Rate Notice: 5.9% general rate increase Jan 1, 2026 — Learn More

    2608.00.00

    Zinc ores and concentrates

    HTS code 2608.00.00 covers zinc ores and concentrates. Use this code when importing these materials, noting they currently enter the U.S. duty-free, with reporting requirements for metal content (Ag, Au, Cu, Pb, Zn) specified within Chapter 26.

    Zinc ores and concentrates

    Detailed information for HTS Code 2608.00.00

    This section of the Harmonized Tariff Schedule covers zinc ores and concentrates, which are minerals used to extract zinc. The specific code 2608.00.00 is for all zinc ores and concentrates, regardless of their composition. Additional codes exist to specify the content of copper, lead, zinc, silver, or gold within the zinc ore, and these should be used as statistical suffixes if applicable, reporting the weight and value of each named metal separately if a product contains more than one. Importers must report the metal content without deductions, using the appropriate statistical reporting number for each metal present.

    ChapterChapter 26 - Ores, slag and ash
    SectionSection V - Mineral Products

    Duty snapshot

    Quick reference for the duty outcomes tied to this HTS line.

    General Duty

    Free

    Standard trade partners (NTR)

    Special Duty

    N/A

    Eligible FTA or preference programs

    The general duty rate for zinc ores and concentrates (HTS 2608.00.00) is free, applying to all imports regardless of origin. Special rates are not specified, but imports may qualify for preferential treatment under eligible Free Trade Agreements (FTAs) or preference programs. This duty schedule extends to the subdivisions (2608.00.00.10-2608.00.00.50) which all share the same free general rate and potential for special FTA/preference program rates. Reporting of metal content is required in the following units: Ag g, Au g, Cu kg, Pb kg, and Zn kg for all subdivisions.

    Rate of Duty (Column 2): 8.8¢/kg on copper content + 3.3¢/kg on lead content + 3.7¢/kg on zinc content

    Need help importing?
    _

    Submit your details, and our team will confirm the correct classification and answer your questions.

    Code subdivisions

    2608.00.00.10

    Zinc ores and concentrates > Copper content

    2608.00.00.20

    Zinc ores and concentrates > Lead content

    2608.00.00.30

    Zinc ores and concentrates > Zinc content

    2608.00.00.40

    Zinc ores and concentrates > Silver content

    2608.00.00.50

    Zinc ores and concentrates > Gold content

    Chapter & section notes

    Chapter notes

    Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States Revision 29 (2025) Annotated for Statistical Reporting Purposes CHAPTER 26 ORES, SLAG AND ASH V 26-1 Notes 1. This chapter does not cover: (a) Slag or similar industrial waste prepared as macadam (heading 2517); (b) Natural magnesium carbonate (magnesite), whether or not calcined (heading 2519); (c) Sludges from the storage tanks of petroleum oils, consisting mainly of such oils (heading 2710); (d) Basic slag of chapter 31; (e) Slag wool, rock wool or similar mineral wools (heading 6806); (f) Waste or scrap of precious metal or of metal clad with precious metal; other waste or scrap containing precious metal or precious metal compounds, of a kind used principally for the recovery of precious metal (heading 7112 or 8549); or (g) Copper, nickel or cobalt mattes produced by any process of smelting (section XV). 2. For the purposes of headings 2601 to 2617, the term "ores" means minerals of mineralogical species actually used in the metallurgical industry for the extraction of mercury, of the metals of heading 2844 or of the metals of section XIV or XV, even if they are intended for non-metallurgical purposes. Headings 2601 to 2617 do not, however, include minerals which have been submitted to processes not normal to the metallurgical industry. 3. Heading 2620 applies only to: (a) Slag, ash and residues of a kind used in industry either for the extraction of metals or as a basis for the manufacture of chemical compounds of metals, excluding ash and residues from the incineration of municipal waste (heading 2621); and (b) Slag, ash and residues containing arsenic, whether or not containing metals, of a kind used either for the extraction of arsenic or metals or for the manufacture of their chemical compounds. Subheading Notes 1. For the purposes of subheading 2620.21.00, "leaded gasoline sludges and leaded anti-knock compound sludges" means sludges obtained from storage tanks of leaded gasoline and leaded anti-knock compounds (for example, tetraethyl lead), and consisting essentially of lead, lead compounds and iron oxide. 2. Slag, ash and residues containing arsenic, mercury, thallium or their mixtures, of a kind used for the extraction of arsenic or those metals or for the manufacture of their chemical compounds, are to be classified in subheading 2620.60. Additional U.S. Notes 1. The specific rates of duty imposed under the headings of this chapter on the metal content of ores and other materials shall apply to the assay quantity of metal contained therein, whether recovered as metals, as alloys or as chemical compounds or used directly in the manufacture of articles, except that with respect to ores or other materials provided for in this chapter which are subject to duty at specific rates on their copper, lead or zinc content, an absolute deduction for losses of 18 kg per dry metric ton from the respective quantities of each of such metal contents shall be allowed. 2. When the classification of imported materials under any provision of this chapter is dependent on the percentage of metal content, such percentage shall be the ratio of the total quantity of the respective metal content to the total quantity of imported material when computed on a dry-weight basis; i.e., free of all uncombined moisture. Statistical Notes 1. The quantity of metal content to be reported shall be the assay quantity without deductions. 2. For the purposes of subheading 2601.11.0060, the term "coarse" refers to iron ores with a majority of individual particles having a diameter exceeding 4.75 mm. Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States Revision 29 (2025) Annotated for Statistical Reporting Purposes V 26-2 Statistical Notes (con.) 3. For the purposes of any of the ten-digit statistical reporting numbers appearing under the eight-digit subheadings 2603.00.00, 2604.00.00, 2607.00.00, 2608.00.00, 2616.10.00, 2616.90.00, 2620.19.60, 2620.21.00, 2620.29.00 or 2620.30.00, and the ten-digit statistical reporting numbers 2620.99.7560 and 2620.99.7580 for the eight-digit subheading specifying that a named metal content is to be reported, the weight and value of such metal contained in any shipment of the ores, concentrates, slag, ash or residues entered under such subheading shall be reported under each applicable statistical reporting number. If a product covered by one of these provisions includes more than one of the named metals, it would be necessary to enter multiple ten-digit subheadings with the weight and value of each metal indicated under the appropriate ten-digit subheading. Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States Revision 29 (2025) Annotated for Statistical Reporting Purposes V 26-3

    Section notes

    SECTION V MINERAL PRODUCTS V-1 Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States Revision 29 (2025) Annotated for Statistical Reporting Purposes V-2 Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States Revision 29 (2025) Annotated for Statistical Reporting Purposes

    Latest update

    Last updated

    November 15, 2025

    Revised every January & July

    Let's get your shipment cleared

    Submit your details and our team will help with classification and compliance.