Product classification
HS code for Pre-painted steel strip: 7212.40
Iron or non-alloy steel, flat-rolled, width less than 600mm, painted, varnished or coated with plastics.
Classification of pre-painted steel strip under HS 7212.40
Pre-painted steel strips are classified under HS code 7212.40. This code is designated for flat-rolled products of iron or non-alloy steel that possess a width of less than 600 mm. Similar to the wider coils, these products are characterized by a surface finish that has been painted, varnished, or coated with plastic materials. The classification logic follows the General Rules for the Interpretation of the Harmonized System (GRI), where the width of the material dictates the specific heading. Heading 7212 is reserved for narrower flat-rolled products, distinguishing them from the wider sheets and coils found in heading 7210. These strips are often produced by slitting larger coils or are manufactured directly to narrow specifications for use in specific industrial applications like automotive trim or appliance manufacturing.
- Covers
- Narrow pre-painted steel strips
- Slit color-coated steel coils (under 600mm)
- Plastic-coated steel strapping
- Varnished steel tape
- Painted hoop steel
- Also under 7212.40
- AkzoNobel coil coated steel (using their paints)
- Nippon Steel pre-painted sheets
- Tata Steel Colorcoat
- BlueScope Steel COLORBOND (narrow width)
- SSAB GreenCoat.
Codes often confused with 7212.40
Common mistake. Which other HS codes get confused with this one and why. Mention specific code numbers. The most frequent misclassification is HS code 7210.70, which applies to the exact same material but with a width of 600 mm or more. Another confusion arises with 7212.30, which covers strips that are only galvanised (zinc-coated) without the subsequent paint or plastic layer. If the strip is made of stainless steel, it must be classified under 7220 regardless of the coating.
Top exporters and importers of HS 721240 (the code used for pre-painted steel strip), 2025
In 2025, the largest exporter of HS 721240 (the code used for pre-painted steel strip) in UN Comtrade data was Germany, with 23% of world exports; the largest importer in UN Comtrade data was the United States, with 7.8% 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 721240, not only pre-painted steel strip.
Top exporters 2025 · share of world exports
- 1 Germany $196M 23% of world exports
- 2 China $192M 23% of world exports
- 3 Belgium $79M 9.3% of world exports
World total: $854M Reported figures on UN Comtrade ↗
Top importers 2025 · share of world imports
- 1 United States $61M 7.8% of world imports
- 2 Germany $55M 7.0% of world imports
- 3 France $45M 5.7% of world imports
World total: $783M 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 codes for pre-painted steel strip
Brazil splits HS 7212.40 into 3 NCM codes. Pick the one that matches your product:
- 7212.40.10Narrow painted or varnished flat steel
- 7212.40.21Narrow plastic-coated steel, sintered bronze layer
- 7212.40.29Other narrow plastic-coated flat steel
Source: Siscomex NCM table, updated Oct 2026. The Portuguese text on each NCM page is the official one.
EU Regulatory Requirements
This product falls under the Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM). Importers to the EU must declare embedded carbon emissions and purchase CBAM certificates.
Questions about pre-painted steel strip
What is the HS code for Pre-painted steel strip?
The HS code for Pre-painted steel strip is 721240 (Iron or non-alloy steel; flat-rolled, width less than 600mm, painted, varnished or coated with plastics). The HS code for pre-painted steel strip with a width of less than 600mm is 7212.40.
How do I classify Pre-painted steel strip for customs?
Pre-painted steel strip is classified under HS code 721240 — Iron or non-alloy steel; flat-rolled, width less than 600mm, painted, varnished or coated with plastics. This is a 6-digit subheading level code.
Can slit coils be classified under 7210.70?
No, once a coil is slit to a width of less than 600mm, it must be reclassified from 7210.70 to 7212.40.
Which countries are the top exporters of pre-painted steel strip (HS 721240)?
In 2025, the top exporters of HS 721240 (the code used for pre-painted steel strip) in UN Comtrade data were Germany ($196M, 23% of world exports), China ($192M) and Belgium ($79M). World exports came to about $854M, 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 pre-painted steel strip (HS 721240)?
In 2025, the top importers of HS 721240 (the code used for pre-painted steel strip) in UN Comtrade data were the United States ($61M, 7.8% of world imports), Germany ($55M) and France ($45M). World imports came to about $783M, 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 Pre-painted steel strip the same in all countries?
The base HS code 721240 for Pre-painted steel strip 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 pre-painted steel strip in Brazil?
Brazil splits HS 721240 into 3 NCM codes, so the right one for pre-painted steel strip depends on the product's details: 7212.40.10 (Narrow painted or varnished flat steel), 7212.40.21 (Narrow plastic-coated steel, sintered bronze layer), 7212.40.29 (Other narrow plastic-coated flat steel).