Product classification
HS code for Technical ceramics: 6909.12
Ceramic wares, for laboratory, chemical or other technical uses, articles having a hardness equivalent to 9 or more on the Mohs scale.
Classification of technical ceramics under HS 6909.12
Technical ceramics are classified under HS code 6909.12. This classification falls within Chapter 69, which covers ceramic products. Heading 6909 is specifically for ceramic wares for laboratory, chemical, or other technical uses. Subheading 6909.12 is distinguished by the physical property of the material: it must have a hardness equivalent to 9 or more on the Mohs scale. This typically includes advanced ceramics made from alumina (aluminum oxide), zirconia, or silicon carbide. These materials are engineered for extreme environments where high wear resistance, thermal stability, and chemical inertness are required. Unlike decorative or structural ceramics, technical ceramics are defined by their industrial application and precise material composition. Classification under this code requires technical documentation or testing to verify the Mohs hardness, as this is the primary legal criterion for distinguishing it from other ceramic technical wares.
- Covers
- Alumina ceramic seals and valves
- Zirconia grinding media and components
- High-hardness ceramic laboratory crucibles
- Ceramic wear plates for industrial machinery
- Technical ceramic guides for textile machinery
- Also under 6909.12
- Kyocera advanced ceramics
- Saint-Gobain NorPro grinding media
- Morgan Advanced Materials technical ceramics
- CeramTec components
Codes often confused with 6909.12
Common mistake. The most common misclassification is HS code 6909.11, which covers ceramic wares for technical uses made of porcelain or china. If the material does not meet the Mohs hardness threshold of 9, it falls under 6909.11 or 6909.19. Another error involves HS code 8547.10, which is for insulating fittings for electrical machines. If a ceramic part is designed specifically and exclusively as an electrical insulator, it may be classified in Chapter 85 rather than Chapter 69.
Top exporters and importers of HS 690912 (the code used for technical ceramics), 2025
In 2025, the largest exporter of HS 690912 (the code used for technical ceramics) in UN Comtrade data was Japan, with 43% of world exports; the largest importer in UN Comtrade data was China, with 18% 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 690912, not only technical ceramics.
Top exporters 2025 · share of world exports
- 1 Japan $795M 43% of world exports
- 2 China $335M 18% of world exports
- 3 Germany $145M 7.8% of world exports
World total: $1.9B Reported figures on UN Comtrade ↗
Top importers 2025 · share of world imports
- 1 China $250M 18% of world imports
- 2 United States $171M 12% of world imports
- 3 Taiwan* ~$126M 9.0% of world imports · partner records ↗
World total: $1.4B 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 technical ceramics
Brazil splits HS 6909.12 into 4 NCM codes. Pick the one that matches your product:
- 6909.12.10Hard (Mohs 9+) ceramic textile thread guides
- 6909.12.20Hard (Mohs 9+) ceramic print-head needle guides
- 6909.12.30Silicon carbide (Mohs 9+) mechanical seal rings
- 6909.12.90Other hard (Mohs 9+) technical ceramic articles
Source: Siscomex NCM table, updated Oct 2026. The Portuguese text on each NCM page is the official one.
Questions about technical ceramics
What is the HS code for Technical ceramics?
The HS code for Technical ceramics is 690912 (Ceramic wares; for laboratory, chemical or other technical uses, articles having a hardness equivalent to 9 or more on the Mohs scale). The HS code for technical ceramics with a Mohs hardness of 9 or higher is 6909.12.
How do I classify Technical ceramics for customs?
Technical ceramics is classified under HS code 690912 — Ceramic wares; for laboratory, chemical or other technical uses, articles having a hardness equivalent to 9 or more on the Mohs scale. This is a 6-digit subheading level code.
How is "hardness" verified for this HS code?
Hardness is measured on the Mohs scale; materials like alumina and zirconia typically meet the requirement of 9 or higher, whereas standard porcelain does not.
Which countries are the top exporters of technical ceramics (HS 690912)?
In 2025, the top exporters of HS 690912 (the code used for technical ceramics) in UN Comtrade data were Japan ($795M, 43% of world exports), China ($335M) and Germany ($145M). World exports came to about $1.9B, 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 technical ceramics (HS 690912)?
In 2025, the top importers of HS 690912 (the code used for technical ceramics) in UN Comtrade data were China ($250M, 18% of world imports), the United States ($171M) and Taiwan (about $126M). World imports came to about $1.4B, 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 Technical ceramics the same in all countries?
The base HS code 690912 for Technical ceramics 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 technical ceramics in Brazil?
Brazil splits HS 690912 into 4 NCM codes, so the right one for technical ceramics depends on the product's details: 6909.12.10 (Hard (Mohs 9+) ceramic textile thread guides), 6909.12.20 (Hard (Mohs 9+) ceramic print-head needle guides), 6909.12.30 (Silicon carbide (Mohs 9+) mechanical seal rings), 6909.12.90 (Other hard (Mohs 9+) technical ceramic articles).