Product classification
HS code for Scrap cobalt: 8105.30
Cobalt, waste and scrap.
Classification of scrap cobalt under HS 8105.30
Scrap cobalt is classified under HS code 8105.30, which specifically addresses cobalt waste and scrap. This classification is part of Chapter 81, which covers "Other base metals; cermets; articles thereof." The determination for this code relies on the material being "waste and scrap," defined as metallic waste and scrap from the manufacture or mechanical working of metals, and metal goods definitely not usable as such because of breakage, cutting-up, wear, or other reasons. Cobalt scrap often originates from the aerospace industry, where cobalt-based superalloys are used in turbine blades, or from the production of rechargeable batteries and chemical catalysts. To qualify for 8105.30, the material must be primarily cobalt by weight and must be intended for recovery of the metal or for use in the manufacture of chemicals. This code excludes cobalt ores and concentrates, which are found in Chapter 26, and focuses strictly on the secondary raw material stream generated from industrial processes or end-of-life products.
- Covers
- Cobalt alloy scrap (predominantly cobalt)
- Machining turnings and shavings of cobalt
- Rejected cobalt-based turbine blades
- Spent cobalt catalysts in metallic form
- Broken cobalt-containing tool bits
- Also under 8105.30
- EV battery recycling scrap
- Aerospace turbine blade scrap
- Industrial catalyst waste
- Medical implant cobalt scrap
- Hard metal tool cobalt scrap
Codes often confused with 8105.30
Common mistake. One common misclassification is HS code 2605.00, which is for cobalt ores and concentrates; scrap is a processed metal product, not a raw mineral. Another error involves HS code 8105.20, which covers unwrought cobalt (virgin metal ingots or powders). If the material has been used or is a byproduct of manufacturing, it must be classified as scrap. Furthermore, lithium-ion battery scrap containing cobalt is often misclassified here, but it should generally be classified under 8548 or 8549 depending on the specific nature of the waste and the current version of the HS nomenclature.
Top exporters and importers of HS 810530 (the code used for scrap cobalt), 2025
In 2025, the largest exporter of HS 810530 (the code used for scrap cobalt) in UN Comtrade data was the United Kingdom, with 20% 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 810530, not only scrap cobalt.
Top exporters 2025 · share of world exports
- 1 United Kingdom $12M 20% of world exports
- 2 United States $9.1M 15% of world exports
- 3 Germany $5.1M 8.7% of world exports
World total: $59M Reported figures on UN Comtrade ↗
Top importers 2025 · share of world imports
- 1 United States $20M 29% of world imports
- 2 United Kingdom $15M 21% of world imports
- 3 Finland $10M 15% of world imports
World total: $69M 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 scrap cobalt
Brazil classifies scrap cobalt under NCM 8105.30.00: HS 8105.30 with 00 added.
Source: Siscomex NCM table, updated Oct 2026. The Portuguese text on each NCM page is the official one.
Questions about scrap cobalt
What is the HS code for Scrap cobalt?
The HS code for Scrap cobalt is 810530 (Cobalt; waste and scrap).
How do I classify Scrap cobalt for customs?
Scrap cobalt is classified under HS code 810530 — Cobalt; waste and scrap. This is a 6-digit subheading level code.
What is the HS code for cobalt scrap?
The specific HS code for cobalt waste and scrap is 8105.30.
Can cobalt-based alloys be classified under 8105.30?
Yes, provided that cobalt is the predominant metal by weight in the alloy and the material meets the definition of waste or scrap.
Which countries are the top exporters of scrap cobalt (HS 810530)?
In 2025, the top exporters of HS 810530 (the code used for scrap cobalt) in UN Comtrade data were the United Kingdom ($12M, 20% of world exports), the United States ($9.1M) and Germany ($5.1M). World exports came to about $59M, 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 scrap cobalt (HS 810530)?
In 2025, the top importers of HS 810530 (the code used for scrap cobalt) in UN Comtrade data were the United States ($20M, 29% of world imports), the United Kingdom ($15M) and Finland ($10M). World imports came to about $69M, 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 Scrap cobalt the same in all countries?
The base HS code 810530 for Scrap cobalt 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 scrap cobalt in Brazil?
In Brazil, scrap cobalt (HS 810530) is classified under NCM 8105.30.00.