HS Code 9601Ivory, bone, tortoise-shell, horn, antlers, coral, mother-of-pearl and other animal carving material and articles of these materials; worked, (including articles obtained by moulding)

What HS code 9601 covers

This heading is for animal carving material that has already been worked. It is also for finished articles made from that material. Raw, untouched material is not the point here. The word "worked" is what puts a good under 9601.

The wording also adds a catch-all for other animal carving material. Articles shaped by moulding count too.

In India, traders often search for this as HSN code 9601. The first six digits are the same as the international Harmonized System, so the codes below apply to both searches. This kind of tariff classification decides which customs record your goods appear under.

• Ivory goes to one code.
• Every other named material goes to the second code.
• Moulded articles sit with the second code.

960110 or 960190: how to choose

Start with the material. Ask what the main animal material in the good is.

If it is ivory, use 960110. This code is for worked ivory and articles of ivory. Nothing else is named in it.

The same code holds any other animal carving material. It also holds articles obtained by moulding. So a carved horn spoon and a mother-of-pearl inlay both land in 960190.

This answers a common question: which HS code for carved bone or horn articles? It is 960190. Ivory is the only material split out on its own line, so the choice is rarely a close call.

If you are unsure, run the product description through the HS code classifier. Then compare the result with the two descriptions in the table above.

9601 vs 9602 and other Chapter 96 headings

The next heading, 9602, looks similar but covers different stuff. It is for vegetable and mineral carving material. It also covers moulded or carved articles of wax, stearin, natural gums, resins or modelling pastes, and worked unhardened gelatin.

The rule of thumb is simple. If the carving material comes from an animal, think 9601. If it comes from a plant or a mineral, or is a wax, gum, resin or gelatin product, think 9602. You can read the full text on the HS 9602 vegetable and mineral carving material page.

Two other nearby headings can confuse buyers of small decorative goods. Button makers should check HS 9606 buttons and button blanks. Hair accessory sellers should check HS 9615 combs and hair-slides. Each heading has its own wording, so read it before you decide.

You can browse the whole chapter from the Chapter 96 miscellaneous manufactured articles page.

HS 9601 import and export data

A code is only half the job. Many readers also want to know who buys and sells these goods. Records filed under this heading show up in the import data and export data views on EximDataX.

Here is what the platform offers for any HS code, including this one:

• 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.