Product classification
HS code for Seamless steel pipes: 7304.90
Iron or steel (excluding cast iron), seamless, tubes, pipes and hollow profiles, seamless, n.e.c. in heading no. 7304.
Classification of seamless steel pipes under HS 7304.90
Seamless steel pipes are classified under HS code 7304.90 based on their manufacturing process and material composition. Heading 7304 is dedicated to tubes, pipes, and hollow profiles that are seamless and made of iron or steel. The sub-heading 7304.90 serves as a residual category for products that do not fall under more specific sub-headings, such as line pipe used for oil or gas pipelines (7304.11-19) or casing and tubing used in drilling for oil or gas (7304.22-29). To be classified here, the pipe must be produced without a welded seam, typically through processes like hot rolling, cold drawing, or extrusion. This classification is determined by the General Rules of Interpretation (GRI) 1 and 6, which prioritize the seamless nature of the product and its specific industrial application. These pipes are often used in high-pressure environments, mechanical engineering, and structural applications where the integrity of a seamless wall is required.
- Covers
- Hot-rolled seamless steel pipes for structural use
- Cold-drawn seamless tubes for mechanical applications
- Hollow profiles of non-alloy steel without a weld
- Seamless alloy steel pipes not specified in other 7304 subheadings
- Precision seamless tubes for hydraulic systems
- Also under 7304.90
- Parker Hannifin seamless hydraulic tubing
- Sandvik specialized seamless profiles
- Nippon Steel seamless mechanical tubes
- Custom-engineered seamless steel components
Codes often confused with 7304.90
Common mistake. Seamless steel pipes are frequently confused with welded pipes classified under 7305 or 7306. Heading 7305 covers welded pipes with an external diameter exceeding 406.4 mm, while 7306 covers other welded pipes and tubes. The presence of any longitudinal or spiral seam immediately disqualifies a product from 7304.90. Additionally, stainless steel seamless pipes should be classified under 7304.11 or 7304.41 rather than 7304.90, which is generally reserved for other steel types.
Top exporters and importers of HS 730490 (the code used for seamless steel pipes), 2025
In 2025, the largest exporter of HS 730490 (the code used for seamless steel pipes) in UN Comtrade data was France, with 24% of world exports; the largest importer in UN Comtrade data was Singapore, with 7.2% 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 730490, not only seamless steel pipes.
Top exporters 2025 · share of world exports
- 1 France $163M 24% of world exports
- 2 China $73M 11% of world exports
- 3 Singapore $52M 7.7% of world exports
World total: $675M Reported figures on UN Comtrade ↗
Top importers 2025 · share of world imports
- 1 Singapore $61M 7.2% of world imports
- 2 Saudi Arabia $60M 7.1% of world imports
- 3 France $55M 6.5% of world imports
World total: $843M 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 seamless steel pipes
Brazil splits HS 7304.90 into 3 NCM codes. Pick the one that matches your product:
- 7304.90.11Other seamless stainless tubes/profiles, to 229 mm
- 7304.90.19Other seamless tubes/profiles, to 229 mm
- 7304.90.90Other seamless tubes/profiles, over 229 mm
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 seamless steel pipes
What is the HS code for Seamless steel pipes?
The HS code for Seamless steel pipes is 730490 (Iron or steel (excluding cast iron); seamless, tubes, pipes and hollow profiles, seamless, n.e.c. in heading no. 7304). The primary HS code for seamless steel pipes not used for oil/gas lines or casing is 7304.90.
How do I classify Seamless steel pipes for customs?
Seamless steel pipes is classified under HS code 730490 — Iron or steel (excluding cast iron); seamless, tubes, pipes and hollow profiles, seamless, n.e.c. in heading no. 7304. This is a 6-digit subheading level code.
How do I distinguish between 7304 and 7306?
The distinction is based on the manufacturing method: 7304 is strictly for seamless products, whereas 7306 is for welded tubes and pipes.
Which countries are the top exporters of seamless steel pipes (HS 730490)?
In 2025, the top exporters of HS 730490 (the code used for seamless steel pipes) in UN Comtrade data were France ($163M, 24% of world exports), China ($73M) and Singapore ($52M). World exports came to about $675M, 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 seamless steel pipes (HS 730490)?
In 2025, the top importers of HS 730490 (the code used for seamless steel pipes) in UN Comtrade data were Singapore ($61M, 7.2% of world imports), Saudi Arabia ($60M) and France ($55M). World imports came to about $843M, 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 Seamless steel pipes the same in all countries?
The base HS code 730490 for Seamless steel pipes 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 seamless steel pipes in Brazil?
Brazil splits HS 730490 into 3 NCM codes, so the right one for seamless steel pipes depends on the product's details: 7304.90.11 (Other seamless stainless tubes/profiles, to 229 mm), 7304.90.19 (Other seamless tubes/profiles, to 229 mm), 7304.90.90 (Other seamless tubes/profiles, over 229 mm).