Product classification
HS code for Waste lead: 7802.00
Lead, waste and scrap.
Classification of waste lead under HS 7802.00
Waste lead is classified under HS code 7802.00. This code is located within Chapter 78, which is dedicated to lead and articles thereof. The heading 7802.00 specifically covers lead waste and scrap. The classification applies to metallic lead that is no longer usable in its current form, such as old pipes, sheets, or manufacturing residues. The primary criterion for this classification is that the material must be fit only for the recovery of metal or for use in the manufacture of chemicals. This distinguishes it from unwrought lead (which has been refined or smelted into ingots) and from finished lead products. Proper classification under 7802.00 is essential for the recycling industry and for monitoring the international movement of lead, which is often subject to environmental regulations like the Basel Convention. The code covers lead in various forms of scrap, provided it has not been remelted into a commercial shape like an ingot or block.
- Covers
- Scrap lead piping and tubing
- Used lead sheeting from roofing or radiation shielding
- Lead cable sheathing stripped from power or telecom lines
- Lead weights and sinkers (scrap)
- Shavings and clippings from lead manufacturing processes
- Also under 7802.00
- Used car batteries
- industrial lead battery scrap
- lead flashing scrap from construction
- lead weights from tire shops
- lead dross from smelting operations
Codes often confused with 7802.00
Common mistake. The most frequent misclassification involves HS code 8548.10 (or 8549 in newer versions), which covers waste and scrap of primary cells, spent primary batteries, and spent electric accumulators. Lead-acid batteries are often mistakenly classified as waste lead (7802.00), but they must be classified under the battery waste codes. Another error is using HS code 7801.00, which is for unwrought lead; if the scrap has been melted and cast into ingots, it is no longer "waste and scrap" but "unwrought lead."
Top exporters and importers of HS 780200 (the code used for waste lead), 2025
In 2025, the largest exporter of HS 780200 (the code used for waste lead) in UN Comtrade data was the United States, with 15% of world exports; the largest importer in UN Comtrade data was India, with 56% 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 780200, not only waste lead.
Top exporters 2025 · share of world exports
- 1 United States $112M 15% of world exports
- 2 United Kingdom $95M 12% of world exports
- 3 France $77M 10% of world exports
World total: $769M Reported figures on UN Comtrade ↗
Top importers 2025 · share of world imports
- 1 India $405M 56% of world imports
- 2 Belgium $71M 9.7% of world imports
- 3 Spain $55M 7.6% of world imports
World total: $727M 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 waste lead
Brazil classifies waste lead under NCM 7802.00.00: HS 7802.00 with 00 added.
Source: Siscomex NCM table, updated Oct 2026. The Portuguese text on each NCM page is the official one.
Questions about waste lead
What is the HS code for Waste lead?
The HS code for Waste lead is 780200 (Lead; waste and scrap). The HS code for waste lead and lead scrap is 7802.00.
How do I classify Waste lead for customs?
Waste lead is classified under HS code 780200 — Lead; waste and scrap. This is a 6-digit subheading level code.
Are lead-acid batteries classified under 7802.00?
No, spent lead-acid batteries are classified under Chapter 85 (specifically 8548 or 8549) as electronic or battery waste.
Which countries are the top exporters of waste lead (HS 780200)?
In 2025, the top exporters of HS 780200 (the code used for waste lead) in UN Comtrade data were the United States ($112M, 15% of world exports), the United Kingdom ($95M) and France ($77M). World exports came to about $769M, 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 waste lead (HS 780200)?
In 2025, the top importers of HS 780200 (the code used for waste lead) in UN Comtrade data were India ($405M, 56% of world imports), Belgium ($71M) and Spain ($55M). World imports came to about $727M, 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 Waste lead the same in all countries?
The base HS code 780200 for Waste lead 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 waste lead in Brazil?
In Brazil, waste lead (HS 780200) is classified under NCM 7802.00.00.