When exporting stainless steel, the easiest thing to get wrong is tariff classification. The HS code determines duty, anti-dumping tax and whether a license is required, andthe same shipment declared as 'coil' or as 'flat' can differ in duty rate by a factor of two。
Common Codes (the first 6 digits are internationally accepted)
| Product | HS Code | Explanation |
|---|---|---|
| Stainless steel hot-rolled coil (width ≥600 mm) | 7219.1x | Classified by thickness |
| Stainless steel cold-rolled coil (width ≥600 mm) | 7219.3x | Classified by thickness |
| Stainless steel cold-rolled flat (not coiled, width ≥600 mm) | 7219.3x / 7219.4x | Coiled and non-coiled are listed separately in some tariff schedules |
| Stainless steel narrow strip (width <600 mm) | 7220.xx | Commonly used for slit strips |
| Stainless steel round / special-shaped sections | 7326.90 or by product category | Depends on processing depth; confirm with your customs broker |
Three common pitfalls
- Mixing 'coil' and 'flat' in one declaration： If opened flat is declared as coil, additional tax may be demanded during an anti-dumping investigation. Declarations must be updated before and after uncoiling.
- Mismatch between origin documents and invoice product names： The product name on the CO must match the commercial invoice and packing list, otherwise the documents will be rejected at destination customs clearance. Form A / Form E have even stricter completion requirements.
- Ignoring destination-country anti-dumping and CBAM： The EU has anti-dumping measures on certain stainless steel products, and the CBAM transitional period also requires reporting of embedded carbon emissions. Always check the destination country's current measures before shipping.
What we can provide： EN 10204 3.1 quality certificate shipped with the cargo (including heat number and chemical composition), commercial invoice and packing list, certificate of origin (CO / Form A / Form E), plus a declaration data sheet prepared to destination-country requirements. If third-party inspection (SGS / BV / Intertek) is required, it is arranged before loading.
At the quotation stage, we recommend stating the destination country and trade terms (FOB / CIF / CFR); we prepare the standard document package for the destination port, reducing the need for supplementary documents after arrival.
