Thursday, June 1, 2023
shipping and freight resource services
HomeCustomsWhat is a HS Code, who uses it and what is it...

What is a HS Code, who uses it and what is it used for..??

Many of you would have seen terminologies – HS Code, HTS Code, Schedule B Number across trade documentation and correspondences..

What does this HS Code mean, who uses it and what is it used for..??

HS Code refers to Harmonized Commodity Description and Coding System also referred to as “Harmonized System” or simply “HS”, a multipurpose international product nomenclature developed by the World Customs Organization (WCO)..

Basically, it is a common standard worldwide for classifying the type of commodity.. Every commodity that enters or crosses most international borders has to be declared to customs by means of an HS code.. This helps in standardizing the commodity codes worldwide..

The system is used by more than 200 countries and economies as a basis for their Customs tariffs and for the collection of international trade statistics.. Over 98 % of the merchandise in international trade is classified in terms of the HS..

The HS contributes to the harmonization of Customs and trade procedures, and the non-documentary trade data interchange in connection with such procedures, thus reducing the costs related to international trade..

How to read the HS/HTS Code and Schedule B Number

The more than 5,000 commodity groups are identified by a 6-digit HS Code, arranged in a legal and logical structure supported by well-defined rules to achieve uniform classification..

While the HS by WCO assigns specific 6-digit codes for varying classifications and commodities, countries are allowed to add longer codes to the first 6 digits for further classification for their internal purposes..

For example, the United States apart from terming the HS codes as HTS codes – (Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States), also use a 10-digit code to classify their products for export, known as a Schedule B number..

A Schedule B number is made up of the first 6 digits of the standard HS code and the balance 4 digits are additional digits for the commodity..

The HS Code follows a structure that is pretty simple to use/understand as below

6904.10.0090

  • 69 = Chapter 69 under Section 13 which covers Ceramic products
  • 6904 = Heading which covers Ceramic building bricks, flooring blocks, support or filler tiles and the like
  • 6904.10 = Sub Heading specifically referring to Ceramic Building Bricks specifically
  • 6904.10.0090 = Additional code used in US exports where 0090 refers to “hollow bricks

The last 4 digits could change depending on the type within the Chapter/Heading and Sub Heading of the commodity.. 

For example, 6904.10.0015 refers to “Solid Bricks“.. 

HS Nomenclature 2022

The HS2022 which came into force on the 1st of January 2022 is the seventh edition of the Harmonized System (HS) nomenclature accepted by all Contracting Parties to the Harmonized System Convention..

The HS2022 edition has made some major changes to the Harmonized System with a total of 351 sets of amendments covering a wide range of goods moving across borders..

Below is the listing of all the relevant sections of the HS Code as of 2022 and the list of commodities under each Section..

1 Live animals. 0101-2022E
2 Meat and edible meat offal. 0102-2022E
3 Fish and crustaceans, molluscs and other aquatic invertebrates. 0103-2022E
4 Dairy produce; birds’ eggs; natural honey; edible products of animal origin, not elsewhere specified or included. 0104-2022E
5 Products of animal origin, not elsewhere specified or included. 0105-2022E

6 Live trees and other plants; bulbs, roots and the like; cut flowers and ornamental foliage. 0206-2022E
7 Edible vegetables and certain roots and tubers. 0207-2022E
8 Edible fruit and nuts; peel of citrus fruit or melons. 0208-2022E
9 Coffee, tea, maté and spices. 0209-2022E
10 Cereals. 0210-2022E
11 Products of the milling industry; malt; starches; inulin; wheat gluten. 0211-2022E
12 Oil seeds and oleaginous fruits; miscellaneous grains, seeds and fruit; industrial or medicinal plants; straw and fodder. 0212-2022E
13 Lac; gums, resins and other vegetable saps and extracts. 0213-2022E
14 Vegetable plaiting materials; vegetable products not elsewhere specified or included. 0214-2022E

15 Animal, vegetable or microbial fats and oils and their cleavage products; prepared edible fats; animal or vegetable waxes. 0315-02022E

16 Preparations of meat, of fish, of crustaceans, molluscs or other aquatic invertebrates, or of insects. 0416-2022E
17 Sugars and sugar confectionery. 0417-2022E
18 Cocoa and cocoa preparations. 0418-2022E
19 Preparations of cereals, flour, starch or milk; pastrycooks’ products. 0419-2022E
20 Preparations of vegetables, fruit, nuts or other parts of plants. 0420-2022E
21 Miscellaneous edible preparations. 0421-2022E
22 Beverages, spirits and vinegar. 0422-2022E
23 Residues and waste from the food industries; prepared animal fodder. 0423-2022E
24 Tobacco and manufactured tobacco substitutes; products, whether or not containing nicotine, intended for inhalation without combustion; other nicotine containing products intended for the intake of nicotine into the human body. 0424-2022E

25 Salt; sulphur; earths and stone; plastering materials, lime and cement. 0525-2022E
26 Ores, slag and ash. 0526-2022E
27 Mineral fuels, mineral oils and products of their distillation; bituminous substances; mineral waxes. 0527-2022E

28 Inorganic chemicals; organic or inorganic compounds of precious metals, of rare-earth metals, of radioactive elements or of isotopes. 0628-2022E
29 Organic chemicals. 0629-2022E
30 Pharmaceutical products. 0630-2022E
31 Fertilisers. 0631-2022E
32 Tanning or dyeing extracts; tannins and their derivatives; dyes, pigments and other colouring matter; paints and varnishes; putty and other mastics; inks. 0632-2022E
33 Essential oils and resinoids; perfumery, cosmetic or toilet preparations. 0633-2022E
34 Soap, organic surface-active agents, washing preparations, lubricating preparations, artificial waxes, prepared waxes, polishing or scouring preparations, candles and similar articles, modelling pastes, dental waxes and dental preparations with a basis of plaster. 0634-2022E
35 Albuminoidal substances; modified starches; glues; enzymes. 0635-2022E
36 Explosives; pyrotechnic products; matches; pyrophoric alloys; certain combustible preparations. 0636-2022E
37 Photographic or cinematographic goods. 0637-2022E
38 Miscellaneous chemical products. 0638-2022E

39 Plastics and articles thereof. 0739-2022E
40 Rubber and articles thereof. 0740-2022E

41 Raw hides and skins (other than furskins) and leather. 0841-2022E
42 Articles of leather; saddlery and harness; travel goods, handbags and similar containers; articles of animal gut (other than silk-worm gut). 0842-2022E
43 Furskins and artificial fur; manufactures thereof. 0843-2022E

44 Wood and articles of wood; wood charcoal. 0844-2022E
45 Cork and articles of cork. 0845-2022E
46 Manufactures of straw, of esparto or of other plaiting materials; basketware and wickerwork. 0846-2022E

47 Pulp of wood or of other fibrous cellulosic material; recovered (waste and scrap) paper or paperboard. 0847-2022E
48 Paper and paperboard; articles of paper pulp, of paper or of paperboard. 0848-2022E
49 Printed books, newspapers, pictures and other products of the printing industry; manuscripts, typescripts and plans. 0849-2022E

50 Silk. 1150-2022E
51 Wool, fine or coarse animal hair; horsehair yarn and woven fabric. 1151-2022E
52 Cotton. 1152-2022E
53 Other vegetable textile fibres; paper yarn and woven fabrics of paper yarn. 1153-2022E
54 Man-made filaments; strip and the like of man-made textile materials. 1154-2022E
55 Man-made staple fibres. 1155-2022E
56 Wadding, felt and nonwovens; special yarns; twine, cordage, ropes and cables and articles thereof. 1156-2022E
57 Carpets and other textile floor coverings. 1157-2022E
58 Special woven fabrics; tufted textile fabrics; lace; tapestries; trimmings; embroidery. 1158-2022E
59 Impregnated, coated, covered or laminated textile fabrics; textile articles of a kind suitable for industrial use. 1159-2022E
60 Knitted or crocheted fabrics. 1160-2022E
61 Articles of apparel and clothing accessories, knitted or crocheted. 1161-2022E
62 Articles of apparel and clothing accessories, not knitted or crocheted. 1162-2022E
63 Other made up textile articles; sets; worn clothing and worn textile articles; rags. 1163-2022E

64 Footwear, gaiters and the like; parts of such articles. 1264-2022E
65 Headgear and parts thereof. 1265-2022E
66 Umbrellas, sun umbrellas, walking-sticks, seat-sticks, whips, riding-crops and parts thereof. 1266-2022E
67 Prepared feathers and down and articles made of feathers or of down; artificial flowers; articles of human hair. 1267-2022E

68 Articles of stone, plaster, cement, asbestos, mica or similar materials. 1368-2022E
69 Ceramic products. 1369-2022E
70 Glass and glassware. 1370-2022E

71 Natural or cultured pearls, precious or semi-precious stones, precious metals, metals clad with precious metal and articles thereof; imitation jewellery; coin. 1471-2022E

72 Iron and steel. 1572-2022E
73 Articles of iron or steel. 1573-2022E
74 Copper and articles thereof. 1574-2022E
75 Nickel and articles thereof. 1575-2022E
76 Aluminium and articles thereof. 1576-2022E
77 (Reserved for possible future use in the Harmonized System) 1577-2022E
78 Lead and articles thereof. 1578-2022E
79 Zinc and articles thereof. 1579-2022E
80 Tin and articles thereof. 1580-2022E
81 Other base metals; cermets; articles thereof. 1581-2022E
82 Tools, implements, cutlery, spoons and forks, of base metal; parts thereof of base metal. 1582-2022E
83 Miscellaneous articles of base metal. 1583-2022E

84 Nuclear reactors, boilers, machinery and mechanical appliances; parts thereof. 1684-2022E
85 Electrical machinery and equipment and parts thereof; sound recorders and reproducers, television image and sound recorders and reproducers, and parts and accessories of such articles. 1685-2022E

86 Railway or tramway locomotives, rolling-stock and parts thereof; railway or tramway track fixtures and fittings and parts thereof; mechanical (including electro-mechanical) traffic signalling equipment of all kinds. 1786-2022E
87 Vehicles other than railway or tramway rolling-stock, and parts and accessories thereof. 1787-2022E
88 Aircraft, spacecraft, and parts thereof. 1788-2022E
89 Ships, boats and floating structures. 1789-2022E

90 Optical, photographic, cinematographic, measuring, checking, precision, medical or surgical instruments and apparatus; parts and accessories thereof. 1890-2022E
91 Clocks and watches and parts thereof. 1891-2022E
92 Musical instruments; parts and accessories of such articles. 1892-2022E

93 Arms and ammunition; parts and accessories thereof. 1993-2022E

94 Furniture; bedding, mattresses, mattress supports, cushions and similar stuffed furnishings; luminaires and lighting fittings, not elsewhere specified or included; illuminated signs, illuminated name-plates and the like; prefabricated buildings. 2094-2022E
95 Toys, games and sports requisites; parts and accessories thereof. 2095-2022E
96 Miscellaneous manufactured articles. 2096-2022E

97 Works of art, collectors’ pieces and antiques. 2197-2022E

Please ensure that you follow the correct tariff classifications and avoid incorrect declarations, customs penalties and avoidable costs such as Demurrage, Detention, and Storage..


Article reposted after some critical updates

62 COMMENTS

  1. anyone can possibly explain. how to import the electronics good from china, what is the formalities, with payment detail & registration details

  2. I have with me, Bill of Lading with a HS code 1518009595 and Vietnam’s custom Form A with a HS code 15180060.
    The question are : It is for the same shipment, and both are HS code, why they are not the same? Is this normal? It is very confusing sharing the same name i.e. HS code.

  3. FindHS.Codes is a thematic search engine developed for assisting importers/exporters to easily learn the correct customs tariff classification for the goods they intend to import or export..

  4. HS Code is used to classify the product in import export business. It is called by different names in different countries like HSN Code in India, HTS Code in USA, NCM Code in Brazil and BTKI in Indonesia.

  5. Hi,

    very informative article and thankyou for the updated list . I would like to know how can we calculate duty for multiple items , say I have 2 items one is showing according to the HS that it has a duty of 1% and the other is 2% .. the total duty how much shall it be on the declared value invoice by the clearing agent ? 3% or 2% or 1.5% or how much ?

    • Hi Ali, depending on the country where you are from regulations on such calculations might vary.. Best option would be for you to discuss with customs or a certified clearing agent to understand more..

  6. Hello, I want to know more about the effect due changes that UN has recently made on the multiple CPC products of cotton and plastics that the various HS codes have been transformed to one HS code of 96190090.

  7. What is the actual harmonized code of 4 ply offset printing blanket (in roll, not cut to shape)

    Regards

    Nd. Hazrat ali

  8. Hi,

    Actually i want to know all process about import and export and what is HS code or etc. so could you please share me the same what i want.

    regards,

    rahul kumar

  9. is the Turkish GTIP code the same HS code with 6 zeros added to make it the 12 digit number they use? I’ve got my products HS code, I’m just wondering if that’s what the Turkish Customs Dept does to get 12 digits?

  10. Please treat this very urgent.
    I want to take one order for export , But the coustmer is asking for HS Code.
    I have no idea regarding this codes and all.
    Please help me.
    The material description is as follow :-
    Steel Round Bar
    Quality :- C 45 N
    Your early and positive reply in this regards will be highly appreciated.

  11. Please treat it very urgently. I am about to import artificial jewelry from US and i want to know that what is there HS code. I have asked the importer/whole seller but they are not providing me the required information. Please help me.

  12. Dear sir,i would. like. to know the. H s Code for our various. specialty. sugars like. Castor. sugar , demerara. sugar , Light. Brown. Sugar ,Icing. Sugar ,Lump. Sugar, Pharma. sugar used. for manufacturing various. pharma. products . Sir. l want to know when Sugar is banned in India. then our above. all specialty products are. banned by Govt. of India for exports. Whereas our quantity is very small & fetches. value. addition but still. this is a problem. how we should. be exumpeted from this problem. of ban? pl. answer & guide us how to proceed further. Awaiting. ur soonest reply. with. Regards ……. Samyak Lodha. +91-93261-92191.

  13. Hello – Iam from Egypt –
    I have urgent shipment and need to know what’s HS CODE for the Egyptian Marble
    Please note that it’s cut and polished
    Neeed help,

    Regards,

    • Hi I’m kausar from bangladesh and i want to import rubber shoes from china so please tell me the hs code of rubber shoes.waiting for your reply.thanks.

  14. We are in the business of animal health and there has been lot of confusion on Pure vitamins and formulated vitamins, formulated vitamins with minerals, and also somtimes with antibiotics. Kindly explain in with HS code do they fall in and why.
    Let us assume I have feedsupplement of vitamins contains formulated with number of vitamins, with or without minerals and antibiotics, kindly explain where does it falls in HScode

  15. What is H. S. Code for Plates made of Porous Silicon Carbide? These are to be used as setter plates in Kiln or Sintering Press.

  16. We are a furniture removal company wanting to send a consignment of used household and personal effects by sea to Luanda. Please advise what HS Code to use for this mixed load.

    Regards,

    John

  17. What is the HS Code for exporting Aluminum Used Can Beverages to Thailand ? i would like to have the Code asap please .

  18. any one can possible to explain. how to import the electronics good from the china, what is the formalities, with payment detail & registration details?

  19. how to apply the HS code? , how many days to get the number? , how much we want to pay?. can i import the electronics from china?

  20. Kindly forward me the HS Code for South Africa. (for surgical spirits )

    Your feedback would be greatly appreciated.

    Best regards

    Lindy Van Zyl
    Electronic Technology

Be part of the discussion and share your views about the article here..

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

RELATED ARTICLES

SUBSCRIBE

Enter your email address to subscribe and be notified about new content

ADVERTISEMENT

Most Popular

Recent Comments