Stainless steel in ingots or other primary forms; semi-finished products of stainless steel

HS v2017 Code: 7218

About stainless steel in ingots or other primary forms; semi-finished products of stainless steel

HS code 7218 covers the production and trade of stainless steel in its primary forms, such as ingots, billets, and other semi-finished products. Stainless steel is a critical material in a wide range of industries, including construction, manufacturing, and transportation, due to its exceptional corrosion resistance, durability, and aesthetic appeal. As a result, the global stainless steel market is a significant contributor to the broader economy, with a growing demand driven by industrialization and infrastructure development, particularly in emerging markets.

Production process

The production of stainless steel under HS code 7218 typically involves a multi-step process. First, raw materials, such as iron ore, chromium, and other alloying elements, are melted in an electric arc furnace or basic oxygen furnace. The molten steel is then cast into ingots or continuously cast into billets, blooms, or slabs, which are the primary forms covered by this code. These semi-finished products may undergo further processing, such as hot rolling, forging, or extrusion, to shape them into the desired forms for downstream applications.

Production inputs

The main inputs required for the production of stainless steel under HS code 7218 include iron ore, chromium, nickel, and other alloying elements, such as molybdenum and manganese. Additionally, the industry relies on specialized equipment, such as electric arc furnaces, continuous casting machines, and rolling mills, as well as a skilled workforce to operate and maintain the production facilities.

Production outputs

The primary outputs of the industry covered by HS code 7218 are stainless steel ingots, billets, blooms, and slabs. These semi-finished products are then further processed and fabricated into a wide range of finished goods, including 7219 Flat-rolled products of stainless steel, 7220 Flat-rolled products of stainless steel, of a width of less than 600 mm, 7221 Bars and rods, hot-rolled, in irregularly wound coils, of stainless steel, and 7222 Other bars and rods of stainless steel; angles, shapes and sections of stainless steel.

Family tree for stainless steel in ingots or other primary forms; semi-finished products of stainless steel

    graph LR
    A["<a href='/classifications/hs/v2017/72'>72: Iron and steel</a>"]
A --> B["<a href='/classifications/hs/v2017/7218'>7218: Stainless steel in ingots or other primary forms; semi-finished products of stainless steel</a>"]

    A --> C["<a href='/classifications/hs/v2017/7201'>7201: Pig iron and spiegeleisen in pigs, blocks or other primary forms</a>"]
A --> D["<a href='/classifications/hs/v2017/7202'>7202: Ferro-alloys</a>"]
A --> E["<a href='/classifications/hs/v2017/7203'>7203: Ferrous products obtained by direct reduction of iron ore and other spongy ferrous products, in lumps, pellets or the like; iron having a minimum purity of 99.94%, in lumps, pellets or similar forms</a>"]
A --> F["<a href='/classifications/hs/v2017/7204'>7204: Ferrous waste and scrap; remelting scrap ingots of iron or steel</a>"]
A --> G["<a href='/classifications/hs/v2017/7205'>7205: Granules and powders, of pig iron, spiegeleisen, iron or steel</a>"]
A --> H["<a href='/classifications/hs/v2017/7206'>7206: Iron and non-alloy steel in ingots or other primary forms (excluding iron of heading no. 7203)</a>"]
A --> I["<a href='/classifications/hs/v2017/7207'>7207: Iron or non-alloy steel; semi-finished products thereof</a>"]
A --> J["<a href='/classifications/hs/v2017/7208'>7208: Iron or non-alloy steel; flat-rolled products of a width of 600mm or more, hot-rolled, not clad, plated or coated</a>"]
A --> K["<a href='/classifications/hs/v2017/7209'>7209: Iron or non-alloy steel; flat-rolled products, width 600mm or more, cold-rolled (cold-reduced), not clad, plated or coated</a>"]
A --> L["<a href='/classifications/hs/v2017/7210'>7210: Iron or non-alloy steel; flat-rolled products, width 600mm or more, clad, plated or coated</a>"]
A --> M["<a href='/classifications/hs/v2017/7211'>7211: Iron or non-alloy steel; flat-rolled products, width less than 600mm, not clad, plated or coated</a>"]
A --> N["<a href='/classifications/hs/v2017/7212'>7212: Iron or non-alloy steel; flat-rolled products, width less than 600mm, clad, plated or coated</a>"]
A --> O["<a href='/classifications/hs/v2017/7213'>7213: Iron or non-alloy steel; bars and rods, hot-rolled, in irregularly wound coils</a>"]
A --> P["<a href='/classifications/hs/v2017/7214'>7214: Iron or non-alloy steel; bars and rods, not further worked than forged, hot-rolled, hot drawn or hot-extruded, but including those twisted after rolling</a>"]
A --> Q["<a href='/classifications/hs/v2017/7215'>7215: Iron or non-alloy steel; bars and rods, n.e.c. in chapter 72</a>"]
A --> R["<a href='/classifications/hs/v2017/7216'>7216: Iron or non-alloy steel, angles, shapes and sections</a>"]
A --> S["<a href='/classifications/hs/v2017/7217'>7217: Wire of iron or non-alloy steel</a>"]
A --> T["<a href='/classifications/hs/v2017/7219'>7219: Stainless steel; flat-rolled products of width of 600mm or more</a>"]
A --> U["<a href='/classifications/hs/v2017/7220'>7220: Stainless steel; flat-rolled products of width less than 600mm</a>"]
A --> V["<a href='/classifications/hs/v2017/7221'>7221: Stainless steel bars and rods, hot-rolled, in irregularly wound coils</a>"]
A --> W["<a href='/classifications/hs/v2017/7222'>7222: Stainless steel bars and rods, angles, shapes and sections</a>"]
A --> X["<a href='/classifications/hs/v2017/7223'>7223: Stainless steel wire</a>"]
A --> Y["<a href='/classifications/hs/v2017/7224'>7224: Alloy steel in ingots or other primary forms, semi-finished products of other alloy steel</a>"]
A --> Z["<a href='/classifications/hs/v2017/7225'>7225: Alloy steel flat-rolled products, of a width 600mm or more</a>"]
A --> BA["<a href='/classifications/hs/v2017/7226'>7226: Alloy steel flat-rolled products, of a width of less than 600mm</a>"]
A --> BB["<a href='/classifications/hs/v2017/7227'>7227: Steel, alloy; bars and rods, hot-rolled, in irregularly wound coils</a>"]
A --> BC["<a href='/classifications/hs/v2017/7228'>7228: Alloy steel bars, rods, shapes and sections; hollow drill bars and rods, of alloy or non-alloy steel</a>"]
A --> BD["<a href='/classifications/hs/v2017/7229'>7229: Wire of other alloy steel</a>"]

    B --> BE["<a href='/classifications/hs/v2017/721810'>721810: Steel, stainless; ingots and other primary forms</a>"]
B --> BF["<a href='/classifications/hs/v2017/721891'>721891: Steel, stainless; semi-finished products, of rectangular (other than square) cross-section</a>"]
B --> BG["<a href='/classifications/hs/v2017/721899'>721899: Steel, stainless; semi-finished products, other than of rectangular cross-section</a>"]


    %% Color coordination by level

    classDef level1 color:#000,fill:#a8f9ff,stroke:#333,stroke-width:2px
    classDef level2 color:#000,fill:#e0a458,stroke:#333,stroke-width:1px
    classDef level3 color:#000,fill:#419d78,stroke:#333,stroke-width:1px
    classDef level4 color:#000,fill:#c04abc,stroke:#333,stroke-width:1px
    classDef level5 color:#000,fill:#f1c40f,stroke:#333,stroke-width:1px
    classDef level6 color:#000,fill:#f1c40f,stroke:#333,stroke-width:1px
    classDef highlight color:#000,fill:#fff,stroke:#000,stroke-width:5px



  %% Apply classes
  class A level2
class B level4
class C level4
class D level4
class E level4
class F level4
class G level4
class H level4
class I level4
class J level4
class K level4
class L level4
class M level4
class N level4
class O level4
class P level4
class Q level4
class R level4
class S level4
class T level4
class U level4
class V level4
class W level4
class X level4
class Y level4
class Z level4
class BA level4
class BB level4
class BC level4
class BD level4
class BE level6
class BF level6
class BG level6

  class B highlight

  %% class A level1
  %% class B,C level2
  %% class D,E,F,G,H,I level2
  %% class J,K,L,M,N,O,P level3
  %% class B highlight