Natural steatite; whether or not roughly trimmed or merely cut, by sawing or otherwise, into blocks or slabs of a rectangular (including square) shape; talc

HS v2022 Code: 2526

Chapter	Heading	Sub-heading
25	26	n/a

Code	2526
Version	HS v2022
Hierarchy Level	4
Datasource	WCO
Chapter	25

Ancestor Codes: Salt; sulphur; earths, stone; plastering materials, lime and cement

This Code: Natural steatite; whether or not roughly trimmed or merely cut, by sawing or otherwise, into blocks or slabs of a rectangular (including square) shape; talc

Child Codes: Steatite; natural, crushed, powdered, whether or not roughly trimmed or merely cut, by sawing or otherwise, into blocks or slabs of a rectangular (including square) shape; talc; Steatite; natural, (not crushed or powdered), whether or not roughly trimmed or merely cut, by sawing or otherwise, into blocks or slabs of a rectangular (including square) shape; talc

Sibling Codes (Nearest 5): Portland cement, aluminous cement (ciment fondu), slag cement, supersulphate cement and similar hydraulic cements, whether or not coloured or in the form of clinkers; Asbestos; Mica, including splittings; mica waste; Natural borates and concentrates thereof (whether or not calcined), but not including borates separated from natural brine; natural boric acid containing not more than 85 % of H3BO3 calculated on the dry weight; Feldspar; leucite; nepheline and nepheline syenite; fluorspar

About natural steatite; whether or not roughly trimmed or merely cut, by sawing or otherwise, into blocks or slabs of a rectangular (including square) shape; talc

HS code 2526 covers the classification of natural steatite, a type of mineral commonly known as talc. Talc is a soft, hydrous magnesium silicate that is widely used in various industries due to its unique physical and chemical properties. As a key raw material, the global trade and production of natural steatite plays a crucial role in the manufacturing of a diverse range of products, from personal care items to industrial applications.

Production process

The production of natural steatite, or talc, typically involves the extraction of the mineral from deposits found in the earth's crust. The raw material is then processed through a series of steps, including crushing, grinding, and purification, to obtain the desired grade and purity levels. Depending on the intended use, the processed talc may undergo further refinement, such as micronization or surface treatment, to enhance its performance characteristics.

Production inputs

The primary input for the natural steatite industry is the raw mineral itself, which is sourced from geological deposits around the world. In addition to the raw material, the production process may require various types of machinery and equipment, such as crushers, mills, and purification systems, as well as energy sources and water for processing. Depending on the specific application, the industry may also rely on other complementary materials, such as binders or additives, to formulate the final product.

Production outputs

The main output of the natural steatite industry is the processed talc, which finds applications in a wide range of industries. Talc is commonly used as a filler, absorbent, or lubricant in products such as 3304 Cosmetics and Toiletries, 6815 Articles of Stone, Plaster, Cement, Asbestos, Mica or Similar Materials, and 6812 Fabricated Asbestos Fibers; Mixtures with a Basis of Asbestos or with a Basis of Asbestos and Magnesium Carbonate. The industry's output may also be further processed or combined with other materials to create specialized products for various end-use sectors.

Family tree for natural steatite; whether or not roughly trimmed or merely cut, by sawing or otherwise, into blocks or slabs of a rectangular (including square) shape; talc

    graph LR
    A["<a href='/classifications/hs/v2022/25'>25: Salt; sulphur; earths, stone; plastering materials, lime and cement</a>"]
A --> B["<a href='/classifications/hs/v2022/2526'>2526: Natural steatite; whether or not roughly trimmed or merely cut, by sawing or otherwise, into blocks or slabs of a rectangular (including square) shape; talc</a>"]

    A --> C["<a href='/classifications/hs/v2022/2501'>2501: Salt (including table salt and denatured salt); pure sodium chloride whether or not in aqueous solution; sea water</a>"]
A --> D["<a href='/classifications/hs/v2022/2502'>2502: Iron pyrites; unroasted</a>"]
A --> E["<a href='/classifications/hs/v2022/2503'>2503: Sulphur of all kinds; other than sublimed, precipitated and colloidal sulphur</a>"]
A --> F["<a href='/classifications/hs/v2022/2504'>2504: Graphite; natural</a>"]
A --> G["<a href='/classifications/hs/v2022/2505'>2505: Sands of all kinds; natural, whether or not coloured, other than metal-bearing sands of chapter 26</a>"]
A --> H["<a href='/classifications/hs/v2022/2506'>2506: Quartz; (other than natural sands), quartzite, whether or not roughly trimmed or merely cut, by sawing or otherwise, into blocks or slabs of a rectangular (including square) shape</a>"]
A --> I["<a href='/classifications/hs/v2022/2507'>2507: Kaolin and other kaolinic clays; whether or not calcined</a>"]
A --> J["<a href='/classifications/hs/v2022/2508'>2508: Clays; (not including expanded clays of heading no. 6806), andalusite kyanite and sillimanite, whether or not calcined; mullite; chamotte or dinas earth</a>"]
A --> K["<a href='/classifications/hs/v2022/2509'>2509: Chalk</a>"]
A --> L["<a href='/classifications/hs/v2022/2510'>2510: Natural calcium phosphates; natural aluminium calcium phosphates and phosphatic chalk</a>"]
A --> M["<a href='/classifications/hs/v2022/2511'>2511: Natural barium sulphate (barytes); natural barium carbonate, (witherite) whether or not calcined, other than barium oxide of heading no. 2816</a>"]
A --> N["<a href='/classifications/hs/v2022/2512'>2512: Siliceous fossil meals (e.g. kieselguhr, tripolite and diatomite) and similar siliceous earths; whether or not calcined, of an apparent specific gravity of 1 or less</a>"]
A --> O["<a href='/classifications/hs/v2022/2513'>2513: Pumice stone; emery; natural corundum, natural garnet and other natural abrasives, whether or not heat treated</a>"]
A --> P["<a href='/classifications/hs/v2022/2514'>2514: Slate, whether or not roughly trimmed or merely cut, by sawing or otherwise, into blocks or slabs of a rectangular (including square) shape</a>"]
A --> Q["<a href='/classifications/hs/v2022/2515'>2515: Marble, travertine, ecaussine and other calcareous stone; of an apparent specific gravity of less than 2.5, alabaster, whether cut by sawing etc, into blocks, slabs of a rectangular (square) shape</a>"]
A --> R["<a href='/classifications/hs/v2022/2516'>2516: Granite, porphyry, basalt, sandstone, other monumental and building stone, whether or not roughly trimmed, cut, by sawing etc, into blocks or slabs of a rectangular (including square) shape</a>"]
A --> S["<a href='/classifications/hs/v2022/2517'>2517: Pebbles, gravel, crushed stone for concrete aggregates for road or railway ballast, shingle or flint; macadam of slag, dross etc tarred granules, chippings, powder of stones of heading no. 2515 and 2516</a>"]
A --> T["<a href='/classifications/hs/v2022/2518'>2518: Dolomite, whether or not calcined or sintered, including dolomite roughly trimmed or merely cut, by sawing or otherwise, into blocks or slabs of a rectangular (including square) shape</a>"]
A --> U["<a href='/classifications/hs/v2022/2519'>2519: Natural magnesium carbonate (magnesite); fused magnesia; dead-burned (sintered) magnesia, whether or not containing small quantities of other oxides added before sintering; magnesium oxide, pure or not</a>"]
A --> V["<a href='/classifications/hs/v2022/2520'>2520: Gypsum; anhydrite; plasters (consisting of calcined gypsum or calcium sulphate), coloured or not, with or without small quantities of accelerators or retarders</a>"]
A --> W["<a href='/classifications/hs/v2022/2521'>2521: Limestone flux; limestone and other calcareous stone, of a kind used for the manufacture of lime or cement</a>"]
A --> X["<a href='/classifications/hs/v2022/2522'>2522: Quicklime, slaked lime and hydraulic lime; other than calcium oxide and hydroxide of heading no. 2825</a>"]
A --> Y["<a href='/classifications/hs/v2022/2523'>2523: Portland cement, aluminous cement (ciment fondu), slag cement, supersulphate cement and similar hydraulic cements, whether or not coloured or in the form of clinkers</a>"]
A --> Z["<a href='/classifications/hs/v2022/2524'>2524: Asbestos</a>"]
A --> BA["<a href='/classifications/hs/v2022/2525'>2525: Mica, including splittings; mica waste</a>"]
A --> BB["<a href='/classifications/hs/v2022/2528'>2528: Natural borates and concentrates thereof (whether or not calcined), but not including borates separated from natural brine; natural boric acid containing not more than 85 % of H3BO3 calculated on the dry weight</a>"]
A --> BC["<a href='/classifications/hs/v2022/2529'>2529: Feldspar; leucite; nepheline and nepheline syenite; fluorspar</a>"]
A --> BD["<a href='/classifications/hs/v2022/2530'>2530: Mineral substances not elsewhere specified or included</a>"]

    B --> BE["<a href='/classifications/hs/v2022/252610'>252610: Steatite; natural, (not crushed or powdered), whether or not roughly trimmed or merely cut, by sawing or otherwise, into blocks or slabs of a rectangular (including square) shape; talc</a>"]
B --> BF["<a href='/classifications/hs/v2022/252620'>252620: Steatite; natural, crushed, powdered, whether or not roughly trimmed or merely cut, by sawing or otherwise, into blocks or slabs of a rectangular (including square) shape; talc</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 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