Product classification
HS code for Welded steel sections: 7301.20
Iron or steel, angles, shapes and sections, welded.
Classification of welded steel sections under HS 7301.20
Welded steel sections are classified under HS code 7301.20. This code is part of Heading 7301, which covers sheet piling of iron or steel, whether or not drilled, punched or made from assembled elements, as well as welded angles, shapes, and sections. The classification 7301.20 specifically targets the "angles, shapes and sections, welded" portion of the heading. These products are typically fabricated by welding together separate plates or strips of steel to form specific structural profiles like I-beams, H-beams, or T-sections. This distinguishes them from sections classified in Chapter 72, which are produced through hot-rolling, cold-forming, or drawing without the use of welding to join components. The classification is based on the assembly method, where the structural integrity is achieved through welding rather than a single-piece extrusion or rolling process. These sections are essential in heavy construction and civil engineering for creating custom load-bearing frameworks.
- Covers
- Welded I-beams and H-beams
- Welded T-sections and L-sections
- Custom fabricated structural steel shapes
- Built-up sections made from steel plates
- Welded box girders (not classified as tubes)
- Also under 7301.20
- Nucor fabricated beams
- SSAB welded sections
- Tata Steel custom welded profiles
- ArcelorMittal large welded sections
Codes often confused with 7301.20
Common mistake. Welded sections are frequently misclassified under heading 7216, which covers angles, shapes, and sections of iron or non-alloy steel. However, 7216 is strictly for products that are not further worked than hot-rolled, hot-drawn, or extruded. Once the section is created by welding multiple pieces together, it must move to 7301.20. Another common confusion is with 7308.90, which covers prepared structures. If the section is just a length of material and not a finished part of a specific bridge or building, 7301.20 is correct.
Top exporters and importers of HS 730120 (the code used for welded steel sections), 2025
In 2025, the largest exporter of HS 730120 (the code used for welded steel sections) in UN Comtrade data was the United States, with 9.2% of world exports; the largest importer in UN Comtrade data was Saudi Arabia, with 22% 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 730120, not only welded steel sections.
Top exporters 2025 · share of world exports
- 1 United States $53M 9.2% of world exports
- 2 Germany $51M 8.9% of world exports
- 3 Bahrain* ~$42M 7.2% of world exports · partner records ↗
World total: $573M Reported figures on UN Comtrade ↗
Top importers 2025 · share of world imports
- 1 Saudi Arabia $129M 22% of world imports
- 2 Ireland $39M 6.8% of world imports
- 3 Germany $38M 6.5% of world imports
World total: $578M 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 welded steel sections
Brazil classifies welded steel sections under NCM 7301.20.00: HS 7301.20 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 welded steel sections
What is the HS code for Welded steel sections?
The HS code for Welded steel sections is 730120 (Iron or steel; angles, shapes and sections, welded). The HS code for angles, shapes, and sections that have been produced by welding is 7301.20.
How do I classify Welded steel sections for customs?
Welded steel sections is classified under HS code 730120 — Iron or steel; angles, shapes and sections, welded. This is a 6-digit subheading level code.
How does 7301.20 differ from 7216?
Heading 7216 is for sections made from a single piece of steel via rolling or drawing. Heading 7301.20 is for sections fabricated by welding multiple steel components together.
Which countries are the top exporters of welded steel sections (HS 730120)?
In 2025, the top exporters of HS 730120 (the code used for welded steel sections) in UN Comtrade data were the United States ($53M, 9.2% of world exports), Germany ($51M) and Bahrain (about $42M). World exports came to about $573M, 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 welded steel sections (HS 730120)?
In 2025, the top importers of HS 730120 (the code used for welded steel sections) in UN Comtrade data were Saudi Arabia ($129M, 22% of world imports), Ireland ($39M) and Germany ($38M). World imports came to about $578M, 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 Welded steel sections the same in all countries?
The base HS code 730120 for Welded steel sections 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 welded steel sections in Brazil?
In Brazil, welded steel sections (HS 730120) is classified under NCM 7301.20.00.