Product classification

HS code for Steel structural shapes: 7216.50

Iron or non-alloy steel, angles, shapes and sections, n.e.c. in heading no. 7216, hot-rolled, hot-drawn or extruded.

Classification of steel structural shapes under HS 7216.50

HS code 7216.50 is designated for angles, shapes, and sections of iron or non-alloy steel that have been hot-rolled, hot-drawn, or extruded. These products are classified here when they do not meet the specific dimensional or shape criteria of subheadings 7216.10 through 7216.40, which cover standard U, I, H, L, or T sections of specific heights. The classification relies on the metallurgical state (non-alloy steel) and the primary production method (hot-working). These shapes are considered semi-finished products used as raw materials in construction and engineering. They are distinguished from finished structures by the fact that they have not been further worked (such as being drilled, bent, or punched) to the point of becoming identifiable parts of a specific building or bridge. The 7216 heading is strictly for products that have not been cold-formed or cold-finished after the initial hot-working process.

Covers
  • Hot-rolled steel bulb flats
  • Specialized hot-drawn steel profiles
  • Extruded non-alloy steel sections
  • Custom hot-rolled angles not meeting standard U/I/H dimensions
  • Hot-finished Z-sections
Also under 7216.50
  • ArcelorMittal I-beams
  • Nucor H-piles
  • Tata Steel channels
  • SSAB structural sections
  • JFE Steel wide flange beams

Codes often confused with 7216.50

Common mistake. Steel structural shapes are frequently misclassified under HS code 7308.90. Heading 7308 is for prepared structures and parts of structures; if the steel shape has been drilled, notched, or welded into a component, it moves from 7216 to 7308. Additionally, if the shape is made of stainless steel, it must be classified under 7222.40. Cold-formed shapes are also a source of confusion and belong under 7216.61 or 7216.69 rather than 7216.50.

7308.90Iron or steel; structures and parts thereof, n.e.c. in heading 730873.08Structures of iron or steel and parts thereof; plates, rods, angles, shapes, sections, tubes and the like, prepared for use in structures72.16Iron or non-alloy steel, angles, shapes and sections7222.40Steel, stainless; angles, shapes and sections7216.61Iron or non-alloy steel; angles, shapes and sections, cold-formed or cold-finished, obtained from flat-rolled products7216.69Iron or non-alloy steel; angles, shapes and sections, cold-formed or cold-finished, (not obtained from flat-rolled products)

Top exporters and importers of HS 721650 (the code used for steel structural shapes), 2025

In 2025, the largest exporter of HS 721650 (the code used for steel structural shapes) in UN Comtrade data was Türkiye, with 23% of world exports; the largest importer in UN Comtrade data was the United States, 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 721650, not only steel structural shapes.

Top exporters 2025 · share of world exports

  1. 1 Türkiye $244M
  2. 2 Germany $199M
  3. 3 Russia* ~$97M

World total: $1.1B Reported figures on UN Comtrade ↗

Top importers 2025 · share of world imports

  1. 1 United States $83M
  2. 2 Saudi Arabia $77M
  3. 3 Germany $70M

World total: $1.2B 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 structural shapes

Brazil classifies steel structural shapes under NCM 7216.50.00: HS 7216.50 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 structural shapes

What is the HS code for Steel structural shapes?

The HS code for Steel structural shapes is 721650 (Iron or non-alloy steel; angles, shapes and sections, n.e.c. in heading no. 7216, hot-rolled, hot-drawn or extruded). The HS code for hot-rolled or extruded iron or non-alloy steel shapes not specified in other 7216 subheadings is 7216.50.

How do I classify Steel structural shapes for customs?

Steel structural shapes is classified under HS code 721650 — Iron or non-alloy steel; angles, shapes and sections, n.e.c. in heading no. 7216, hot-rolled, hot-drawn or extruded. This is a 6-digit subheading level code.

What is the difference between 7216 and 7308?

Heading 7216 covers raw, semi-finished shapes, while 7308 covers shapes that have been further fabricated (drilled, painted, or assembled) for use in structures.

Which countries are the top exporters of steel structural shapes (HS 721650)?

In 2025, the top exporters of HS 721650 (the code used for steel structural shapes) in UN Comtrade data were Türkiye ($244M, 23% of world exports), Germany ($199M) and Russia (about $97M). World exports came to about $1.1B, 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 structural shapes (HS 721650)?

In 2025, the top importers of HS 721650 (the code used for steel structural shapes) in UN Comtrade data were the United States ($83M, 7.2% of world imports), Saudi Arabia ($77M) and Germany ($70M). World imports came to about $1.2B, 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 structural shapes the same in all countries?

The base HS code 721650 for Steel structural shapes 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 structural shapes in Brazil?

In Brazil, steel structural shapes (HS 721650) is classified under NCM 7216.50.00.