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HS 3801.10Batteries & EV

HS Code for Battery Anode Graphite (HS 3801.10)

Anode material is ~15% of lithium-ion cell cost. Synthetic (needle coke derived) and natural (coated spherical) graphite compete on cost vs cycle life. China imposed export licences on high-purity spherical graphite and synthetic graphite from Dec 2023.

Reviewed against WCO HS · WTO IDB · National customs schedules4 authoritative sourcesLast reviewed July 2026

Sample 6-digit codes

CodeDescription
3801.10Artificial graphite
2504.10Natural graphite in powder or flakes
2504.90Natural graphite, other
Need to check a specific code? Use the free HS code lookup tool.

Typical import duty by market

MarketDuty
European Union
2.5-3%
United States
0-4.9%
Section 301 on Chinese origin; IRA FEOC applies from 2025.
China
N/A (export controls)

Worked landed-cost example

100 MT coated spherical graphite, FOB Qingdao USD 4,200/MT (export licence conditional), CIF Ulsan

FOBUSD 420,000
Freight + insuranceUSD 6,000
CIFUSD 426,000
South Korea dutyUSD 0 (FTA)
Landed ≈ USD 426k. Lead time is dictated by Chinese MOFCOM licence issuance.
Run your own numbers in the import duty & tax calculator.
Regulatory checkpoints
  • · Chinese Export Control Law 2023 addition - synthetic graphite + spherical graphite require export licence.
  • · EU CRM Act 2024 - graphite strategic.
  • · US IRA FEOC exclusion 2025.
Top exporting countries
  • · China
  • · Mozambique (Syrah Resources natural)
  • · Madagascar
  • · South Korea (POSCO Future M)
  • · Japan

Frequently asked questions

Natural vs synthetic - which wins?

Coated natural spherical graphite is cheaper (USD 3-5/kg) and has good energy density. Synthetic (USD 8-12/kg) has better cycle life and rate performance for fast-charging. Most cell makers use a natural/synthetic blend to balance cost vs longevity.

Destination market toolkits

Country-specific duty, VAT/GST and Incoterms practice for the top destinations for batteries & ev.

Import into China →
Import VAT · 13% standard, 9% reduced, 6% services
Import into United States →
No federal VAT / GST · 0% federal
Import into Germany →
VAT (Umsatzsteuer / Einfuhrumsatzsteuer) · 19% standard, 7% reduced
Import into Japan →
Consumption Tax (JCT) · 10% standard / 8% reduced (food, newspapers)
Import into South Korea →
VAT · 10%
Import into India →
IGST on imports · 5% / 12% / 18% / 28%

Batteries & EV landed-cost pages: every destination market

Jump straight to the batteries & ev import guide for any of the destination markets we cover.

Related commodity guides

HS 8507.60Batteries & EV
HS Code for Lithium-Ion Battery Cells (HS 8507.60) →
HS 2841.90Batteries & EV
HS Code for pCAM and Cathode Active Material (HS 2841.90 / 2841.30) →
HS 61 & 62Consumer goods
HS Code for Textiles & Apparel (Chapters 61 and 62) →
HS 85Electronics
HS Code for Electronics (Chapter 85) →

Related tools

HS Code Lookup →
Search harmonised codes across 21 sections.
Import Duty & Tax →
Landed cost with duty, VAT/GST and cess.
Landed Cost by HS & Country →
Duty + VAT/GST + Incoterm split for this HS.
CIF ↔ FOB Converter →
Convert customs value between Incoterms.

Sources & citations

Duty rates and regulations compiled from WCO HS, WTO integrated database, national customs authorities and published FTA schedules. Provided for decision-support only - confirm the 10-digit line and current preferential status with your licensed customs broker before acting.

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