What is Stainless steel ?

When we hear about stainless steel, our first reaction is often that it will not rust or is not easy to rust.

Stainless steel is the abbreviation of stainless acid resistant steel. The steel resistant to weak corrosion media such as air, steam and water or stainless steel is called stainless steel; while the steel resistant to chemical corrosion media (chemical etching such as acid, alkali and salt) is called acid resistant steel.

The stainless steel defined by customs HS code classification may be different from the stainless steel we generally say, but it is basically the same. The definition of stainless steel in the tariff is roughly as follows:

Stainless steel refers to alloy steel with metal chromium (CR) content greater than 10.5% (weight percentage). Due to the action of Cr, a dense and solid CR rich oxide film (passive film) insoluble in some media is formed on the surface of steel, so that the metal is isolated from external media without chemical action. Therefore, this steel has the characteristics of non rusting in the atmosphere.

According to the harmonized system of commodity names and codes (hereinafter referred to as HS), stainless steel is an alloy steel with carbon content ≤ 1.2% and chromium content ≥ 10.5% by weight, whether or not it contains other elements. Different combinations of different elements and input ratios can produce stainless steel of different brands and uses.

Stainless steel is divided into many types. For example, according to the chemical composition of steel, stainless steel can be divided into CR stainless steel (400 Series), Cr Ni stainless steel (300 Series), cr-mn-n-ni stainless steel (200 Series), ultra-low carbon stainless steel, high-purity stainless steel, etc.

The HS codes of stainless steel products are classified between 72.18 and 72.23.

1、 Stainless steel HS code ingots or semi-finished products fall into heading 72.18

HS code:

7218100000 - stainless steel ingots and other primary shape products;

7218910000 - stainless steel semi-finished products with rectangular section;

7218990000 - other stainless steel semi-finished products.

2、 Stainless steel coil / plate HS code is classified into tax items 72.19 (width ≥ 600mm) and 72.20 (width < 600mm) according to different widths, and then subdivided according to thickness, processing technology, coil or non coil

HS code:

7219110000 - hot rolled stainless steel coil with thickness > 10mm;

7219120000 - 4.75mm ≤ 10mm thick hot rolled stainless steel coil;

7219131200 - hot rolled stainless steel coil with 3mm ≤ thickness ＜ 4.75mm without pickling;

7219131900 - other hot rolled stainless steel coils with 3mm ≤ thickness ＜ 4.75mm without pickling;

……

7220110000 - thickness of hot rolled stainless steel strip ≥ 4.75mm;

7220120000 - hot rolled stainless steel strip thickness ＜ 4.75mm;

7220202000 - cold rolled stainless steel strip with thickness ≤ 0.35mm;

7220203000 - cold rolled stainless steel strip with thickness of 0.35mm ＜ 3mm;

... and dozens of different HS codes.

3、 Stainless steel hot-rolled bars and rods with irregular coils HS code are included in heading 72.21

This item has only one HS Code: 7221000000 - hot rolled stainless steel bars and rods.

4、 Other stainless steel bars and angles, shapes and profiles HS code are classified in heading 72.22

HS code:

722211000 - hot working stainless steel bars and rods with circular section;

7222190000 - hot worked stainless steel bars and rods of other section shapes;

7222200000 - cold formed or cold worked stainless steel bars and rods;

7222300000 - other stainless steel bars and rods;

7222400000 - stainless steel angle, profile and profile.

5、 Stainless steel wire HS code is included in heading 72.23

This item has only one HS Code: 722300000 - stainless steel wire.

In a word, the classification of stainless steel is relatively fine, and it is difficult to classify accurately.

Specifically, it must be correctly determined according to its shape (such as wire, strip and rod), material, processing method (such as coating and coating), component content (content of iron, carbon, chromium, alloy elements and non alloy elements), section size (circular filling diameter, rectangular filling width and thickness), steel grade and other application elements.