【Import Knowledge】Import Iron Ore Sand Customs Clearance Guide

Iron Ore Import Clearance Guide

Iron ore is a mineral aggregate rich in iron oxides, sulfides, and other minerals. Through reduction smelting, Fe³⁺ and Fe²⁺ can be converted into elemental iron, making it a fundamental raw material for manufacturing metal components. This article introduces the classification, origins, HS codes, declaration elements, customs supervision methods, and clearance facilitation measures for iron ore.

1. Classification of Iron Ore

Iron ore is primarily classified by mineral composition into iron oxide types, iron sulfide types, iron carbonate types, etc. This is one of the core methods for classifying iron ore. Iron oxide type ores can be further divided into magnetite, hematite, limonite, and siderite. The primary iron sulfide type ore is pyrite.

• Magnetite:

• Appearance: Often iron-black to steel-grey, usually granular or massive, with a black streak.

• Composition: Mainly Fe₃O₄, containing small amounts of titanium, vanadium, and other impurities.

• Uses: One of the most important raw materials for iron smelting; also used in making magnets and extracting associated rare metals.

• Hematite:

• Appearance: Often iron-black to steel-grey, or reddish-brown to dark red, usually flaky, massive, etc., with a cherry-red streak.

• Composition: Mainly Fe₂O₃, containing small amounts of titanium, manganese, and other impurities.

• Uses: An important raw material for iron smelting; also used as a red pigment and in the abrasive industry.

• Limonite:

• Appearance: Often yellow-brown to brownish-black, commonly massive, botryoidal, or powdery, with a yellow-brown streak.

• Composition: Mainly FeO(OH)·nH₂O, containing aluminum, argillaceous, and other impurities.

• Uses: A raw material for iron smelting; also used as a pigment and in chemical and water purification applications.

• Siderite:

• Appearance: Often grey-white to light yellow-brown, commonly granular, massive, or nodular, with a white streak.

• Composition: Mainly FeCO₃, often containing calcium, magnesium, and other impurities.

• Uses: An auxiliary raw material for iron smelting; also used in preparing iron salts and for soil improvement.

• Pyrite:

• Appearance: Often light brass-yellow, commonly in cubic, pentagonal dodecahedron crystal forms, surface easily tarnishes, with a greenish-black streak.

• Composition: Mainly FeS₂, containing small amounts of cobalt, nickel, and other impurities.

• Uses: The main raw material for extracting sulfur and manufacturing sulfuric acid; also used for refining associated metals.

2. HS Codes for Iron Ore

Regarding commodity classification, iron ores and concentrates (including roasted iron pyrites) primarily fall under the following HS codes: 2601.11.1000, 2601.11.2000, 2601.11.9000, 2601.12.0000, 2601.20.0000.

Tariff Information:
The Most-Favored-Nation (MFN) duty rate for imported iron ores and concentrates is 0%. However, Value-Added Tax (VAT) is still levied according to law, with a VAT rate of 13%.

Customs Control Documents:
Importing iron ore typically requires an Automatic Import License, with the customs control document code "7". Furthermore, imported iron ores and concentrates are subject to statutory inspection and require inspection by Customs. The corresponding inspection and quarantine category is "M". This requires import enterprises to complete the relevant inspection procedures according to the stipulated process to ensure the goods comply with national standards and requirements.

Tips:

• Roasting: Refers to the process of heating iron ore at high temperature (without melting) to remove moisture, volatile matter, or alter the mineral structure (e.g., desulfurization, oxidation).

• Agglomeration/Sintering: Refers to the process where iron ore fines are mixed with fuel, flux, etc., and bonded into lumpy clinker with certain strength through a series of physical and chemical changes at high temperature, often used to improve the smelting performance of iron ore.

• Average Particle Size: Refers to the statistical average particle size of all particles in powder or granular material, used to characterize the overall fineness of materials like iron ore powder, commonly measured by equipment like laser particle size analyzers.

3. Declaration Elements for Iron Ore

Standardized declaration to Customs is crucial when importing or exporting iron ore. Enterprises must accurately declare the following elements:

• Processing Method: Detail the processing procedures the iron ore has undergone, including crushing, grinding, magnetic separation, gravity separation, flotation, screening, etc. If multiple methods exist, list them all completely.

• Composition Content: Fully declare all main components contained in the iron ore and their respective contents, such as Fe, SiO₂, Al₂O₃, S, P, H₂O, etc.

• Average Particle Size: Specify the average size of the iron ore particles. Particle size information affects the use of iron ore in subsequent processes like smelting; declare precisely using the specified unit of measurement, e.g., millimeters.

• Mine Name: Specify the country of origin and the specific mine name.

• Contract Date: Accurately fill in the signing date of the iron ore trade contract.

• Pricing Date: Declare the date used for determining the price of the iron ore.

• Demurrage (Yes/No): Accurately declare "No Demurrage", "Demurrage Undetermined", or "Demurrage Declared". Demurrage information relates to goods cost and price composition.

In addition to the above declaration elements, enterprises should provide Customs with trade documents such as contracts, invoices, and certificates of origin as required, ensuring the declaration information is complete and accurate.

4. Customs Supervision Methods for Iron Ore

• Radioactivity Inspection:
  Customs conducts radioactivity inspections on imported iron ore according to the "Inspection Procedures for Radioactivity of Imported Mineral Products" (SN/T 1537-2025). This helps enterprises identify potential radioactivity exceedances early, preventing unqualified raw materials from entering production and causing equipment damage or product scrap.

• Foreign Matter Screening:
  Based on regulations like the "Technical Specification for Control and Supervision of Foreign Matter in Imported Mineral Products" (SN/T 5575-2023), Customs screens imported iron ore for foreign matter. Key focuses include hazardous杂物, such as unexploded detonators残留 from mining; quarantine杂物, such as soil, plant seeds, pathogens; and other杂物, such as plastic products (including broken woven bags, beverage bottles), metal fragments, stones, glass, etc. Strict screening ensures imported iron ore meets safety, health, and environmental standards, effectively safeguarding national biosecurity and environmental security.

• Solid Waste Screening:
  In accordance with the "Law of the People's Republic of China on the Prevention and Control of Environmental Pollution by Solid Waste" and management rules like the "General Rules for Solid Waste Identification" (GB 34330-2017), Customs screens imported iron ore for solid waste. Through sensory inspection, intelligent equipment detection (e.g., solid waste screening instruments for mineral products), and laboratory analysis, they identify whether the shipment is mixed with radioactive materials, hazardous waste, or other prohibited solid wastes. This aims to prevent the illegal entry of "foreign garbage" and protect the ecological environment.

5. Clearance Facilitation Measures for Iron Ore

1. Quality Inspection upon Enterprise Application:
According to the "Announcement of the General Administration of Customs on Adjusting the Inspection and Supervision Mode for Imported Iron Ore" (GAC Announcement [2020] No. 69), effective June 1, 2020, the customs supervision method for the quality inspection of imported iron ore underwent a significant change. It shifted from batch-by-batch sampling for quality inspection to being conducted upon enterprise application. When necessary, Customs conducts supervisory inspections and monitors the content of toxic and harmful elements.

Specifically:

• If the consignee or their agent of the imported iron ore requires Customs to issue a quality certificate, they should apply to Customs. After passing the on-site inspection and quarantine, Customs will conduct on-site sampling, perform laboratory testing, and finally issue the quality certificate. On-site inspection and quarantine includes on-site radioactivity detection, foreign matter quarantine treatment, and screening for suspected or adulterated solid waste.

• If the consignee or their agent does not require a quality certificate from Customs, Customs will release the goods directly after passing the on-site inspection and quarantine.

2. Weight鉴定 upon Enterprise Application:
According to the "Announcement of the General Administration of Customs on Adjusting the Supervision Mode for Weight Appraisal of Imported Bulk Commodities" (GAC Announcement [2019] No. 159), the customs supervision method for weight appraisal of imported iron ore changed from batch-by-batch implementation to implementation upon enterprise application.

• If the consignee or agent needs Customs to issue a weight certificate, they should apply by selecting the single-step complete declaration mode and checking the "Weight Certificate" option in the required documents. Customs will then conduct the weight appraisal upon application and issue the certificate.

• If a weight certificate is not required, Customs will no longer conduct the weight appraisal.

3. "Release Before Inspection":
According to GAC Announcement [2020] No. 69 and the "Announcement of the General Administration of Customs on Adjusting the Supervision Methods for Some Imported Mineral Products" (GAC Announcement [2018] No. 134), the "Release Before Inspection" method for imported iron ore means that the iron ore can be removed from Customs supervision sites after Customs has conducted on-site inspection and quarantine and found it meets requirements.

• If the consignee or their agent does not require a quality certificate from Customs, the goods can be sold or used after removal from the Customs supervision site.

• If a quality certificate is required, they must wait for Customs to complete the laboratory testing and issue the quality certificate before selling or using the goods.

• Furthermore, if Customs discovers during on-site inspection and quarantine that the goods have issues such as radioactivity exceedance, suspected or adulterated solid waste, inconsistency between goods and documents, or foreign matter, the "Release Before Inspection" method does not apply.

4. "Bonded Ore Blending":
According to GAC Announcement [2018] No. 199 (Announcement on Matters Related to "Bonded Ore Blending"), "Bonded Ore Blending" refers to the business where enterprises in special customs supervision zones conduct simple physical processing and blending of iron ore imported under bond, and then re-export it from the zone or transport it out of the territory. Here, simple physical processing means that only the average particle size, composition content, etc., of the iron ore change, without substantial transformation (the standard for substantial transformation refers to the "Regulations on the Criteria for Substantial Transformation in Non-Preferential Rules of Origin").

Iron ore must undergo Customs inspection and monitoring before entering the zone; only compliant ore can enter, otherwise it requires re-export or quarantine treatment. Enterprises should also establish an information management system meeting Customs supervision requirements, set up electronic ledgers to record goods status, and designate special areas for storing "bonded ore blending" iron ore, preventing mixed storage. This supervision method offers many advantages, such as reducing enterprise costs, improving resource allocation efficiency, and optimizing the industrial chain. With the continuous development of China's iron ore trade and the growing demand for efficient resource utilization, the "bonded ore blending" business is expected to play a more important role in ensuring the security and stability of the industrial and supply chains, with promising development prospects.