Product classification
HS code for Sandstone blocks: 2516.20
Sandstone,. whether or not roughly trimmed, cut, by sawing etc, into blocks or slabs of a rectangular (including square) shape.
Classification of sandstone blocks under HS 2516.20
Sandstone blocks are classified under HS code 2516.20, which falls within Chapter 25: Salt; sulfur; earths and stone; plastering materials, lime and cement. This chapter generally covers minerals and stones in their crude state or which have been washed, crushed, or roughly shaped. Specifically, 2516.20 covers sandstone that is either in its natural state, roughly trimmed, or merely cut by sawing or otherwise into blocks or slabs of a rectangular or square shape. The critical distinction for this classification is the level of processing. If the stone has been further worked—such as being polished, chamfered, drilled, or carved—it would no longer fall under Chapter 25 and would instead be classified in Chapter 68. The sawing process used to create the blocks or slabs does not constitute "working" the stone in a way that moves it to the higher-value classification of Chapter 68, provided the surfaces remain in a sawn or roughly finished state. This code is used primarily for raw building materials and monumental stone in its initial stages of preparation.
- Covers
- Raw sandstone blocks
- Sawn sandstone slabs (unpolished)
- Roughly squared sandstone for construction
- Quarried sandstone blocks
- Rectangular sandstone slabs for further processing
- Also under 2516.20
- Indian Teakwood sandstone slabs
- Kota Brown sandstone blocks
- Yorkshire sandstone paving
- Australian Helidon sandstone
- Chinese Yellow Wood Grain sandstone
Codes often confused with 2516.20
Common mistake. Sandstone is often misclassified under 6802.29, which covers worked monumental or building stone. The difference lies in the finish; if the sandstone is polished or has molded edges, it belongs in 6802. It is also sometimes confused with 2515, which is specifically for marble, travertine, and ecaussine.
Top exporters and importers of HS 251620 (the code used for sandstone blocks), 2025
In 2025, the largest exporter of HS 251620 (the code used for sandstone blocks) in UN Comtrade data was India, with 74% of world exports; the largest importer in UN Comtrade data was the United Kingdom, with 33% 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 251620, not only sandstone blocks.
Top exporters 2025 · share of world exports
- 1 India $65M 74% of world exports
- 2 Spain $7.6M 8.6% of world exports
- 3 Ireland $2.4M 2.7% of world exports
World total: $88M Reported figures on UN Comtrade ↗
Top importers 2025 · share of world imports
- 1 United Kingdom $48M 33% of world imports
- 2 China $41M 28% of world imports
- 3 United States $11M 7.3% of world imports
World total: $145M 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 sandstone blocks
Brazil classifies sandstone blocks under NCM 2516.20.00: HS 2516.20 with 00 added.
Source: Siscomex NCM table, updated Oct 2026. The Portuguese text on each NCM page is the official one.
Questions about sandstone blocks
What is the HS code for Sandstone blocks?
The HS code for Sandstone blocks is 251620 (Sandstone;. whether or not roughly trimmed, cut, by sawing etc, into blocks or slabs of a rectangular (including square) shape). The HS code for sandstone blocks that are roughly trimmed or merely sawn is 2516.20.
How do I classify Sandstone blocks for customs?
Sandstone blocks is classified under HS code 251620 — Sandstone;. whether or not roughly trimmed, cut, by sawing etc, into blocks or slabs of a rectangular (including square) shape. This is a 6-digit subheading level code.
What if the sandstone block is polished?
If the sandstone has been polished or further worked beyond simple sawing, it must be classified under HS code 6802.29.
Which countries are the top exporters of sandstone blocks (HS 251620)?
In 2025, the top exporters of HS 251620 (the code used for sandstone blocks) in UN Comtrade data were India ($65M, 74% of world exports), Spain ($7.6M) and Ireland ($2.4M). World exports came to about $88M, 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 sandstone blocks (HS 251620)?
In 2025, the top importers of HS 251620 (the code used for sandstone blocks) in UN Comtrade data were the United Kingdom ($48M, 33% of world imports), China ($41M) and the United States ($11M). World imports came to about $145M, 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 Sandstone blocks the same in all countries?
The base HS code 251620 for Sandstone blocks 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 sandstone blocks in Brazil?
In Brazil, sandstone blocks (HS 251620) is classified under NCM 2516.20.00.