Iron oxides and hydroxides — HTS 2821
Iron oxides and hydroxides; earth colors containing 70 percent or more by weight of combined iron evaluated as Fe2O3
Chapter 28 › Heading 2821
2026 HTS Rev 19 Synced Rules verified Operational
Written to help non-specialists understand this page. Rates, dates, and legal facts come from the official records above and on the linked source.
HTS heading 2821 is a 4-digit product category for certain iron-based inorganic chemicals and pigments. It groups iron oxides and iron hydroxides, along with qualifying earth colors—natural pigment materials—in which the combined iron content is evaluated as ferric oxide (Fe2O3) and meets the heading’s stated threshold. The heading describes the product broadly; it is not, by itself, the complete code used for entry filing.
To reach the specific 8-digit HTSUS subheading, follow the heading’s subordinate provisions and identify the product’s legally relevant characteristics, commonly its chemical identity, whether it is an oxide, hydroxide, or qualifying earth color, and any further type or composition distinction shown in the tariff. Confirm the applicable wording and statistical suffix in the current HTSUS, because classification can depend on technical product facts and the precise tariff text.
What to check
- Obtain the product’s technical data sheet, safety data sheet, laboratory composition, and manufacturing description.
- Determine whether the material is a chemically defined iron oxide or hydroxide, or a natural earth color, and verify the iron-content calculation used for the heading.
- Check the tariff’s indentation, legal notes, and 8-digit alternatives rather than selecting a code from the heading description alone.
- Match the product’s physical form and commercial identity to the subheading language, including any stated type or composition distinction.
- Keep supporting records and seek a binding classification ruling or customs-broker advice when the product could fit more than one provision.
HTS heading 2821 summary
Iron oxides and hydroxides is a 4-digit product category containing 2 published product-code lines in this snapshot. A heading does not carry one universal duty rate; classification must be narrowed to the line matching the product facts.
How to find your code in this category
A heading is a product category. To get the exact duty, narrow from this 4-digit heading to a sub-category (usually by material), then open the 8-digit code that matches your product.
Open any code in the tables below to see its exact duty rate, a duty calculator (enter your shipment value → estimated duty and landed cost), the rate-change history chart, and the country-by-country breakdown (including Section 301/232 add-on duties).
Why you have to click in: a single category can contain products with very different duties. The rate depends on the specific product — its material and construction — and on the country of origin, and those only get pinned down at the 8-digit code level. That is why this page points you to codes instead of showing one rate for the whole category.
Product codes & duty rates
👇 Each row is a specific product code — click a blue code to open its full page with exact duty rates by country, the rate-history chart, and a duty calculator. 👉
| Code | Description | General (MFN) | Special | Column 2 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2821.10.00 👉 | Iron oxides and hydroxides | 3.7% | Free | 25% |
| 2821.20.00.00 👉 | Earth colors | 5.5% | Free | 20% |
"Special" shows the free-trade-agreement rate; open a code to see exactly which countries qualify.
Common questions
What products fall under HTS heading 2821?
Iron oxides and hydroxides; earth colors containing 70 percent or more by weight of combined iron evaluated as Fe2O3. To classify a specific item you must pick the matching sub-category and 8-digit code above; the right choice usually depends on the material and construction of the product.
How do I choose the right code within this category?
Start from the sub-categories (typically divided by material—for example cotton versus man-made fibers), then open the active 8- or 10-digit code that matches the product. When unsure, a licensed customs broker or a CBP binding ruling can confirm the classification.
Reference information only, not customs, legal, or classification advice. Confirm the current code and rate against the official HTS before you import.