HS Code 28: Inorganic chemicals : organic or inorganic compounds of precious metals, of rare-earth metals, of radioactive elements or of isotopes

Q: Is HS code 28 the same in every country?

Yes — HS code 28 is part of the WCO Harmonized System and is the same in every WCO member country at the 6-digit level. Beyond 6 digits, each country extends the code under its own system (e.g. HTSUS in the US, CN/TARIC in the EU, HSK in Korea, CCCHS in China) for national tariff rates and trade statistics. To see how a specific country classifies this code, select a country.

Q: Which WCO edition does HS code 28 belong to, and has it been reclassified?

The Harmonized System is maintained by the World Customs Organization (WCO) and revised approximately every five years. The current edition is HS 2022, which replaced HS 2017 on 1 January 2022. Codes are added, merged, or split between editions to reflect new products and trade patterns, so a code valid in one edition may not exist or may mean something different in another.

Q: How do I find the correct country-specific version of HS code 28?

Beyond the international 6-digit level, each country adds its own digits — the US extends to 10 digits (HTSUS), the EU to 8 or 10 (CN/TARIC), China to 13 (CCCHS), Korea to 10 (HSK), Japan to 9, and so on. To find the full code used by a specific country, select a country in TradeInt's HS Code Tool and search for 28.

What is HS Code 28

HS Code 28 covers Inorganic chemicals : organic or inorganic compounds of precious metals, of rare-earth metals, of radioactive elements or of isotopes. It is one of the 96 chapters of the WCO Harmonized System, sitting in Section VI (Products of the chemical or allied industries). The two digits "28" are the chapter level — every 4-digit heading and 6-digit subheading starting with "28" belongs here.

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What does HS Code 28 Inorganic chemicals : organic or inorganic compounds of precious metals, of rare-earth metals, of radioactive elements or of isotopes Cover?

Section VI

Chapters (28-38) Products of the chemical or allied industries

Chapter 28

Inorganic chemicals : organic or inorganic compounds of precious metals, of rare-earth metals, of radioactive elements or of isotopes

HS Code 2801

Fluorine, chlorine, bromine and iodine

HS Code 2802

Sulphur; sublimed or precipitated, colloidal sulphur

HS Code 2803

Carbon; carbon blacks and other forms of carbon n.e.c.

HS Code 2804

Hydrogen, rare gases and other non-metals

HS Code 2805

Alkali or alkaline-earth metals; rare-earth metals, scandium and yttrium, whether or not intermixed or interalloyed; mercury

HS Code 2806

Hydrogen chloride (hydrochloric acid); chlorosulphuric acid

HS Code 2807

Sulphuric acid; oleum

HS Code 2808

Nitric acid; sulphonitric acids

HS Code 2809

Diphosphorus pentaoxide; phosphoric acid; polyphosphoric acids, whether or not chemically defined

HS Code 2810

Oxides of boron; boric acids

HS Code 2811

Inorganic acids and other inorganic oxygen compounds of non-metals; n.e.c. in heading no. 2806 to 2810

HS Code 2812

Halides and halide oxides of non-metals

HS Code 2813

Sulphides of non-metals; commercial phosphorus trisulphide

HS Code 2814

Ammonia; anhydrous or in aqueous solution

HS Code 2815

Sodium hydroxide (caustic soda); potassium hydroxide (caustic potash) peroxides of sodium or potassium

HS Code 2816

Hydroxide and peroxide of magnesium; oxides, hydroxides and peroxides of strontium or barium

HS Code 2817

Zinc; oxide and peroxide

HS Code 2818

Aluminium oxide (including artificial corundum); aluminium hydroxide

HS Code 2819

Chromium oxides and hydroxides

HS Code 2820

Manganese oxides

HS Code 2821

Iron oxides and hydroxides; earth colours containing 70% or more by weight of combined iron evaluated as Fe2o3

HS Code 2822

Cobalt oxides and hydroxides; commercial cobalt oxides

HS Code 2823

Titanium oxides

HS Code 2824

Lead oxides; red lead and orange lead

HS Code 2825

Hydrazine and hydroxylamine and their inorganic salts; other inorganic bases; other metal oxides, hydroxides and peroxides

HS Code 2826

Fluorides; fluorosilicates, fluoroaluminates and other complex fluorine salts

HS Code 2827

Chlorides; chloride oxides and chloride hydroxides; bromides and bromide oxides; iodides and iodide oxides

HS Code 2828

Hypochlorites; commercial calcium hypochlorite; chlorites; hypobromites

HS Code 2829

Chlorates and perchlorates; bromates and perbromates; iodates and periodates

HS Code 2830

Sulphides; polysulphides whether or not chemically defined

HS Code 2831

Dithionites and sulphoxylates

HS Code 2832

Sulphites; thiosulphates

HS Code 2833

Sulphates; alums; peroxosulphates (persulphates)

HS Code 2834

Nitrites; nitrates

HS Code 2835

Phosphinates (hypophosphites), phosphonates (phosphites), and phosphates; and polyphosphates, whether or not chemically defined

HS Code 2836

Carbonates; peroxocarbonates (percarbonates); commercial ammonium carbonate containing ammonium carbamate

HS Code 2837

Cyanides, cyanide oxides and complex cyanides

HS Code 2839

Silicates; commercial alkali metal silicates

HS Code 2840

Borates; peroxoborates (perborates)

HS Code 2841

Salts of oxometallic or peroxometallic acids

HS Code 2842

Salts of inorganic acids or peroxoacids, n.e.c. including aluminosilicates whether or not chemically defined, but excluding azides

HS Code 2843

Colloidal precious metals; inorganic or organic compounds of precious metals, whether or not chemically defined; amalgams of precious metals

HS Code 2844

Radioactive chemical elements and radioactive isotopes (including the fissile or fertile chemical elements and isotopes); and their compounds; mixtures and residues containing these products

HS Code 2845

Isotopes other than those of heading no. 2844; compounds, inorganic or organic, of such isotopes, whether or not chemically defined

HS Code 2846

Compounds, inorganic or organic, of rare-earth metals; of yttrium or of scandium or of mixtures of these metals

HS Code 2847

Hydrogen peroxide; whether or not solidified with urea

HS Code 2849

Carbides, whether or not chemically defined

HS Code 2850

Hydrides, nitrides, azides, silicides and borides, whether or not chemically defined, other than compounds which are also carbides of heading no. 2849

HS Code 2852

Inorganic or organic compounds of mercury, excluding amalgams, whether or not chemically defined

HS Code 2853

Phosphides, chemically defined or not, not ferrophosphorus; other inorganic compounds n.e.c. (including distilled, conductivity water and water of like purity); liquid air, rare gases removed or not; compressed air; amalgams, not precious metal amalgams

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What HS Codes for Inorganic Chemicals Do Not Cover

Chapter 28 covers inorganic chemical elements, oxides, halogens, sulphides, and isotopes. Goods frequently misclassified here but that belong elsewhere include:

Mineral products in natural state

Chapters 25, 26

Organic compounds

Chapter 29

Inorganic pigments and paints

Chapter 32

Inorganic fertilizers

Chapter 31

This list highlights common classification errors only — it is not exhaustive. For binding classification, work with a licensed customs broker or qualified trade compliance professional.

Related HS Codes under Inorganic Chemicals HS 28

HS Code 2801

Fluorine, chlorine, bromine and iodine

HS Code 2802

Sulphur; sublimed or precipitated, colloidal sulphur

HS Code 2803

Carbon; carbon blacks and other forms of carbon n.e.c.

HS Code 2804

Hydrogen, rare gases and other non-metals

HS Code 2805

Alkali or alkaline-earth metals; rare-earth metals, scandium and yttrium, whether or not intermixed or interalloyed; mercury

HS Code 2806

Hydrogen chloride (hydrochloric acid); chlorosulphuric acid

HS Code 2807

Sulphuric acid; oleum

HS Code 2808

Nitric acid; sulphonitric acids

HS Code 2809

Diphosphorus pentaoxide; phosphoric acid; polyphosphoric acids, whether or not chemically defined

HS Code 2810

Oxides of boron; boric acids

Frequently Asked Questions

What is HS code 28?

HS code 28 covers Inorganic chemicals : organic or inorganic compounds of precious metals, of rare-earth metals, of radioactive elements or of isotopes, one of the chapter 28 of the World Customs Organization (WCO) Harmonized System. It is the broadest level of HS classification, grouping all products of this type before they are narrowed down by more specific 4-digit headings and 6-digit subheadings.

Is HS code 28 the same in every country?

Which WCO edition does HS code 28 belong to, and has it been reclassified?

How do I find the correct country-specific version of HS code 28?