Steel, alloy; flat-rolled, width less than 600mm, n.e.c. in item no. 7226.9

HS code 722699 covers a specific category of steel products - alloy steel that is flat-rolled and has a width of less than 600mm. This type of steel is widely used in various industries, including automotive, construction, and machinery manufacturing, due to its unique properties and versatility. Its importance in the global economy cannot be overstated, as it serves as a critical raw material for numerous downstream industries.

The production of steel products under HS code 722699 typically involves a multi-step process. First, the raw materials, including iron ore, coal, and various alloying elements, are melted in a furnace to produce the desired steel composition. The molten steel is then cast into ingots or continuous cast into slabs, which are subsequently rolled and processed to achieve the desired thickness and width. Finally, the flat-rolled steel is cut, coated, or further processed as per the specific requirements of the end-user industries.

The main inputs required for the production of steel products under HS code 722699 include iron ore, coal, and various alloying elements such as chromium, nickel, and manganese. Additionally, specialized machinery, such as furnaces, rolling mills, and cutting equipment, are essential for the manufacturing process. Energy, in the form of electricity or natural gas, is another crucial input for the steel industry.

The primary output of HS code 722699 is flat-rolled alloy steel with a width of less than 600mm. This steel is used in a wide range of applications, including the production of automotive parts, construction materials, and machinery components. The output of this industry may be consumed by other HS codes, such as 870321 Motor vehicles for the transport of persons, incl. station wagons, and racing cars, with spark-ignition internal combustion reciprocating piston engine of a cylinder capacity <= 1,000 cc, 730890 (Structures and parts of structures (for example, bridges and bridge-sections, lock-gates, towers, lattice masts, roofs, roofing frameworks, doors and windows and their frames and thresholds for doors, shutters, balustrades, pillars and columns), of iron or steel, n.e.s.; plates, rods, angles, shapes, sections, tubes and the like, prepared for use in structures, of iron or steel), and 842199 Parts of machinery and apparatus for filtering or purifying gases, n.e.s., among others.