Skip to content
GOODS ACROSS BORDERS

HS HEADING 6903

Ceramic goods; (e.g. retorts, crucibles, muffles, nozzles, plugs, supports cupels, tubes, pipes, sheaths, rods and slide gates) excluding those of siliceous fossil meals or of similar siliceous earths

HEADING

6903

CHAPTER

69Ceramic products

In plain English

This category includes ceramic items such as retorts, crucibles, and tubes, but excludes products made from siliceous fossil meals or similar siliceous earths. The items are classified based on their specific chemical composition, with one group containing more than half its weight in free carbon. Another group consists of goods with more than half their weight in alumina or a mixture of alumina and silica. Any other refractory ceramic goods not fitting these specific descriptions fall into the remaining category.

PARAPHRASE OF THE OFFICIAL HS 2022 TEXTS BELOW — NOT LEGAL ADVICE

6-digit subheadings (3)

Official HS 2022 subheading texts. National tariff schedules subdivide these further (8-10 digit lines) and set the actual duty rates.

6903.10

Refractory ceramic goods; containing, by weight, more than 50% of free carbon, excluding those of siliceous fossil meals or similar earths

6903.20

Refractory ceramic goods; containing by weight more than 50% of alumina or of a mixture or compound of alumina and of silica, excluding those of siliceous fossil meals or similar earths

6903.90

Refractory ceramic goods; composition of which n.e.c. in heading no. 6903, other than those of siliceous fossil meals or similar earths

Chapter 69 classification notes

Ceramic tiles from China face significant anti-dumping duties in the US (up to 222%) and EU. Weight-based transport costs are significant for ceramics. Porcelain vs stoneware classification affects duty rate.

Frequent misclassification in this chapter

Porcelain (vitrified, translucent) vs stoneware (opaque, not fully vitrified) — the distinction affects classification and sometimes duty rate.

Classification certainty

The 6-digit level shown here is the internationally harmonised layer. Duty rates attach to national 8-10 digit tariff lines, which differ by country — use the duty calculator for lane estimates. For binding certainty, request a ruling from the destination customs authority.

Binding tariff ruling database

Other headings in Chapter 69

RULES5,339COUNTRIES85ITEMS111CARRIERS28GUIDES46UNIQUE SOURCES645LATEST VERIFICATION2026-07-26MethodologyChangelog