HS 74Metals

HS Code for Copper (Chapter 74 & 2603)

Refined copper cathodes (HS 7403) trade on LME Grade A specification (BS EN 1978). Concentrates (HS 2603.00) price on LME minus Treatment Charge and Refining Charge (TC/RC) negotiated with the smelter. Scrap (HS 7404) trades at a discount to LME.

Reviewed against WCO HS · WTO IDB · National customs schedules6 authoritative sourcesLast reviewed July 2026

Sample 6-digit codes

Code	Description
2603.00	Copper ores and concentrates
7401.00	Copper mattes; cement copper
7402.00	Unrefined copper, copper anodes (blister)
7403.11	Refined copper, cathodes (LME Grade A, BS EN 1978)
7403.12	Refined copper, wire bars
7404.00	Copper waste and scrap (Berry, Birch, Cliff, Candy grades)
7408.11	Copper wire, refined, > 6mm diameter

Need to check a specific code? Use the free HS code lookup tool.

Typical import duty by market

Market	Duty
European Union	0% cathodes / 0% concentrates / 0% scrap
United States	0% Section 232 25% announced in 2025 on select semis - verify current schedule.
China	0% cathodes / 0% concentrates Scrap subject to CCIC pre-shipment inspection and Grade 6 quality standard.
India (BCD)	5% concentrate / 5% cathode / 5% scrap Plus SWS 10% of BCD and IGST 18%.
UAE	5%

Worked landed-cost example

500 MT LME Grade A copper cathodes (HS 7403.11), CIF Shanghai USD 9,300/MT

Cargo valueUSD 4,650,000

China MFN dutyUSD 0

VAT @ 13%USD 604,500

Landed cost ≈ USD 5.25 M - real margin sits in the physical premium (Yangshan, Rotterdam, Midwest) above LME.

Run your own numbers in the import duty & tax calculator.

Regulatory checkpoints

· LBMA / LME approved brand list required for Grade A cathodes to be warrantable on LME.
· China CCIC pre-shipment inspection for scrap (HS 7404); Grade 6 standard from Nov 2020.
· Basel Convention for hazardous copper scrap streams (Y31).
· REACH for downstream copper chemicals; RoHS for finished electronics.

Top exporting countries

· Chile
· Peru
· DR Congo
· Zambia
· Australia
· Russia
· Kazakhstan

Frequently asked questions

How does TC/RC pricing work on concentrates?

The smelter charges a Treatment Charge per dry metric ton and a Refining Charge per pound of payable copper. Payable metal is typically 96.5% of contained copper. Higher TC/RC means the miner gets less; benchmark is set annually between top smelters and majors.

What is a warrantable brand?

Only cathodes from LME-approved brands are eligible for delivery against LME futures. Non-warrantable brands still trade physically but at a discount reflecting warehouse ineligibility.

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 Australia →

GST · 10%

Metals landed-cost pages: every destination market

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

Deeper pricing, grade and lane detail for HS Code for Copper (Chapter 74 & 2603). Each hub covers specifications, benchmarks and the calculators that price a cargo.

Copper →

Commodity hub

HS 7403 (refined), 7404 (scrap), 2603 (concentrate)