Section XV · Base metals and articles of base metal
Chapter 72: Iron and steel
Chapter 72 of the Harmonized System has 33 four-digit headings, from 72.01 to 72.29. Each heading is split further into six-digit subheadings, then into national 8- and 10-digit commodity codes.
Headings in chapter 72
| Heading | Description |
|---|---|
| 72.01 | Pig iron and spiegeleisen in pigs, blocks or other primary forms |
| 72.01 | I. primary materials; products in granular or powder form |
| 72.02 | Ferro-alloys |
| 72.03 | Ferrous products obtained by direct reduction of iron ore and other spongy ferrous products, in lumps, pellets or similar forms; iron having a minimum purity by weight of 99.94%, in lumps, pellets or similar forms |
| 72.04 | Ferrous waste and scrap; remelting scrap ingots of iron or steel |
| 72.05 | Granules and powders, of pig iron, spiegeleisen, iron or steel |
| 72.06 | Iron and non-alloy steel in ingots or other primary forms (excluding iron of heading 7203) |
| 72.06 | Ii. iron and non-alloy steel |
| 72.07 | Semi-finished products of iron or non-alloy steel |
| 72.08 | Flat-rolled products of iron or non-alloy steel, of a width of 600 mm or more, hot-rolled, not clad, plated or coated |
| 72.09 | Flat-rolled products of iron or non-alloy steel, of a width of 600 mm or more, cold-rolled (cold-reduced), not clad, plated or coated |
| 72.10 | Flat-rolled products of iron or non-alloy steel, of a width of 600 mm or more, clad, plated or coated |
| 72.11 | Flat-rolled products of iron or non-alloy steel, of a width of less than 600 mm, not clad, plated or coated |
| 72.12 | Flat-rolled products of iron or non-alloy steel, of a width of less than 600 mm, clad, plated or coated |
| 72.13 | Bars and rods, hot-rolled, in irregularly wound coils, of iron or non-alloy steel |
| 72.14 | Other bars and rods of iron or non-alloy steel, not further worked than forged, hot-rolled, hot-drawn or hot-extruded, but including those twisted after rolling |
| 72.15 | Other bars and rods of iron or non-alloy steel |
| 72.16 | Angles, shapes and sections of iron or non-alloy steel |
| 72.17 | Wire of iron or non-alloy steel |
| 72.18 | Stainless steel in ingots or other primary forms; semi-finished products of stainless steel |
| 72.18 | Iii. stainless steel |
| 72.19 | Flat-rolled products of stainless steel, of a width of 600 mm or more |
| 72.20 | Flat-rolled products of stainless steel, of a width of less than 600 mm |
| 72.21 | Bars and rods, hot-rolled, in irregularly wound coils, of stainless steel |
| 72.22 | Other bars and rods of stainless steel; angles, shapes and sections of stainless steel |
| 72.23 | Wire of stainless steel |
| 72.24 | Other alloy steel in ingots or other primary forms; semi-finished products of other alloy steel |
| 72.24 | Iv. other alloy steel; hollow drill bars and rods, of alloy or non-alloy steel |
| 72.25 | Flat-rolled products of other alloy steel, of a width of 600 mm or more |
| 72.26 | Flat-rolled products of other alloy steel, of a width of less than 600 mm |
| 72.27 | Bars and rods, hot-rolled, in irregularly wound coils, of other alloy steel |
| 72.28 | Other bars and rods of other alloy steel; angles, shapes and sections, of other alloy steel; hollow drill bars and rods, of alloy or non-alloy steel |
| 72.29 | Wire of other alloy steel |
Classifying goods in chapter 72
Start with the chapter and section notes: they are legally binding and often decide what is included or excluded. Then choose the heading whose wording best describes your product (GRI 1), and work down to the six-digit subheading before choosing the national commodity code.
The six-digit code is shared internationally. The UK and EU add digits for their own tariffs and statistics, and the US uses its own 10-digit HTS lines, so always confirm the final code in the tariff of the country you are importing into.
Official sources
Check chapter 72 in the UK Trade Tariff, the EU TARIC and the US HTS.