HS Code 2521Limestone flux; limestone and other calcareous stone, of a kind used for the manufacture of lime or cement

What HS code 2521 covers

Heading 2521 is for limestone that is meant to be fed into a kiln or furnace. It is not for limestone sold as a finished building product. Calcareous means the stone is rich in calcium carbonate.

The test is the stone's purpose. The goods must be of a kind used to make lime or cement. If that is true, the stone belongs here, whatever its colour or where it was quarried.

Buyers and customs brokers also write this as HS, HSN or HTS heading 2521. The national wording can differ, but the first six digits follow the World Customs Organization system. Under this heading there is just one code to use: 252100. You never have to choose between sub-lines at the six-digit level.

2521 vs related headings: chalk, marble, dolomite, lime and cement

Several nearby headings sound alike, so it helps to compare them side by side. A simple way to think about it: 2521 is the raw stone, 2522 is the lime made from it, and 2523 is the cement made from it.

Here is how the closest headings differ:

• 2509 is chalk. Chalk has its own heading, so it does not go under limestone flux.
• 2515 is marble, travertine, ecaussine and other calcareous stone, plus alabaster. This heading is for stone cut or sawn into blocks or slabs.
• Dolomite is not part of 2521.
• These are products already made from the stone.
• 2523 is Portland cement, aluminous cement, slag cement and similar hydraulic cements, including clinkers.
• 2520 is gypsum, anhydrite and plasters. It is a different material, even though it is also used in building.

How to choose the right code for limestone

Start with one question: what is the stone for? If it will be burned to make lime or used to make cement, look at 2521 first. If it is cut into blocks or slabs for decoration or building, look at 2515 or 2516 instead. If it is crushed for roads, concrete or rail ballast, look at 2517.

Next, ask whether the material has already been processed. Stone that has been burned into quicklime or slaked lime moves to 2522. A finished cement or clinker moves to 2523. Only the raw stone stays in 2521.

Duty and tax rates are not set by the six-digit code alone. They depend on the importing country and its national tariff. If you are unsure which code fits your goods, try the HS code classifier, and check the rate with the customs authority of the country you ship to.

HS code 2521 import and export data

If you trade limestone flux, the next step is to see who else is shipping it. Use 252100 as your starting point for the records below.

EximDataX shows shipment-level import and export records from official customs sources. Coverage: 43 direct customs feeds plus 184 mirror-derived countries. Named buyers and named suppliers are available in 38 of the 43 direct markets. Most markets refresh weekly and some refresh daily. You can search by HS code to see who imports and exports a product, and book a free demo.

Other headings in Chapter 25

Chapter 25 holds many raw minerals, and some are close cousins of limestone. These pages may help if your goods do not quite fit 2521.

Useful neighbours include HS 2522 for quicklime, slaked lime and hydraulic lime, HS 2523 for Portland cement and clinkers, HS 2518 for dolomite, HS 2509 for chalk, HS 2515 for marble, travertine and calcareous stone, HS 2517 for pebbles, gravel and crushed stone, and HS 2520 for gypsum and plasters. You can also go back to the full chapter, or browse all HS code chapters.