Product classification
HS code for Wrought germanium: 8112.99
Gallium, germanium, indium, niobium (columbium) and vanadium, articles thereof, other than unwrought including waste and scrap and powders.
Classification of wrought germanium under HS 8112.99
Wrought germanium is classified under HS code 8112.99, which serves as the residual subheading for several specialty metals within Heading 8112, including gallium, germanium, indium, niobium, and vanadium. Germanium is a lustrous, hard, grayish-white metalloid that occupies a unique position in industrial applications due to its semiconducting properties. For customs purposes, the classification is governed by the physical state of the metal. Unwrought germanium, typically in the form of ingots, pellets, or powders, is classified under 8112.92. Wrought germanium, however, refers to the metal after it has been subjected to mechanical working or further fabrication. This includes germanium that has been shaped into rods, plates, or discs, or has been polished and cut for specific industrial uses, such as in infrared optics or fiber-optic systems. The classification under 8112.99 is determined by General Interpretative Rules 1 and 6. It is important to note that while germanium is a semiconductor, the classification in Chapter 81 is reserved for the metal and its articles in their base form. If the germanium has been doped for use in electronics or has been integrated into a discrete electronic component like a diode or transistor, it may be classified elsewhere, specifically in Chapter 85. However, for the wrought metal itself, 8112.99 remains the correct and legally binding code for international trade.
- Covers
- Germanium plates and sheets
- Germanium rods and profiles
- Germanium wire
- Polished germanium discs for optics
- Germanium tubes and pipes
- Articles manufactured from germanium
- Also under 8112.99
- Sumitomo Electric GaN substrates
- Umicore Germanium optics
- Indium Corporation ITO sputtering targets
- JFE Steel Niobium alloys (as articles)
- VSMPO-AVISMA Vanadium alloys (as articles)
- IQE Gallium Arsenide wafers
Codes often confused with 8112.99
Common mistake. Germanium is frequently misclassified under 8112.92, which is the code for unwrought germanium and powders. Another common error involves HS code 8541.10 through 8541.60, which covers semiconductor devices. If the germanium is merely a wrought shape and not a functional electronic component, it must stay in 8112.99. Optical elements of germanium may also be confused with Chapter 90 (optical instruments), but unmounted elements remain in Chapter 81.
Top exporters and importers of HS 811299 (the code used for wrought germanium), 2025
In 2025, the largest exporter of HS 811299 (the code used for wrought germanium) in UN Comtrade data was Brazil, with 27% of world exports; the largest importer in UN Comtrade data was Malaysia, with 20% 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 811299, not only wrought germanium.
Top exporters 2025 · share of world exports
- 1 Brazil $186M 27% of world exports
- 2 United States $169M 24% of world exports
- 3 China $145M 21% of world exports
World total: $699M Reported figures on UN Comtrade ↗
Top importers 2025 · share of world imports
- 1 Malaysia $91M 20% of world imports
- 2 Germany $69M 15% of world imports
- 3 Singapore $59M 13% of world imports
World total: $464M 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 wrought germanium
Brazil classifies wrought germanium under NCM 8112.99.00: HS 8112.99 with 00 added.
Source: Siscomex NCM table, updated Oct 2026. The Portuguese text on each NCM page is the official one.
Questions about wrought germanium
What is the HS code for Wrought germanium?
The HS code for Wrought germanium is 811299 (Gallium, germanium, indium, niobium (columbium) and vanadium; articles thereof, other than unwrought including waste and scrap and powders). Wrought germanium and articles made of germanium are classified under HS code 8112.99.
How do I classify Wrought germanium for customs?
Wrought germanium is classified under HS code 811299 — Gallium, germanium, indium, niobium (columbium) and vanadium; articles thereof, other than unwrought including waste and scrap and powders. This is a 6-digit subheading level code.
Is germanium powder classified as wrought?
No, germanium powder is specifically classified as unwrought under HS code 8112.92.
Which countries are the top exporters of wrought germanium (HS 811299)?
In 2025, the top exporters of HS 811299 (the code used for wrought germanium) in UN Comtrade data were Brazil ($186M, 27% of world exports), the United States ($169M) and China ($145M). World exports came to about $699M, 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 wrought germanium (HS 811299)?
In 2025, the top importers of HS 811299 (the code used for wrought germanium) in UN Comtrade data were Malaysia ($91M, 20% of world imports), Germany ($69M) and Singapore ($59M). World imports came to about $464M, 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 Wrought germanium the same in all countries?
The base HS code 811299 for Wrought germanium 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 wrought germanium in Brazil?
In Brazil, wrought germanium (HS 811299) is classified under NCM 8112.99.00.