HS Code 2853Phosphides, chemically defined or not, not ferrophosphorus; other inorganic compounds n.e.c. (including distilled, conductivity water and water of like purity); liquid air, rare gases removed or not; compressed air; amalgams, not precious metal amalgams
2 six-digit codes · Heading 50 of 50 in Chapter 28 · World Customs Organization Harmonized System
HS code 2853 is the heading for phosphides and other inorganic compounds not named elsewhere, plus distilled water, liquid air and compressed air. This page explains what fits here, what does not, and where to look instead.
The WCO writes heading 2853 as a residual bucket: goods of Chapter 28that answer to “Phosphides, chemically defined or not, not ferrophosphorus; other inorganic compounds n.e.c. (including distilled, conductivity water and water of like purity); liquid air, rare gases removed or not; compressed air; amalgams, not precious metal amalgams” and that no more specific heading in the chapter already claims. It still carries 2 six-digit codes, 285310 through 285390, so “other” is not the end of the classification here. The heading is number 50 of 50 in Chapter 28, Inorganic chemicals; organic and inorganic compounds of precious metals; of rare earth metals, of radio-active elements and of isotopes, which runs to 180 six-digit codes in all.
Six-digit codes under heading 2853
| HS Code | Import–export description |
|---|---|
| 285310 | Inorganic compounds; cyanogen chloride (chlorcyan) |
| 285390 | Phosphides, chemically defined or not, not ferrophosphorus; other inorganic compounds n.e.c. (including distilled, conductivity water and water of like purity); liquid air, rare gases removed or not; compressed air; amalgams, not precious metal amalgams |
What HS code 2853 covers
Heading 2853 is a catch-all. It holds inorganic goods that no other heading in the chapter names. The goods in it look unrelated at first, but they share one trait: none has a heading of its own.
The main group is phosphides. A phosphide is a compound of phosphorus with a metal or another element. It can be chemically defined or not. Aluminium phosphide and zinc phosphide are common examples of this type. Ferrophosphorus is the one phosphorus-metal product the heading rules out.
The heading also takes other inorganic compounds n.e.c., which means not elsewhere classified. Distilled water, conductivity water and water of like purity are named in the text. So are liquid air, with or without its rare gases removed, and compressed air. Amalgams are included too, but only those that do not contain precious metals.
Six-digit codes under 2853: 285310 and 285390
Heading 2853 has one named product and one residual group. The split is simple.
Many countries add more digits after the six-digit code. Check your national tariff before you file a declaration.
- This code is for that one chemical only.
- 285390: everything else in the heading.
Phosphides and look-alikes: what is excluded
Many goods sound close to heading 2853 but sit elsewhere. Check this list before you pick 285390. Each item links to its own heading page.
- Precious metal amalgams: see HS 2843, which also covers colloidal precious metals and their compounds.
- Hydrogen and rare gases on their own: see HS 2804. Only liquid air is kept here, with or without rare gases removed.
- Cyanides: see HS 2837. Cyanogen chloride is the exception and stays in 285310.
- Carbides: see HS 2849.
- Hydrides, nitrides, azides, silicides and borides: see HS 2850.
- Phosphates and related phosphorus salts: see HS 2835.
How to choose the right code in Chapter 28
Start with the chemical name and, if you have it, the formula. Ask what kind of compound it is: an acid, an oxide, a salt, a carbide or something else. Then look for a heading that names that kind of compound.
Use heading 2853 last. If a more specific heading names your product, that heading wins. Only goods that fit nowhere else in Chapter 28 inorganic chemicals fall into the other inorganic compounds group.
If you are unsure, try the HS code classifier. You can also browse all HS code chapters and read the heading notes side by side.
HS code 2853 import export data: buyers and suppliers
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. Start with import data or export data, or go straight to buyer data and supplier data.
Related
- Chapter 28 inorganic chemicals
- HS 2843 precious metal compounds and amalgams
- HS 2852 mercury compounds
- HS 2804 hydrogen and rare gases
- HS 2837 cyanides
- HS 2849 carbides
- HS 2850 hydrides, nitrides and silicides
- HS 2835 phosphates
- All HS code chapters
- Import data
- Export data
- Buyer data
- Supplier data
- HS code classifier
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Nearby headings in Chapter 28
- 2839Silicates; commercial alkali metal silicates3 codes
- 2840Borates; peroxoborates (perborates)4 codes
- 2841Salts of oxometallic or peroxometallic acids7 codes
- 2842Salts of inorganic acids or peroxoacids, n.e.c. including aluminosilicates…2 codes
- 2843Colloidal precious metals; inorganic or organic compounds of precious metals…5 codes
- 2844Radioactive chemical elements and radioactive isotopes (including the fissile…8 codes
- 2845Isotopes other than those of heading no. 2844; compounds, inorganic or…5 codes
- 2846Compounds, inorganic or organic, of rare-earth metals; of yttrium or of…2 codes
- 2847Hydrogen peroxide; whether or not solidified with urea1 code
- 2849Carbides, whether or not chemically defined3 codes
- 2850Hydrides, nitrides, azides, silicides and borides, whether or not chemically…1 code
- 2852Inorganic or organic compounds of mercury, excluding amalgams, whether or not…2 codes
Who ships under 2853?
EximDataX tracks the live import–export records filed under this heading and the 2 codes beneath it: named buyers, suppliers, quantities and values from official customs feeds.
Section VI: Products of the Chemical or Allied Industries, chapters 28–38.
HS Code 2853: common questions
What is HS code 2853?
It is the HS heading for phosphides and other inorganic compounds not named elsewhere. It also takes distilled water, liquid air, compressed air and amalgams without precious metals. It sits in Chapter 28.
What is the HS code for cyanogen chloride?
Cyanogen chloride, also called chlorcyan, is classified under 285310. It is the only product with its own six-digit code in this heading.
What is the HS code for distilled water or compressed air?
Both go under 285390. So do conductivity water, water of like purity and liquid air.
Are phosphides classified under HS 2853, and is ferrophosphorus?
Phosphides are, whether or not they are chemically defined. Ferrophosphorus is not. The heading text rules it out.
Where do precious metal amalgams and mercury compounds go?
Amalgams of precious metals go under HS 2843. Compounds of mercury, excluding amalgams, go under HS 2852.
Can I find importers and exporters of HS 2853 products?
Yes. You can search by HS code on EximDataX. The data section above explains the coverage and how often the records are refreshed.
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