world exports
- 2 Portugal $935K 13% of world exports
- 3 Netherlands $861K 12% of world exports
World total: $7.3M Reported figures on UN Comtrade ↗
Top importers 2025 · share of world imports
- 1 Romania $7.0M 40% of world imports
- 2 United Kingdom $2.4M 14% of world imports
- 3 Fiji $1.7M 9.7% of world imports
World total: $17M 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 oil shale
Brazil classifies oil shale under NCM 2714.10.00: HS 2714.10 with 00 added.
Source: Siscomex NCM table, updated Oct 2026. The Portuguese text on each NCM page is the official one.
Questions about oil shale
What is the HS code for Oil shale?
The HS code for Oil shale is 271410 (Bituminous or oil shale and tar sands). The HS code for oil shale and tar sands is 2714.10.
How do I classify Oil shale for customs?
Oil shale is classified under HS code 271410 — Bituminous or oil shale and tar sands. This is a 6-digit subheading level code.
Is shale oil classified under the same code as oil shale?
No, shale oil (the liquid extract) is classified under heading 2710 as a petroleum oil, whereas 2714.10 is strictly for the raw mineral shale or tar sands.
Which countries are the top exporters of oil shale (HS 271410)?
In 2025, the top exporters of HS 271410 (the code used for oil shale) in UN Comtrade data were Malaysia ($2.7M, 36% of world exports), Portugal ($935K) and the Netherlands ($861K). World exports came to about $7.3M, 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 oil shale (HS 271410)?
In 2025, the top importers of HS 271410 (the code used for oil shale) in UN Comtrade data were Romania ($7.0M, 40% of world imports), the United Kingdom ($2.4M) and Fiji ($1.7M). World imports came to about $17M, 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 Oil shale the same in all countries?
The base HS code 271410 for Oil shale 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 oil shale in Brazil?
In Brazil, oil shale (HS 271410) is classified under NCM 2714.10.00.