Product classification
HS code for Silicon wafers: 3818.00
Chemical elements, doped for use in electronics, in the form of discs, wafers or similar forms, chemical compounds doped for use in electronics.
Classification of silicon wafers under HS 3818.00
Silicon wafers that have been doped for use in electronics are classified under HS code 381800. This code covers chemical elements that have been modified by the addition of small amounts of impurities (doping) to alter their electrical conductivity, provided they are in the form of discs, wafers, or similar shapes. Silicon is the most common element in this category. The doping process involves introducing elements like boron, phosphorus, or antimony into the silicon crystal lattice. This classification is found in Chapter 38 (Miscellaneous Chemical Products) because the doping process and the specific physical form (wafer) transform the raw silicon into a specialized industrial substrate. The code 381800 also includes chemical compounds doped for electronics, but silicon wafers represent the vast majority of trade under this heading. This classification applies to wafers that are polished or unpolished, but they must not have any circuitry or discrete components etched onto them.
- Covers
- Doped silicon wafers
- Polished semiconductor wafers
- Epitaxial silicon wafers
- Doped silicon discs for integrated circuits
- Czochralski-grown silicon wafers
- Also under 3818.00
- Shin-Etsu Chemical silicon wafers
- SUMCO silicon wafers
- GlobalWafers
- Siltronic
- SK Siltron
Codes often confused with 3818.00
Common mistake. Silicon wafers are often misclassified as pure silicon under HS code 280461. However, 280461 is only for undoped silicon. Once the silicon is doped, it must move to 381800. Another common error is classifying wafers as finished semiconductor devices under HS code 8541. If the wafer has been further processed to include transistors, diodes, or integrated circuits, it is no longer a "wafer" in the sense of 381800 and must be classified in Chapter 85. Finally, undoped wafers in disc form are sometimes incorrectly placed here; they should remain in 2804.
Top exporters and importers of HS 381800 (the code used for silicon wafers), 2025
In 2025, the largest exporter of HS 381800 (the code used for silicon wafers) in UN Comtrade data was Japan, with 27% of world exports; the largest importer in UN Comtrade data was South Korea, with 17% 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 381800, not only silicon wafers.
Top exporters 2025 · share of world exports
- 1 Japan $4.7B 27% of world exports
- 2 China $2.6B 15% of world exports
- 3 South Korea $2.6B 15% of world exports
World total: $17.6B Reported figures on UN Comtrade ↗
Top importers 2025 · share of world imports
- 1 South Korea $3.3B 17% of world imports
- 2 Taiwan* ~$3.2B 16% of world imports · partner records ↗
- 3 China $2.4B 13% of world imports
World total: $19.5B 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 marked * did not, so their figures add up what other countries recorded trading with them, and their exports are valued at buyers' CIF prices. 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. UN Comtrade records Taiwan as "Other Asia, not elsewhere specified". Saudi Arabia's exports under that code are left out: they are far too large to be trade with Taiwan, so mostly undisclosed partners. 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 silicon wafers
Brazil splits HS 3818.00 into 2 NCM codes. Pick the one that matches your product:
- 3818.00.10Doped silicon for electronics
- 3818.00.90Other doped elements and compounds, electronics
Source: Siscomex NCM table, updated Oct 2026. The Portuguese text on each NCM page is the official one.
Questions about silicon wafers
What is the HS code for Silicon wafers?
The HS code for Silicon wafers is 381800 (Chemical elements; doped for use in electronics, in the form of discs, wafers or similar forms; chemical compounds doped for use in electronics). The HS code for silicon wafers doped for electronic use is 381800.
How do I classify Silicon wafers for customs?
Silicon wafers is classified under HS code 381800 — Chemical elements; doped for use in electronics, in the form of discs, wafers or similar forms; chemical compounds doped for use in electronics. This is a 6-digit subheading level code.
Are finished microchips classified under the same code as silicon wafers?
No, finished microchips and integrated circuits are classified under HS code 8542, whereas 381800 is only for the doped substrate wafers before circuitry is added.
Which countries are the top exporters of silicon wafers (HS 381800)?
In 2025, the top exporters of HS 381800 (the code used for silicon wafers) in UN Comtrade data were Japan ($4.7B, 27% of world exports), China ($2.6B) and South Korea ($2.6B). World exports came to about $17.6B, 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 silicon wafers (HS 381800)?
In 2025, the top importers of HS 381800 (the code used for silicon wafers) in UN Comtrade data were South Korea ($3.3B, 17% of world imports), Taiwan (about $3.2B) and China ($2.4B). World imports came to about $19.5B, 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 Silicon wafers the same in all countries?
The base HS code 381800 for Silicon wafers 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 silicon wafers in Brazil?
Brazil splits HS 381800 into 2 NCM codes, so the right one for silicon wafers depends on the product's details: 3818.00.10 (Doped silicon for electronics), 3818.00.90 (Other doped elements and compounds, electronics).