Heading · Chapter 05
0508: Coral and similar materials, unworked or simply prepared but not otherwise worked; shells of molluscs, crustaceans or echinoderms and cuttle-bone, unworked or simply prepared but not cut to shape, powder and waste thereof
Heading 0508 has no further six-digit division: the whole heading is subheading 0508.00, in chapter 05 (products of animal origin, not elsewhere specified or included).
Duty rates compared
UK Free Third-country duty 4 tariff lines 
EU Free Third-country duty 2 tariff lines 
Türkiye Free Third-country duty 2 tariff lines 
USA Free General (MFN) 1 tariff line 
Canada Free General (MFN) 2 tariff lines 
Mexico 10% General (MFN) 1 tariff line 
Brazil 7.2% General (MFN) 1 tariff line 
Argentina 7.2% General (MFN) 3 tariff lines 
Peru Free General (MFN) 1 tariff line 
New Zealand Free General (MFN) 1 tariff line 
Japan Free General (MFN) 2 tariff lines 
Taiwan Free – 3% General (MFN) 7 tariff lines · average 1.7% 
GCC 5% General (MFN) 7 tariff lines 
Switzerland Free General (MFN) 3 tariff lines · 1× specific or compound duty 
Norway Free General (MFN) 1 tariff line 
North Macedonia Free General (MFN) 2 tariff lines 
Nigeria 5% General (MFN) 1 tariff line Subheadings 1
EU: imports by month
World trade in 2024
Trade value (US$) no reported trade < US$223kUS$223k+US$1m+US$4m+> US$10m
Exports: 119
- Japan: US$25m
- Indonesia: US$15m
- Myanmar (Burma): US$12m
- China: US$10m
- Vietnam: US$8m
- Netherlands: US$6m
- Australia: US$6m
- Tunisia: US$5m
- Türkiye: US$5m
- United Kingdom: US$5m
- India: US$4m
- France: US$4m
- Philippines: US$3m
- Hong Kong SAR China: US$3m
- Italy: US$3m
- Taiwan: US$3m
- South Korea: US$3m
- United States: US$2m
- Thailand: US$2m
- Lithuania: US$2m
- Serbia: US$2m
- Belgium: US$2m
- New Zealand: US$2m
- Mexico: US$1m
- Ukraine: US$1m
- Tanzania: US$1m
- Morocco: US$1m
- Mauritania: US$1m
- Ecuador: US$869k
- Sri Lanka: US$778k
- Georgia: US$746k
- Malaysia: US$732k
- French Polynesia: US$723k
- Spain: US$690k
- Senegal: US$635k
- Germany: US$617k
- Czechia: US$607k
- Romania: US$525k
- Norway: US$507k
- Canada: US$504k
- Denmark: US$502k
- Côte d’Ivoire: US$430k
- Bulgaria: US$401k
- Solomon Islands: US$371k
- Bosnia & Herzegovina: US$330k
- Slovakia: US$326k
- Fiji: US$307k
- Yemen: US$294k
- Poland: US$254k
- Russia: US$247k
- Mozambique: US$232k
- Madagascar: US$227k
- Bahamas: US$223k
- Belarus: US$201k
- Ireland: US$200k
- Papua New Guinea: US$180k
- Luxembourg: US$176k
- Tonga: US$154k
- Bangladesh: US$139k
- Kenya: US$126k
Trade value (US$) no reported trade < US$49kUS$49k+US$272k+US$3m+> US$8m
Imports: 135
- China: US$39m
- Hong Kong SAR China: US$20m
- France: US$13m
- United States: US$12m
- Vietnam: US$8m
- India: US$7m
- Japan: US$6m
- Germany: US$4m
- South Korea: US$4m
- Italy: US$4m
- Romania: US$3m
- United Kingdom: US$3m
- Taiwan: US$3m
- Belgium: US$3m
- Canada: US$2m
- Czechia: US$2m
- Thailand: US$1m
- Netherlands: US$1m
- United Arab Emirates: US$1m
- Bosnia & Herzegovina: US$1m
- Spain: US$1m
- Lithuania: US$886k
- Saudi Arabia: US$757k
- Denmark: US$642k
- Switzerland: US$634k
- Poland: US$611k
- Malaysia: US$595k
- Austria: US$583k
- Ireland: US$380k
- Burkina Faso: US$376k
- Norway: US$345k
- Madagascar: US$335k
- Bangladesh: US$330k
- Russia: US$272k
- Indonesia: US$252k
- Kazakhstan: US$245k
- Portugal: US$241k
- Greece: US$239k
- Türkiye: US$231k
- Brazil: US$227k
- Australia: US$217k
- Mexico: US$204k
- Serbia: US$189k
- Singapore: US$186k
- Philippines: US$166k
- Egypt: US$162k
- Croatia: US$160k
- Sweden: US$158k
- Libya: US$158k
- Bahamas: US$152k
- Slovakia: US$139k
- Lebanon: US$137k
- Syria: US$134k
- South Africa: US$128k
- Bulgaria: US$128k
- Iceland: US$126k
- Kuwait: US$96k
- Israel: US$93k
- Hungary: US$76k
- Laos: US$70k
Top exporters
| Rank | Country | Value | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Japan | US$25m | 16.4% |
| 2 |  Indonesia | US$15m | 9.6% |
| 3 |  Myanmar (Burma) | US$12m | 7.9% |
| 4 |  China | US$10m | 6.4% |
| 5 |  Vietnam | US$8m | 5.2% |
| 6 |  Netherlands | US$6m | 4.2% |
| 7 |  Australia | US$6m | 4.1% |
| 8 |  Tunisia | US$5m | 3.6% |
| 9 | Türkiye | US$5m | 3.4% |
| 10 | United Kingdom | US$5m | 3.3% |
Top importers
| Rank | Country | Value | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | China | US$39m | 25.7% |
| 2 |  Hong Kong SAR China | US$20m | 13.3% |
| 3 |  France | US$13m | 8.5% |
| 4 | United States | US$12m | 7.8% |
| 5 | Vietnam | US$8m | 5.4% |
| 6 |  India | US$7m | 4.3% |
| 7 | Japan | US$6m | 4.1% |
| 8 |  Germany | US$4m | 2.8% |
| 9 |  South Korea | US$4m | 2.5% |
| 10 |  Italy | US$4m | 2.5% |
In the UK Global Tariff, heading 0508 covers 4 tariff lines and the duty is duty-free.
The EU Combined Nomenclature divides heading 0508 into 2 tariff lines; the duty is duty-free.
In the Turkish Customs Tariff Schedule, heading 0508 covers 2 tariff lines and the duty is duty-free.
The Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States has one tariff line for heading 0508; the duty is duty-free.
In the Customs Tariff of Canada, heading 0508 covers 2 tariff lines and the duty is duty-free.
The Mexican Tariff (TIGIE) has one tariff line for heading 0508; the duty is 10%.
Heading 0508 is a single line in the Brazilian Tariff (NCM/TEC), where the duty is 7.2%.
The Argentine Tariff (NCM-SIM) divides heading 0508 into 3 tariff lines; the duty is 7.2%.
Heading 0508 is a single line in the Customs Tariff of Peru, where the duty is duty-free.
The Working Tariff Document of New Zealand has one tariff line for heading 0508; the duty is duty-free.
In the Customs Tariff Schedules of Japan, heading 0508 covers 2 tariff lines and the duty is duty-free.
The Customs Import Tariff of Taiwan divides heading 0508 into 7 tariff lines; the duty is between 0% and 3% (average 1.7%). 3 of them are duty-free.
In the GCC Common Customs Tariff, heading 0508 covers 7 tariff lines and the duty is 5%.
The Swiss Customs Tariff (Tares) divides heading 0508 into 3 tariff lines; the duty is duty-free. 2 of them are duty-free. 1 line has a specific or compound duty.
Heading 0508 is a single line in the Customs Tariff of Norway, where the duty is duty-free.
The Customs Tariff of North Macedonia divides heading 0508 into 2 tariff lines; the duty is duty-free.
Heading 0508 is a single line in the ECOWAS Common External Tariff (Nigeria), where the duty is 5%.
World trade in heading 0508 goods reached US$152m in 2024, down 16.1% on 2023.
Japan was the largest exporter with 16.4% of the total, ahead of Indonesia.
China imported the most (US$39m).
The United Kingdom ranked 10th among 119 exporters with US$5m.
The United Kingdom imported US$3m.
Products classified here
Questions and answers
What is the HS code for coral and similar materials, unworked or simply prepared but not otherwise worked; shells of molluscs, crustaceans or echinoderms and cuttle-bone, unworked or simply prepared but not cut to shape, powder and waste thereof?
Coral and similar materials, unworked or simply prepared but not otherwise worked; shells of molluscs, crustaceans or echinoderms and cuttle-bone, unworked or simply prepared but not cut to shape, powder and waste thereof fall under HS heading 0508, part of chapter 05, in section I of the Harmonized System.
What is the import duty on coral and similar materials, unworked or simply… in the UK?
Under the UK Global Tariff, imports under 0508 from countries without a preferential agreement are free of duty. Preferential rates, anti-dumping duties and VAT are not included.
What is the import duty on coral and similar materials, unworked or simply… in the EU?
Under the EU Combined Nomenclature, imports under 0508 from countries without a preferential agreement are free of duty. Preferential rates, anti-dumping duties and VAT are not included.
Which country exports the most coral and similar materials, unworked or simply…?
Japan, with US$25m in 2024 (16.4% of world exports).