Section XV · Base metals and articles of base metal
Chapter 81: Other base metals; cermets; articles thereof
Chapter 81 of the Harmonized System has 12 four-digit headings, from 81.01 to 81.13. Each heading is split further into six-digit subheadings, then into national 8- and 10-digit commodity codes.
Headings in chapter 81
| Heading | Description |
|---|---|
| 81.01 | Tungsten (wolfram) and articles thereof, including waste and scrap |
| 81.02 | Molybdenum and articles thereof, including waste and scrap |
| 81.03 | Tantalum and articles thereof, including waste and scrap |
| 81.04 | Magnesium and articles thereof, including waste and scrap |
| 81.05 | Cobalt mattes and other intermediate products of cobalt metallurgy; cobalt and articles thereof, including waste and scrap |
| 81.06 | Bismuth and articles thereof, including waste and scrap |
| 81.08 | Titanium and articles thereof, including waste and scrap |
| 81.09 | Zirconium and articles thereof, including waste and scrap |
| 81.10 | Antimony and articles thereof, including waste and scrap |
| 81.11 | Manganese and articles thereof, including waste and scrap |
| 81.12 | Beryllium, chromium, hafnium, rhenium, thallium, cadmium, germanium, vanadium, gallium, indium and niobium (columbium), and articles of these metals, including waste and scrap |
| 81.13 | Cermets and articles thereof, including waste and scrap |
Classifying goods in chapter 81
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 81 in the UK Trade Tariff, the EU TARIC and the US HTS.