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HS 7502Metals

HS Code for Nickel (HS 7502)

Nickel splits by Class 1 (>= 99.8% suitable for LME warrant and battery precursor conversion) and Class 2 (nickel pig iron, ferronickel - for stainless steel). Indonesian ore export bans since 2020 have shifted the market: Indonesia now dominates refined Class 2 output and increasingly Class 1 via HPAL.

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

Sample 6-digit codes

CodeDescription
7502.10Nickel, not alloyed, unwrought
7502.20Nickel alloys, unwrought
7503.00Nickel waste and scrap
2833.24Nickel sulphate
7202.60Ferronickel
Need to check a specific code? Use the free HS code lookup tool.

Typical import duty by market

MarketDuty
European Union
0%
Metal 0%; sulphate 5.5%.
United States
0-3.7%
China
1-2%
Plus 13% VAT.
India
5%
Plus 18% GST.

Worked landed-cost example

50 MT Class 1 nickel cathodes, FOB Sudbury USD 17,500/MT, CIF Rotterdam

FOB valueUSD 875,000
Freight + insuranceUSD 20,000
CIF valueUSD 895,000
EU dutyUSD 0
VAT deferred / import schemeLocal rule dependent
Landed cost ≈ USD 895,000. Priced as LME 3-month +/- brand premium on the pricing period.
Run your own numbers in the import duty & tax calculator.
Regulatory checkpoints
  • · LME Class 1 brand list - approved refined nickel deliverable against LME contract.
  • · LME Responsible Sourcing rules - Track A red-flag assessment and Track B audit.
  • · Indonesian export bans on nickel ore (2020) and prospective ban on intermediates - critical for supply-chain planning.
  • · IMDG Code - nickel sulphate is UN 3077 environmentally hazardous substance, solid.
  • · EU Battery Regulation - due diligence on battery-grade nickel.
Top exporting countries
  • · Indonesia
  • · Philippines
  • · Russia (Nornickel - sanctions impact)
  • · Canada
  • · Australia
  • · New Caledonia

Frequently asked questions

Why is Indonesian nickel controversial?

Rapid HPAL expansion has raised environmental and community concerns (tailings, deforestation). Some Western OEMs prefer non-Indonesian nickel; others accept audited Indonesian material. The EU Battery Regulation due-diligence obligations will force explicit disclosure.

Is Russian nickel legal to trade?

As of 2024, US and UK have restricted new Russian nickel; the LME will not accept new Russian metal into warehouses. Existing metal produced before the cut-off remains tradeable. EU has imposed some restrictions and continues to review.

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 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 Indonesia →
PPN (VAT) + PPh 22 (income tax prepayment) · PPN 11% (12% planned); PPh 22 2.5% (with API) or 7.5% (no API)
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.

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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