Section XV · Base Metals · Chapter 81
Metals; n.e.c., cermets and articles thereof
About chapter 81
Chapter 81 covers metals; n.e.c. (not elsewhere classified), cermets and articles thereof: tungsten, molybdenum, tantalum, magnesium, cobalt, titanium and similar specialty metals, plus cermets, used mostly in aerospace, electronics and industrial tooling.
Classification tip: Cobalt and tantalum are both flagged under conflict-minerals due-diligence rules for electronics and battery supply chains, so pair the HS code with sourcing/chain-of-custody documentation for these two metals specifically.
56 six-digit codes
Tungsten (wolfram); articles thereof, including waste and scrap
5 codes8101.10Tungsten (wolfram); articles thereof, including waste and scrap, powders8101.94Tungsten (wolfram); unwrought, including bars and rods obtained simply by sintering8101.96Tungsten (wolfram); wire8101.97Tungsten (wolfram); waste and scrap8101.99Tungsten (wolfram); articles n.e.c. in heading no. 8101
Molybdenum; articles thereof, including waste and scrap
6 codes8102.10Molybdenum; articles thereof, including waste and scrap, powders8102.94Molybdenum; unwrought, including bars and rods obtained simply by sintering8102.95Molybdenum; bars and rods, other than those obtained simply by sintering, profiles, plates, sheets, strip and foil8102.96Molybdenum; wire8102.97Molybdenum; waste and scrap8102.99Molybdenum; articles n.e.c. in heading no. 8102
Tantalum; articles thereof, including waste and scrap
4 codes8103.20Tantalum; unwrought, including bars and rods obtained simply by sintering, powders8103.30Tantalum; waste and scrap8103.91Tantalum; crucibles8103.99Tantalum; articles n.e.c. in heading no. 8103
Magnesium; articles thereof, including waste and scrap
5 codes8104.11Magnesium; unwrought, containing at least 99.8% by weight of magnesium8104.19Magnesium; unwrought, containing less than 99.8% by weight of magnesium8104.20Magnesium; waste and scrap8104.30Magnesium; raspings, turnings and granules, graded according to size, powders8104.90Magnesium; articles n.e.c. in heading no. 8104
Cobalt; mattes and other intermediate products of cobalt metallurgy, cobalt and articles thereof, including waste and scrap
3 codes8105.20Cobalt; mattes and other intermediate products of cobalt metallurgy, unwrought cobalt, powders8105.30Cobalt; waste and scrap8105.90Cobalt; articles n.e.c. in heading no. 8105
Bismuth; articles thereof, including waste and scrap
2 codes8106.10Bismuth; articles thereof, including waste and scrap, containing more than 99.99% of bismuth, by weight8106.90Bismuth; including articles n.e.c. in heading 8106, including waste and scrap, containing less than or equal to 99.99% of bismuth, by weight
Titanium; articles thereof, including waste and scrap
3 codes8108.20Titanium; unwrought, powders8108.30Titanium; waste and scrap8108.90Titanium; other than unwrought, n.e.c. in heading no. 8108
Zirconium; articles thereof, including waste and scrap
6 codes8109.21Zirconium; unwrought, powders, containing less than 1 part hafnium to 500 parts zirconium by weight8109.29Zirconium; unwrought, powders, containing not less than 1 part hafnium to 500 parts zirconium by weight8109.31Zirconium; waste and scrap, containing less than 1 part hafnium to 500 parts zirconium by weight8109.39Zirconium; waste and scrap, containing not less than 1 part hafnium to 500 parts zirconium by weight8109.91Zirconium; other than unwrought, n.e.c. in heading no. 8109, containing less than 1 part hafnium to 500 parts zirconium by weight8109.99Zirconium; other than unwrought, n.e.c. in heading no. 8109, containing not less than 1 part hafnium to 500 parts zirconium by weight
Antimony; articles thereof, including waste and scrap
3 codes8110.10Antimony and articles thereof; unwrought antimony, powders8110.20Antimony; waste and scrap8110.90Antimony and articles thereof; wrought, other than waste and scrap
Manganese; articles thereof, including waste and scrap
1 code8111.00Manganese; articles thereof, including waste and scrap
Beryllium, chromium, hafnium, rhenium, thallium, cadmium, germanium, vanadium, gallium, indium and niobium (columbium), articles of these metals, including waste and scrap
17 codes8112.12Beryllium and articles thereof; unwrought beryllium, powders8112.13Beryllium; waste and scrap8112.19Beryllium and articles thereof; wrought other than waste and scrap8112.21Chromium and articles thereof; unwrought chromium, powders8112.22Chromium; waste and scrap8112.29Chromium and articles thereof; wrought other than waste and scrap8112.31Hafnium and articles thereof; unwrought, powders, waste and scrap8112.39Hafnium and articles thereof; wrought, other than powders, waste and scrap8112.41Rhenium and articles thereof; unwrought, powders, waste and scrap8112.49Rhenium and articles thereof; wrought, other than powders, waste and scrap8112.51Thallium and articles thereof; unwrought thallium, powders8112.52Thallium; waste and scrap8112.59Thallium and articles thereof; other than unwrought thallium, powders or waste and scrap8112.61Cadmium; waste and scrap8112.69Cadmium; other than waste and scrap8112.92Gallium, germanium, indium, niobium (columbium) and vanadium; articles thereof, unwrought, including waste and scrap, powders8112.99Gallium, germanium, indium, niobium (columbium) and vanadium; articles thereof, other than unwrought including waste and scrap and powders
Cermets; articles thereof, including waste and scrap
1 code8113.00Cermets; articles thereof, including waste and scrap
More chapters in section XV: Base Metals
Codes and descriptions follow the WCO six-digit Harmonized System nomenclature. National tariff schedules extend these to 8–13 digits and set the actual duty rate, so confirm the full code for your destination country with your customs broker before filing. To copy a code, hover a row and use the copy button; every code has 8101-style dot notation ready for your commercial invoice.
Chapter 81 FAQ
What does HS code chapter 81 cover?
Chapter 81 of the Harmonized System covers: metals; n.e.c., cermets and articles thereof. It belongs to section XV (Base Metals) and contains 12 four-digit headings, 8101–8113.
How many HS codes are in chapter 81?
Chapter 81 contains 12 four-digit headings and 56 six-digit subheadings. Countries subdivide these further (8–13 digits) in their national tariff schedules, so the full national count is larger.
Is HS code 8101 the same in every country?
Yes. The six-digit level of every code in this chapter is harmonised by the World Customs Organization and identical in all member countries. Digits beyond the sixth (for example the US 10-digit HTS or the EU 8-digit CN) are national and set the actual duty rate.
How do I choose the right code within chapter 81?
Work from the four-digit heading down: pick the heading that best matches your product, then the six-digit subheading that matches its material, form or processing. If two codes seem to fit, customs rules (the General Rules of Interpretation) decide, and when in doubt, confirm with your customs broker before filing.