Product classification
HS code for Slag macadam: 2517.20
Macadam of slag, dross or similar industrial waste, whether or not incorporating the materials in Tariff item 2517.10.00.
Classification of slag macadam under HS 2517.20
Slag macadam is classified under HS code 2517.20. This code is designated for macadam consisting of slag, dross, or similar industrial waste. The classification is based on the material's composition and its intended use in civil engineering and road construction. Heading 2517 covers various types of aggregates used for concrete, road metal, or railway ballast. Subheading 2517.20 specifically captures the recycled industrial by-products that have been processed into a form suitable for road-making (macadam). This classification remains valid even if the slag is mixed with natural stone materials described in 2517.10, provided the slag component is a significant part of the mixture intended for macadam use. The material is typically crushed and graded to specific sizes to ensure structural integrity in pavement layers.
- Covers
- Crushed blast furnace slag for roads
- Steel slag macadam
- Processed industrial dross for paving
- Slag-based road base aggregates
- Mixed slag and stone macadam
- Also under 2517.20
- Basic oxygen furnace (BOF) slag macadam
- electric arc furnace (EAF) slag aggregate
- granulated blast furnace slag (GBFS) road material
- recycled concrete aggregate (RCA) macadam
Codes often confused with 2517.20
Common mistake. Slag macadam is often confused with 2618.00, which covers granulated slag (slag sand) from the manufacture of iron or steel. It is also sometimes misclassified under 2517.10, which is reserved for macadam made of natural stones like flint, pebbles, or crushed stone. The distinction lies in whether the source material is a natural mineral or an industrial waste product.
Top exporters and importers of HS 251720 (the code used for slag macadam), 2025
In 2025, the largest exporter of HS 251720 (the code used for slag macadam) in UN Comtrade data was China, with 25% of world exports; the largest importer in UN Comtrade data was the United States, with 28% 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 251720, not only slag macadam.
Top exporters 2025 · share of world exports
- 1 China $11M 25% of world exports
- 2 Canada $9.7M 22% of world exports
- 3 United States $6.3M 14% of world exports
World total: $44M Reported figures on UN Comtrade ↗
Top importers 2025 · share of world imports
- 1 United States $9.7M 28% of world imports
- 2 Belgium $4.4M 13% of world imports
- 3 Oman $3.9M 12% of world imports
World total: $34M 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 slag macadam
Brazil classifies slag macadam under NCM 2517.20.00: HS 2517.20 with 00 added.
Source: Siscomex NCM table, updated Oct 2026. The Portuguese text on each NCM page is the official one.
Questions about slag macadam
What is the HS code for Slag macadam?
The HS code for Slag macadam is 251720 (Macadam of slag, dross or similar industrial waste; whether or not incorporating the materials in Tariff item 2517.10.00). The HS code for macadam made of slag, dross, or similar industrial waste is 2517.20.
How do I classify Slag macadam for customs?
Slag macadam is classified under HS code 251720 — Macadam of slag, dross or similar industrial waste; whether or not incorporating the materials in Tariff item 2517.10.00. This is a 6-digit subheading level code.
Can slag macadam contain natural stone?
Yes, HS code 2517.20 includes slag macadam whether or not it incorporates the natural stone materials mentioned in subheading 2517.10.
Which countries are the top exporters of slag macadam (HS 251720)?
In 2025, the top exporters of HS 251720 (the code used for slag macadam) in UN Comtrade data were China ($11M, 25% of world exports), Canada ($9.7M) and the United States ($6.3M). World exports came to about $44M, 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 slag macadam (HS 251720)?
In 2025, the top importers of HS 251720 (the code used for slag macadam) in UN Comtrade data were the United States ($9.7M, 28% of world imports), Belgium ($4.4M) and Oman ($3.9M). World imports came to about $34M, 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 Slag macadam the same in all countries?
The base HS code 251720 for Slag macadam 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 slag macadam in Brazil?
In Brazil, slag macadam (HS 251720) is classified under NCM 2517.20.00.