Chapter 72 covers iron and steel and articles thereof, including pig iron, ferroalloys, waste and scrap, ingots, semi-finished products, flat-rolled products, bars, sections, wire, etc. This chapter is layered by smelting form and degree of processing. Heading 7221 is located in the bar branch and specifically refers to hot-rolled stainless steel bars, distinct from other alloy steel or ordinary steel bars. Heading 7221 covers only stainless steel bars that have been hot-rolled, hot-drawn or extruded and not further processed, including coils. Bars refer to solid long products, with cross-sections that may be circular, square, rectangular, hexagonal, etc. It does not include cold-formed or further processed bars (classified under 7222), nor stainless steel wire (classified under 7223). First 2 digits 72: Chapter 72 iron and steel. Digits 3-4 21: Heading 7221, hot-rolled stainless steel bars. Digits 5-6 00: Subheading 722100, with no further subdivision; all hot-rolled stainless steel bars are classified under this code. Note: The difference between 7221 and 7222 lies in the processing state: 7221 is hot-rolled/hot-drawn/extruded and not further processed; 7222 is cold-formed or further processed. 7223 is stainless steel wire. This commodity is a hot-rolled stainless steel bar that has not undergone cold working or further processing, meeting the description of 7221. If it were a cold-drawn or cold-rolled bar, it should be classified under 7222; if it is in coil form and hot-rolled, it still remains under 7221; if it is stainless steel wire, it is classified under 7223. Therefore, based on the processing state and cross-sectional shape, it is correctly classified under 722100.
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, sections, wire, etc. This chapter is layered by smelting form and degree of processing. Heading 7221 is located in the bar branch and specifically refers to hot-rolled stainless steel bars, distinct from other alloy steel or ordinary steel bars.
Heading
Heading 7221 covers only stainless steel bars that have been hot-rolled, hot-drawn or extruded and not further processed, including coils. Bars refer to solid long products, with cross-sections that may be circular, square, rectangular, hexagonal, etc. It does not include cold-formed or further processed bars (classified under 7222), nor stainless steel wire (classified under 7223).
Digit Breakdown
First 2 digits 72: Chapter 72 iron and steel. Digits 3-4 21: Heading 7221, hot-rolled stainless steel bars. Digits 5-6 00: Subheading 722100, with no further subdivision; all hot-rolled stainless steel bars are classified under this code. Note: The difference between 7221 and 7222 lies in the processing state: 7221 is hot-rolled/hot-drawn/extruded and not further processed; 7222 is cold-formed or further processed. 7223 is stainless steel wire.
Classification Basis
This commodity is a hot-rolled stainless steel bar that has not undergone cold working or further processing, meeting the description of 7221. If it were a cold-drawn or cold-rolled bar, it should be classified under 7222; if it is in coil form and hot-rolled, it still remains under 7221; if it is stainless steel wire, it is classified under 7223. Therefore, based on the processing state and cross-sectional shape, it is correctly classified under 722100.
📝 Declaration Elements
Product name: Declared commodity name, which should accurately reflect the material and shape, such as "hot-rolled stainless steel round bar". Material: Fill in the specific stainless steel grade, such as 304, 316L, etc., and indicate the composition standard. Processing state: Indicate hot-rolled, hot-drawn or extruded, and whether further processing has been carried out. Cross-sectional shape: Circular, square, rectangular, hexagonal, etc., and must be consistent with the actual product. Specifications and dimensions: Diameter, side length or thickness, etc., in millimeters. Grade: Fill in the specific stainless steel grade, such as 304, 316L, etc. Length: Fixed length or random length, such as "fixed length 6 meters". Use: Briefly explain the use, such as "for machining". Product name: hot-rolled stainless steel round bar; Material: 304; Processing state: hot-rolled; Cross-sectional shape: circular; Specifications: diameter 20mm; Grade: 304; Length: fixed length 6 meters; Use: machining. Mistakenly classifying cold-drawn bars under 7221, when they should actually be classified under 7222. Mistakenly classifying stainless steel wire under 7221, when it should actually be classified under 7223. Failure to indicate the processing state, resulting in classification disputes.
Product name
Declared commodity name, which should accurately reflect the material and shape, such as "hot-rolled stainless steel round bar".
⚠️ Writing only "stainless steel bar" without indicating the hot-rolled state.
Material
Fill in the specific stainless steel grade, such as 304, 316L, etc., and indicate the composition standard.
⚠️ Writing only "stainless steel" without providing the grade.
Processing state
Indicate hot-rolled, hot-drawn or extruded, and whether further processing has been carried out.
⚠️ Misdeclaring cold-drawn bars as hot-rolled.
Cross-sectional shape
Circular, square, rectangular, hexagonal, etc., and must be consistent with the actual product.
⚠️ Shape description is too general, such as "special-shaped".
Specifications and dimensions
Diameter, side length or thickness, etc., in millimeters.
⚠️ Failure to provide specific dimensions or incorrect units.
Grade
Fill in the specific stainless steel grade, such as 304, 316L, etc.
⚠️ The grade does not match the material.
Length
Fixed length or random length, such as "fixed length 6 meters".
⚠️ Failure to indicate length or misdeclaring as coil.
Use
Briefly explain the use, such as "for machining".
⚠️ The use is too broad, such as "industrial use".
Mistakenly classifying cold-drawn bars under 7221, when they should actually be classified under 7222.
Mistakenly classifying stainless steel wire under 7221, when it should actually be classified under 7223.
Failure to indicate the processing state, resulting in classification disputes.
🎯 Classification Logic
The core basis for classification is the processing state and cross-sectional shape. 7221 requires hot-rolled, hot-drawn or extruded and not further processed, and solid bars. If cold-worked or further processed, it is classified under 7222; if it is wire, it is classified under 7223. At the same time, it must be confirmed that the material is stainless steel, distinct from other alloy steel. 7222 Cold-formed stainless steel bars: 7222 is cold-formed or further processed, such as cold-drawn, cold-rolled, polished, etc.; 7221 is hot-rolled and not further processed. 7223 Stainless steel wire: 7223 is wire, usually in coils, with a smaller diameter; 7221 is bar, straight or in coils, with a larger diameter. 7214 Hot-rolled bars of other alloy steel: 7214 is hot-rolled bars of other alloy steel (not stainless steel); 7221 is stainless steel. 7213 Hot-rolled coils of iron or non-alloy steel: 7213 is ordinary steel wire rod; 7221 is stainless steel wire rod. Is the material stainless steel? Is the processing state hot-rolled, hot-drawn or extruded? Has it undergone cold working or further processing? Is the cross-sectional shape that of a solid bar? Is it in coils or straight bars?
Basis
The core basis for classification is the processing state and cross-sectional shape. 7221 requires hot-rolled, hot-drawn or extruded and not further processed, and solid bars. If cold-worked or further processed, it is classified under 7222; if it is wire, it is classified under 7223. At the same time, it must be confirmed that the material is stainless steel, distinct from other alloy steel.
Confused Codes：
7222 - Cold-formed stainless steel bars
7222 is cold-formed or further processed, such as cold-drawn, cold-rolled, polished, etc.; 7221 is hot-rolled and not further processed.
7223 - Stainless steel wire
7223 is wire, usually in coils, with a smaller diameter; 7221 is bar, straight or in coils, with a larger diameter.
7214 - Hot-rolled bars of other alloy steel
7214 is hot-rolled bars of other alloy steel (not stainless steel); 7221 is stainless steel.
7213 - Hot-rolled coils of iron or non-alloy steel
7213 is ordinary steel wire rod; 7221 is stainless steel wire rod.
Self-Check：
✓ Is the material stainless steel?
✓ Is the processing state hot-rolled, hot-drawn or extruded?
✓ Has it undergone cold working or further processing?
✓ Is the cross-sectional shape that of a solid bar?
✓ Is it in coils or straight bars?
❓ FAQ
How can I check the import tariff rate for 722100? It can be checked through the official website of the General Administration of Customs or the International Trade Single Window by entering HS code 722100 to view the MFN rate, general rate, VAT rate, etc. Note that tariff rates may change, and the latest published version shall prevail. How can hot-rolled stainless steel bars and cold-drawn bars be distinguished? Hot-rolled bars have oxide scale on the surface and relatively larger dimensional tolerances; cold-drawn bars have a smooth surface and high dimensional precision. For classification, hot-rolled goes under 7221, and cold-drawn goes under 7222. Does 722100 include stainless steel wire rod? Yes, 722100 includes hot-rolled stainless steel wire rod. However, note that if the wire rod has undergone cold working, it is classified under 7222. Must the grade be provided at declaration? Yes, the grade is an important declaration element that affects classification and customs valuation. A specific grade such as 304, 316L, etc. should be provided, and it is not acceptable to write only "stainless steel". What is the difference between 722100 and 722220? 722100 is hot-rolled stainless steel bars, and 722220 is cold-formed stainless steel bars. The difference lies in the processing state: hot-rolled goes under 7221, and cold-formed goes under 7222. Does the cross-sectional shape of stainless steel bars affect classification? It does not affect classification under 722100. As long as it is a hot-rolled stainless steel bar, any solid cross-sectional shape is classified under 722100. However, the shape must be truthfully filled in at declaration. If stainless steel bars have been polished, under which code should they be classified? Polishing is further processing and should be classified under 7222, not 7221. 7221 is limited to hot-rolled and not further processed. How should stainless steel bars exported by cross-border e-commerce small parcels be declared? They must be declared according to the actual product name, material, processing state, etc., and detailed declaration elements must be provided. Small parcel exports must also comply with customs classification rules and cannot simply be declared as "samples".
Q: How can I check the import tariff rate for 722100?
A: It can be checked through the official website of the General Administration of Customs or the International Trade Single Window by entering HS code 722100 to view the MFN rate, general rate, VAT rate, etc. Note that tariff rates may change, and the latest published version shall prevail.
Q: How can hot-rolled stainless steel bars and cold-drawn bars be distinguished?
A: Hot-rolled bars have oxide scale on the surface and relatively larger dimensional tolerances; cold-drawn bars have a smooth surface and high dimensional precision. For classification, hot-rolled goes under 7221, and cold-drawn goes under 7222.
Q: Does 722100 include stainless steel wire rod?
A: Yes, 722100 includes hot-rolled stainless steel wire rod. However, note that if the wire rod has undergone cold working, it is classified under 7222.
Q: Must the grade be provided at declaration?
A: Yes, the grade is an important declaration element that affects classification and customs valuation. A specific grade such as 304, 316L, etc. should be provided, and it is not acceptable to write only "stainless steel".
Q: What is the difference between 722100 and 722220?
A: 722100 is hot-rolled stainless steel bars, and 722220 is cold-formed stainless steel bars. The difference lies in the processing state: hot-rolled goes under 7221, and cold-formed goes under 7222.
Q: Does the cross-sectional shape of stainless steel bars affect classification?
A: It does not affect classification under 722100. As long as it is a hot-rolled stainless steel bar, any solid cross-sectional shape is classified under 722100. However, the shape must be truthfully filled in at declaration.
Q: If stainless steel bars have been polished, under which code should they be classified?
A: Polishing is further processing and should be classified under 7222, not 7221. 7221 is limited to hot-rolled and not further processed.
Q: How should stainless steel bars exported by cross-border e-commerce small parcels be declared?
A: They must be declared according to the actual product name, material, processing state, etc., and detailed declaration elements must be provided. Small parcel exports must also comply with customs classification rules and cannot simply be declared as "samples".
⚠️ 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.