Product classification
HS code for Tin coated steel sheet: 7210.12
Iron or non-alloy steel, flat-rolled, width 600mm or more, plated or coated with tin, thickness of less than 0.5mm.
Classification of tin coated steel sheet under HS 7210.12
Tin coated steel sheet, commonly known as tinplate, is classified under HS code 7210.12 when it meets specific dimensional criteria: a width of 600 mm or more and a thickness of less than 0.5 mm. This classification is situated within Chapter 72, which covers iron and steel. Heading 7210 is dedicated to flat-rolled products of iron or non-alloy steel that have been plated or coated. The subheadings are organized by the coating material; 7210.11 and 7210.12 are specifically for products coated with tin. The 7210.12 code is essential for the global packaging industry, as it covers the thin-gauge steel used to manufacture food and beverage cans. The coating is usually applied via an electrolytic process (ETP) or hot-dipping to provide corrosion resistance and solderability to the underlying steel substrate.
- Covers
- Electrolytic tinplate (ETP) sheets
- Tin-coated steel for food canning
- Lacquered tin-coated steel (if tin is the primary coating)
- Thin-gauge tin-plated coils (width > 600mm)
- Drawn and ironed (D&I) tinplate stock
- Also under 7210.12
- US Steel tinplate
- thyssenkrupp Rasselstein tinplate
- JFE Steel ETP
- Baosteel tinplate
- Nippon Steel tinplate
Codes often confused with 7210.12
Common mistake. The most common misclassification is 7210.11, which applies to tin-coated steel with a thickness of 0.5 mm or more. Another error involves 7212.10, which is used for tin-coated steel with a width of less than 600 mm. Additionally, if the steel is coated with chromium oxides instead of tin, it must be classified under 7210.50 (Electrolytic Chromium Coated Steel or ECCS), which is a common alternative to tinplate in the packaging industry.
Top exporters and importers of HS 721012 (the code used for tin coated steel sheet), 2025
In 2025, the largest exporter of HS 721012 (the code used for tin coated steel sheet) in UN Comtrade data was China, with 26% of world exports; the largest importer in UN Comtrade data was the United States, with 25% 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 721012, not only tin coated steel sheet.
Top exporters 2025 · share of world exports
- 1 China $1.8B 26% of world exports
- 2 Germany $1.4B 20% of world exports
- 3 Netherlands $813M 12% of world exports
World total: $6.9B Reported figures on UN Comtrade ↗
Top importers 2025 · share of world imports
- 1 United States $1.9B 25% of world imports
- 2 Italy $884M 12% of world imports
- 3 Mexico $326M 4.4% of world imports
World total: $7.4B 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 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 tin coated steel sheet
Brazil classifies tin coated steel sheet under NCM 7210.12.00: HS 7210.12 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 tin coated steel sheet
What is the HS code for Tin coated steel sheet?
The HS code for Tin coated steel sheet is 721012 (Iron or non-alloy steel; flat-rolled, width 600mm or more, plated or coated with tin, thickness of less than 0.5mm). For sheets with a width of at least 600mm and thickness under 0.5mm, the HS code is 7210.12.
How do I classify Tin coated steel sheet for customs?
Tin coated steel sheet is classified under HS code 721012 — Iron or non-alloy steel; flat-rolled, width 600mm or more, plated or coated with tin, thickness of less than 0.5mm. This is a 6-digit subheading level code.
What if the tin-coated steel is narrower than 600mm?
If the width is less than 600mm, the product is classified under HS code 7212.10.
Which countries are the top exporters of tin coated steel sheet (HS 721012)?
In 2025, the top exporters of HS 721012 (the code used for tin coated steel sheet) in UN Comtrade data were China ($1.8B, 26% of world exports), Germany ($1.4B) and the Netherlands ($813M). World exports came to about $6.9B, 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 tin coated steel sheet (HS 721012)?
In 2025, the top importers of HS 721012 (the code used for tin coated steel sheet) in UN Comtrade data were the United States ($1.9B, 25% of world imports), Italy ($884M) and Mexico ($326M). World imports came to about $7.4B, 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 Tin coated steel sheet the same in all countries?
The base HS code 721012 for Tin coated steel sheet 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 tin coated steel sheet in Brazil?
In Brazil, tin coated steel sheet (HS 721012) is classified under NCM 7210.12.00.