HS Code 7206Iron and non-alloy steel in ingots or other primary forms (excluding iron of heading no. 7203)

What this heading covers

The Harmonized System is a shared list of product codes kept by the World Customs Organization. Customs offices around the world use it to name goods in the same way. Some countries call the same code an HSN code 7206.

This heading is for metal at the very start of its life as steel. Non-alloy steel has no extra metals added on purpose to change how it behaves. Here the metal has been melted and cast. It has not yet been rolled, forged or cut into a finished shape.

The words primary forms mean the first solid shapes the metal takes after melting. The ingot is the classic example. It is a block of metal poured into a mould and left to set. Steel ingots are usually sold on to mills that roll or forge them in the next stage.

In the tree, the heading sits in Chapter 72, Iron and steel, which belongs to the base metals group of the Harmonized System.

Ingots vs other primary forms: 720610 or 720690

The two subheadings split on one question. Is the metal sold as an ingot?

If yes, the goods go under HS 720610. If the metal is in any other primary form, the goods go under HS 720690. That code takes every primary form except ingots.

Both codes leave out the material that belongs in heading 7203. Check that heading first if your goods are very pure or come from direct reduction of ore.

Countries often add more digits after the first six to build their own tariff lines. Duty rates are set by each country, not by the Harmonized System. Look up your national tariff for the rate. If you are unsure which code fits, try the HS code classifier.

• 720610: ingots
• 720690: other primary forms, with ingots left out

What is excluded and where it goes

Many steel goods look close to this heading but sit somewhere else. Use this list to check the boundary.

• Reduced ore in lumps or pellets, sponge-like iron and very pure iron go to 7203. Both subheadings name this exclusion.
• Pig iron and spiegeleisen belong in 7201, not here.
• An ingot made for remelting is not a new steel ingot.
• Once the metal is shaped into semi-finished pieces, it moves up to 7207. So the heading on this page is the raw stage and 7207 is the shaped stage.
• Stainless ingots and other primary forms of stainless steel go to 7218.
• If alloying metals were added on purpose, the goods go there.

Search import and export records, and find buyers

Customs shipment records show which companies buy and sell goods under a code. For steel ingots, they help you find importers and exporters, check a supplier and watch a market over time. The import data and export data pages explain each side of the trade. The buyer data and supplier data pages show how to find companies.

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.

To start, enter 7206. If you already know the subheading, enter 720610 or 720690 instead.