Product classification
HS code for Steel slabs: 7207.12
Iron or non-alloy steel, semi-finished products of iron or non-alloy steel, containing by weight less than 0.25% of carbon, of rectangular (other than square) cross-section.
Classification of steel slabs under HS 7207.12
Steel slabs are classified under HS code 7207.12 as semi-finished products of iron or non-alloy steel. These products must have a carbon content of less than 0.25% and a rectangular (but not square) cross-section where the width is at least twice the thickness. Slabs are the intermediate stage between an ingot and a finished flat-rolled product like a sheet or plate. They are produced either through continuous casting or by the primary rolling of ingots. The classification under 7207.12 is specific to the rectangular shape; if the cross-section were square, it would fall under 7207.11. These slabs are not considered "finished" because they require further hot-rolling to achieve the final dimensions and mechanical properties required for end-use applications. The surface of a slab is typically rough and may show signs of the casting process or primary rolling. They are a critical commodity in the global steel trade, serving as the primary feedstock for mills that produce flat-rolled steel products.
- Covers
- Non-alloy steel slabs
- Continuously cast steel slabs
- Primary rolled rectangular billets
- Low-carbon steel slabs
- Semi-finished flat steel sections
- Also under 7207.12
- Baosteel low carbon slabs
- Hyundai Steel rectangular blooms
- US Steel plate stock
- JFE Steel hot strip feedstock
Codes often confused with 7207.12
Common mistake. Steel slabs are often misclassified as finished plates under heading 7208. However, 7208 is for flat-rolled products that have reached their final thickness. Another common error is using 7207.11, which is reserved for square billets where the width and thickness are approximately equal.
Top exporters and importers of HS 720712 (the code used for steel slabs), 2025
In 2025, the largest exporter of HS 720712 (the code used for steel slabs) in UN Comtrade data was Brazil, with 30% of world exports; the largest importer in UN Comtrade data was the United States, with 15% 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 720712, not only steel slabs.
Top exporters 2025 · share of world exports
- 1 Brazil $3.6B 30% of world exports
- 2 Russia* ~$3.3B 28% of world exports · partner records ↗
- 3 Japan $764M 6.4% of world exports
World total: $11.9B Reported figures on UN Comtrade ↗
Top importers 2025 · share of world imports
- 1 United States $1.9B 15% of world imports
- 2 Türkiye $1.9B 15% of world imports
- 3 Italy $1.4B 11% of world imports
World total: $12.6B 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. 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 steel slabs
Brazil classifies steel slabs under NCM 7207.12.00: HS 7207.12 with 00 added.
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 steel slabs
What is the HS code for Steel slabs?
The HS code for Steel slabs is 720712 (Iron or non-alloy steel; semi-finished products of iron or non-alloy steel; containing by weight less than 0.25% of carbon, of rectangular (other than square) cross-section). The HS code for semi-finished, non-alloy steel slabs with less than 0.25% carbon and a rectangular cross-section is 7207.12.
How do I classify Steel slabs for customs?
Steel slabs is classified under HS code 720712 — Iron or non-alloy steel; semi-finished products of iron or non-alloy steel; containing by weight less than 0.25% of carbon, of rectangular (other than square) cross-section. This is a 6-digit subheading level code.
What is the difference between a steel slab and a steel plate?
A slab (7207.12) is a semi-finished product intended for further rolling, while a plate (7208) is a finished flat-rolled product that has been processed to its final thickness.
Which countries are the top exporters of steel slabs (HS 720712)?
In 2025, the top exporters of HS 720712 (the code used for steel slabs) in UN Comtrade data were Brazil ($3.6B, 30% of world exports), Russia (about $3.3B) and Japan ($764M). World exports came to about $11.9B, 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 steel slabs (HS 720712)?
In 2025, the top importers of HS 720712 (the code used for steel slabs) in UN Comtrade data were the United States ($1.9B, 15% of world imports), Türkiye ($1.9B) and Italy ($1.4B). World imports came to about $12.6B, 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.
Is the HS code for Steel slabs the same in all countries?
The base HS code 720712 for Steel slabs 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 steel slabs in Brazil?
In Brazil, steel slabs (HS 720712) is classified under NCM 7207.12.00.