Metals; silver, unwrought, (but not powder)

HS code 710691 covers the trade of unwrought silver, excluding silver powder. Silver is a precious metal with a wide range of industrial and commercial applications, making it an important commodity in the global economy. As a highly malleable and conductive material, silver is used in various sectors, including electronics, jewelry, and photography, contributing to its significant role in international trade.

The production of unwrought silver typically involves mining and refining processes. Silver is primarily extracted from silver-bearing ores through a series of steps, including crushing, grinding, and chemical or electrochemical separation. The refined silver is then cast into various forms, such as bars, ingots, or other shapes, ready for further processing or distribution.

The main inputs required for the production of unwrought silver include silver-bearing ores, mining and refining equipment, and energy sources to power the various stages of the production process. Additionally, chemicals and other materials may be used in the refining and purification stages to ensure the desired purity and quality of the final product.

The primary output of HS code 710691 is unwrought silver, which can be further processed and used in a wide range of applications. The silver produced under this code may be consumed by industries such as 711510 Precious metal smiths' and silversmiths' wares, 851790 Parts of telephone sets, telephones, telegraphs, and other apparatus for the transmission or reception of voice, images or other data, and 900110 Optical fibres and optical fibre bundles; optical fibre cables, among others.