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HS 2523.29Metals

HS Code for Blended Cements (HS 2523.29)

CEM II (Portland-composite, 65-94% clinker) and CEM III (blast-furnace, 5-64% clinker) are the low-carbon alternatives to CEM I (95%+ clinker). Blending with GGBS, fly ash, or limestone drops embedded CO2 from ~830 kg/t (CEM I) to as low as 350 kg/t (CEM III/B). CBAM Annex I; clinker factor is the primary CBAM variable.

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

Sample 6-digit codes

CodeDescription
2523.21White portland cement
2523.29Other Portland cement (CEM II/III/IV/V)
2523.90Other hydraulic cements
Need to check a specific code? Use the free HS code lookup tool.

Typical import duty by market

MarketDuty
European Union
1.7%
MFN; CBAM Annex I from 2026.
United States
0%
Section 232 (steel/Al) does not apply; some AD on Turkish/UAE cement.
India (BCD)
10%

Worked landed-cost example

40,000 MT CEM III/B 32.5N, FOB Iskenderun USD 47/MT, CIF Marseille

FOBUSD 1,880,000
Freight + insuranceUSD 320,000
CIFUSD 2,200,000
EU duty 1.7%USD 37,400
CBAM 2026 (~0.38 tCO2/t x EUR 80)≈ USD 1.34m
Post-CBAM landed USD 3.58m (+63% vs 2024). Note the same tonnage of CEM I would cost ~USD 4.9m under CBAM.
Run your own numbers in the import duty & tax calculator.
Regulatory checkpoints
  • · CBAM Annex I.
  • · EN 197-1 for CEM I-V designation.
  • · ASTM C595 for blended hydraulic cements.
  • · IS 455 (PSC) / IS 1489 (PPC) India.
Top exporting countries
  • · Turkey
  • · Vietnam
  • · China
  • · UAE
  • · Spain

Frequently asked questions

Why does CEM III beat CEM I under CBAM?

CBAM levy = embedded tCO2 x carbon price. CEM III/B has ~0.38 tCO2/t vs CEM I at ~0.83 tCO2/t. At EUR 80/tCO2 that's a EUR 36/t saving - roughly the difference between commercially viable and uncompetitive import when FOB is USD 40-60/t.

Destination market toolkits

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

Import into India →
IGST on imports · 5% / 12% / 18% / 28%
Import into United Arab Emirates →
VAT · 5% standard
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 Vietnam →
VAT · 10% standard, 5% reduced, 0% export

Metals landed-cost pages: every destination market

Jump straight to the metals import guide for any of the destination markets we cover.

Related commodity guides

HS 72Metals
HS Code for Iron & Steel (Chapter 72) →
HS 2601Metals
HS Code for Iron Ore (HS 2601) →
HS 74Metals
HS Code for Copper (Chapter 74 & 2603) →
HS 76Metals
HS Code for Aluminium (Chapter 76) →

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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