• Schedule. Mon - Sat 10.00 - 18.00
Linkedin-in Whatsapp
Get In Touch

HS Codes & Paperwork

the fast-track guide for mineral shippers

1 What an HS code actually is

  • HS = Harmonised System.*
    The first 6 digits (set by the WCO) identify the commodity worldwide; extra digits (8-, 10-, 12-digit) are added by each country for duty and statistical splits.

25 26 20    00
│  │  └─→ Sub-heading (talc, steatite)
│  └────── Heading (natural steatite; talc)
└────────── Chapter 25  (salt, earths, stone)

2 Why you must get it right

Miss-code consequenceTypical hit
Wrong duty / VATImmediate customs fine + back tax (up to 100 %)
Stalled clearanceStorage at port, demurrage > USD 200 per container per day
Blocked bank LCBanks refuse documents if the invoice HS ≠ BL HS
Trade-control flagsMis-classified Sb concentrate could trip dual-use or hazardous-material controls

3 Where the HS code appears in your file set

  1. Commercial invoice – one line per HS position, value & currency.

  2. Packing list – weight & package count against the same HS digits.

  3. Export declaration – WeBoc, E-Mirsal2, Icegate … all require the 8-/10-digit local code.

  4. Bill of lading / AWB – appears in the “description” field.

  5. Certificate of origin (COO) – chamber stamps HS + preferential rule (e.g., “GCC-origin, Rule PSR-C”).

  6. LC or CAD docs – banks match HS between the invoice and the COO.

4 Paperwork bundle for a typical talc or antimony cargo

  • Commercial invoice (HS, unit price, Incoterm).

  • Packing list (HS, net / gross kg, pallet count).

  • Certificate of analysis (kept as annex – shows grade matches declared HS).

  • MSDS (if UN 3077, Class 9 for Sb).

  • COO – needed for GCC duty-free, EU GSP, etc.

  • Export licence/mining permit, country-specific.

  • Insurance certificate (if CIF/CIP).

  • Fumigation or ISPM-15 pallet cert if wood packaging crosses to AU/NZ/US.

5 Three fast checks before you lock the code in the contract

  1. Is it “ore” or “concentrate”?
    – Ores use HS 2606 00 (antimony), concentrates sometimes go under the same 2606 if bulk mineral > 40 % Sb.

  2. Is it calcined or processed?
    – Calcined talc moves from 2526 20 00 to 6815 99 … in some customs regimes.

  3. Does it contain hazardous elements?
    – Sb conc. With> 1 % arsenic, may need UN 3077 plus IMDG paperwork even if HS stays 2606.

6 Link to the quick-look table

Need to find the right 6- or 8-digit number fast? Head to our HS Code Quick Reference page  where we list the common codes for talc, antimony ore & concentrate, barite, calcium carbonate, gypsum, marble, etc.

7 Key takeaways

  • The first 6 digits never change worldwide; check the extra country digits with your broker.

  • Put the chosen HS on every doc—invoice, BL, COO, even the LC application.

  • Verify the code fits the product state (ore/concentrate / calcined) and chemical profile.

  • A two-minute HS check-up front saves days of storage charges and hard costs at the port.

Keep this cheat sheet handy and your cross-border paperwork passes customs the first time, every time.