Chapter 72 covers iron and steel and articles thereof, including pig iron, ferroalloys, waste and scrap, ingots, semi-finished products, flat-rolled products, bars, profiles, wire rods, tubes, etc. This chapter is a core chapter for commodities in international trade, involving complex alloy compositions, processing techniques, and use classifications. 7219 belongs to stainless steel flat-rolled products, which are important raw materials for high-end manufacturing and consumer goods. Heading 7219 specifically covers flat-rolled products of stainless steel, of a width of 600mm or more, whether or not further worked (such as cold-rolled, hot-rolled, coated, etc.). However, note that 7219 only includes coils or sheets of a width of 600mm or more, and does not include narrow strip (width less than 600mm) or wire. Under this heading, products are further subdivided according to processing state (hot-rolled/cold-rolled), thickness, surface treatment, etc. First 2 digits 72: represents Chapter 72 'Iron and Steel', including primary forms and semi-finished products of iron and non-alloy steel, stainless steel, and other alloy steel. Digits 3-4, 19: represents heading 7219 'flat-rolled products of stainless steel, of a width of 600mm or more'. Digits 5-6, 31: under heading 7219, subheading 721931 represents 'cold-rolled, not further worked, of a thickness of 4.75mm or more' stainless steel coils. Specifically, 7219.31 requires: stainless steel material, width of 600mm or more, cold-reduced, thickness of 4.75mm or more, not clad, plated or coated. If the thickness is less than 4.75mm, it is classified under subheadings 721932-721935, etc.; if further worked (such as pickled, brushed, polished), it may be classified under 7219.90. This commodity is cold-rolled stainless steel coil, of a width of 600mm or more, of a thickness of 4.75mm or more, and not further worked such as plated or coated, therefore classified under 721931. If the thickness is less than 4.75mm, it should be classified under 721932 (thickness 0.5-1mm), etc.; if hot-rolled, under 721911-721914; if width less than 600mm, under 7220.
Chapter
Chapter 72 covers iron and steel and articles thereof, including pig iron, ferroalloys, waste and scrap, ingots, semi-finished products, flat-rolled products, bars, profiles, wire rods, tubes, etc. This chapter is a core chapter for commodities in international trade, involving complex alloy compositions, processing techniques, and use classifications. 7219 belongs to stainless steel flat-rolled products, which are important raw materials for high-end manufacturing and consumer goods.
Heading
Heading 7219 specifically covers flat-rolled products of stainless steel, of a width of 600mm or more, whether or not further worked (such as cold-rolled, hot-rolled, coated, etc.). However, note that 7219 only includes coils or sheets of a width of 600mm or more, and does not include narrow strip (width less than 600mm) or wire. Under this heading, products are further subdivided according to processing state (hot-rolled/cold-rolled), thickness, surface treatment, etc.
Digit Breakdown
First 2 digits 72: represents Chapter 72 'Iron and Steel', including primary forms and semi-finished products of iron and non-alloy steel, stainless steel, and other alloy steel. Digits 3-4, 19: represents heading 7219 'flat-rolled products of stainless steel, of a width of 600mm or more'. Digits 5-6, 31: under heading 7219, subheading 721931 represents 'cold-rolled, not further worked, of a thickness of 4.75mm or more' stainless steel coils. Specifically, 7219.31 requires: stainless steel material, width of 600mm or more, cold-reduced, thickness of 4.75mm or more, not clad, plated or coated. If the thickness is less than 4.75mm, it is classified under subheadings 721932-721935, etc.; if further worked (such as pickled, brushed, polished), it may be classified under 7219.90.
Classification Basis
This commodity is cold-rolled stainless steel coil, of a width of 600mm or more, of a thickness of 4.75mm or more, and not further worked such as plated or coated, therefore classified under 721931. If the thickness is less than 4.75mm, it should be classified under 721932 (thickness 0.5-1mm), etc.; if hot-rolled, under 721911-721914; if width less than 600mm, under 7220.
📝 Declaration Elements
Product Name: The standard name of the declared commodity, which should include key information such as material, processing state, shape, e.g., 'cold-rolled stainless steel coil' Material: The specific grade or composition of stainless steel, such as 304, 316L, etc., and the content of main alloying elements (chromium, nickel, etc.) must be indicated Specifications and Dimensions: Including thickness, width, inner diameter of coil, outer diameter, etc. Thickness must be accurate to millimeters, and width must indicate whether it is 600mm or more Processing State: Clearly state cold-reduced, and indicate whether it has undergone subsequent treatments such as annealing or pickling Surface Treatment: Describe the surface condition, such as 2B, BA, No.4, etc. If plated or coated, it must be specially stated Use: Declare the main use, such as for manufacturing tableware, kitchenware, automotive parts, etc., which helps customs determine classification Brand: If there is a brand, it must be declared; if no brand, fill in 'none'. Brand does not affect classification but affects price review Manufacturer: Declare the name of the production enterprise for traceability of origin and quality Product Name: Cold-rolled stainless steel coil; Material: 304 stainless steel (chromium 18%, nickel 8%); Specifications: thickness 5.0mm, width 1250mm, coil inner diameter 508mm; Processing State: cold-rolled, not annealed or pickled; Surface Treatment: 2B; Use: for manufacturing kitchenware; Brand: none; Manufacturer: XX Steel Co., Ltd. Inaccurate thickness declaration, especially when close to the critical value of 4.75mm, requires precise measurement and retention of evidence Mistakenly declaring cold-rolled then pickled coils as 'not further worked', when they should actually be classified under 7219.90 Incorrect width declaration; if actual width is less than 600mm, it should be classified under 7220, not 7219
Product Name
The standard name of the declared commodity, which should include key information such as material, processing state, shape, e.g., 'cold-rolled stainless steel coil'
⚠️ Only writing 'stainless steel coil' without indicating cold-rolled, or mistakenly writing 'hot-rolled stainless steel coil'
Material
The specific grade or composition of stainless steel, such as 304, 316L, etc., and the content of main alloying elements (chromium, nickel, etc.) must be indicated
⚠️ Only writing 'stainless steel' without providing the grade, or the grade does not match the actual product
Specifications and Dimensions
Including thickness, width, inner diameter of coil, outer diameter, etc. Thickness must be accurate to millimeters, and width must indicate whether it is 600mm or more
⚠️ Incorrect unit of thickness (e.g., using centimeters), or failing to indicate width resulting in classification errors
Processing State
Clearly state cold-reduced, and indicate whether it has undergone subsequent treatments such as annealing or pickling
⚠️ Mistakenly declaring cold-rolled then pickled as 'not further worked'
Surface Treatment
Describe the surface condition, such as 2B, BA, No.4, etc. If plated or coated, it must be specially stated
⚠️ Ignoring surface treatment leading to misclassification under 7219.90
Use
Declare the main use, such as for manufacturing tableware, kitchenware, automotive parts, etc., which helps customs determine classification
⚠️ Use description too general, such as 'industrial use'
Brand
If there is a brand, it must be declared; if no brand, fill in 'none'. Brand does not affect classification but affects price review
⚠️ Failing to declare the brand or incorrectly declaring the brand
Manufacturer
Declare the name of the production enterprise for traceability of origin and quality
⚠️ Filling in the trader instead of the manufacturer
Inaccurate thickness declaration, especially when close to the critical value of 4.75mm, requires precise measurement and retention of evidence
Mistakenly declaring cold-rolled then pickled coils as 'not further worked', when they should actually be classified under 7219.90
Incorrect width declaration; if actual width is less than 600mm, it should be classified under 7220, not 7219
🎯 Classification Logic
The core basis for classification is: 1) material is stainless steel; 2) width is 600mm or more; 3) cold-reduced rather than hot-rolled; 4) thickness is 4.75mm or more; 5) not further worked (such as plated, coated, clad). Reference must also be made to the 'Import and Export Tariff' and customs classification decisions to ensure compliance with subheading provisions. If thickness or processing state does not match, classify under other subheadings. 721932 Cold-rolled stainless steel coil, thickness 0.5-1mm: Different thickness range: 721932 requires thickness between 0.5mm and 1mm (excluding 1mm), while 721931 requires 4.75mm or more. 721911 Hot-rolled stainless steel coil, thickness >10mm: Different processing state: 721911 is hot-rolled, 721931 is cold-rolled; and the thickness ranges are also different. 721990 Other flat-rolled products of stainless steel: 721990 covers stainless steel products that have been further worked (such as plated, coated) or of a width less than 600mm, while 721931 requires not further worked and width of 600mm or more. 722020 Cold-rolled stainless steel narrow strip, width <600mm: Different width: 722020 has a width less than 600mm, while 721931 has a width of 600mm or more. Confirm the material is stainless steel (chromium content 10.5% or more) Confirm width is 600mm or more Confirm processing state is cold-reduced Confirm thickness is 4.75mm or more Confirm not further worked such as plated or coated
Basis
The core basis for classification is: 1) material is stainless steel; 2) width is 600mm or more; 3) cold-reduced rather than hot-rolled; 4) thickness is 4.75mm or more; 5) not further worked (such as plated, coated, clad). Reference must also be made to the 'Import and Export Tariff' and customs classification decisions to ensure compliance with subheading provisions. If thickness or processing state does not match, classify under other subheadings.
Different processing state: 721911 is hot-rolled, 721931 is cold-rolled; and the thickness ranges are also different.
721990 - Other flat-rolled products of stainless steel
721990 covers stainless steel products that have been further worked (such as plated, coated) or of a width less than 600mm, while 721931 requires not further worked and width of 600mm or more.
Different width: 722020 has a width less than 600mm, while 721931 has a width of 600mm or more.
Self-Check：
✓ Confirm the material is stainless steel (chromium content 10.5% or more)
✓ Confirm width is 600mm or more
✓ Confirm processing state is cold-reduced
✓ Confirm thickness is 4.75mm or more
✓ Confirm not further worked such as plated or coated
❓ FAQ
How to check the import tax rate for 721931? You can check through the 'Import and Export Tariff' on the official website of the General Administration of Customs of China, or use tools such as the 'Customs Classification Intelligent Navigation'. Tax rates include MFN rate, general rate, VAT, consumption tax, etc., depending on the origin and trade agreements. It is recommended to rely on the latest customs publication. How is the thickness of cold-rolled stainless steel coil measured? Thickness should be measured at least 100mm from the edge of the coil, using a calibrated micrometer, taking the average of multiple points. Note the thickness tolerance; if close to the critical value of 4.75mm, it is recommended to provide a third-party inspection report. If my stainless steel coil has been pickled, is it still classified under 721931? Pickling is further working. If cold-rolled then pickled, it should not be classified under 721931, but under 721990 (other). However, if pickling is a necessary step in the cold-rolling process and does not change the surface characteristics, it should be judged in conjunction with customs classification decisions. What is the main difference between 721931 and 721932? The main difference is thickness: 721931 requires thickness of 4.75mm or more, while 721932 requires thickness between 0.5mm and 1mm (excluding 1mm). When classifying, thickness must be accurately measured and declared. Is the brand mandatory when declaring? Brand is one of the declaration elements; if no brand, fill in 'none'. Brand does not affect classification but affects customs valuation and intellectual property protection. If it involves a well-known brand, an authorization letter must be provided. How is the width of stainless steel coil defined? Width refers to the width of the coil, i.e., the dimension perpendicular to the rolling direction. If the width is 600mm or more, classify under 7219; if less than 600mm, classify under 7220. Measurement must be precise to avoid classification errors. If the thickness is exactly 4.75mm, which code should it be classified under? According to the tariff, 721931 requires thickness of 4.75mm or more, so 4.75mm should be classified under 721931. However, note measurement errors; it is recommended to provide precise inspection data. What are the common surface treatments for cold-rolled stainless steel coil? Common ones include 2B (bright annealed after cold rolling), BA (bright annealed), No.4 (brushed), HL (hairline), etc. If the surface treatment constitutes further working, it may affect classification and must be declared truthfully.
Q: How to check the import tax rate for 721931?
A: You can check through the 'Import and Export Tariff' on the official website of the General Administration of Customs of China, or use tools such as the 'Customs Classification Intelligent Navigation'. Tax rates include MFN rate, general rate, VAT, consumption tax, etc., depending on the origin and trade agreements. It is recommended to rely on the latest customs publication.
Q: How is the thickness of cold-rolled stainless steel coil measured?
A: Thickness should be measured at least 100mm from the edge of the coil, using a calibrated micrometer, taking the average of multiple points. Note the thickness tolerance; if close to the critical value of 4.75mm, it is recommended to provide a third-party inspection report.
Q: If my stainless steel coil has been pickled, is it still classified under 721931?
A: Pickling is further working. If cold-rolled then pickled, it should not be classified under 721931, but under 721990 (other). However, if pickling is a necessary step in the cold-rolling process and does not change the surface characteristics, it should be judged in conjunction with customs classification decisions.
Q: What is the main difference between 721931 and 721932?
A: The main difference is thickness: 721931 requires thickness of 4.75mm or more, while 721932 requires thickness between 0.5mm and 1mm (excluding 1mm). When classifying, thickness must be accurately measured and declared.
Q: Is the brand mandatory when declaring?
A: Brand is one of the declaration elements; if no brand, fill in 'none'. Brand does not affect classification but affects customs valuation and intellectual property protection. If it involves a well-known brand, an authorization letter must be provided.
Q: How is the width of stainless steel coil defined?
A: Width refers to the width of the coil, i.e., the dimension perpendicular to the rolling direction. If the width is 600mm or more, classify under 7219; if less than 600mm, classify under 7220. Measurement must be precise to avoid classification errors.
Q: If the thickness is exactly 4.75mm, which code should it be classified under?
A: According to the tariff, 721931 requires thickness of 4.75mm or more, so 4.75mm should be classified under 721931. However, note measurement errors; it is recommended to provide precise inspection data.
Q: What are the common surface treatments for cold-rolled stainless steel coil?
A: Common ones include 2B (bright annealed after cold rolling), BA (bright annealed), No.4 (brushed), HL (hairline), etc. If the surface treatment constitutes further working, it may affect classification and must be declared truthfully.
⚠️ Disclaimer: HS code classification, declaration elements, tariff rates and regulatory conditions on this page are for reference only and do not constitute legal advice on customs classification. Tariff rates and regulations are subject to change; the latest announcements from the General Administration of Customs and on-site determinations shall prevail. Please consult professional customs brokers or customs authorities before import/export.