Subheading · Chapter 26 · Heading 2603
2603.00: Copper ores and concentrates
2603.00 is the HS subheading for copper ores and concentrates, under heading 2603 in chapter 26.
What you pay
Importing into UK
Rates by national line · UK Global Tariff
UK lines →- 2603 00 00 00 Copper ores and concentrates
Additional duties and import rules
Charges on top of the customs duty, and rules the goods must meet at the border.
Additional duties and charges 1
- Additional dutyAdditional duties 35%
- Applies to goods from
- Belarus, Russia
- Legal act
- 2023 No. 1203
- Documents
- 9062
Import requirements 3
- Prohibition or restrictionImport prohibition
- Applies to goods from
- North Korea
- Legal act
- S.I. 2019/411
- Import controlRestriction on entry into free circulation
- Applies to goods from
- Ukraine
- Legal act
- S.I. 2022/395
- Documents
- 9009
- 9010
- 9017
- Import controlImport control - Waste
- Applies to goods from
- all countries
- Legal act
- S.I. 2019/590
- Documents
- C672 Information document accompanying shipments of waste as mentioned in Regulation (EU) 2024/1157 – Article 18 and Annex VII
- C669 Notification document as mentioned in Regulation (EU) 2024/1157 - Article 5 and Annex IA
- Y923 Product not subjected to the provisions of Regulation (EU) 2024/1157
- C670 Movement document as mentioned in Regulation (EU) 2024/1157 – Article 5 and Annex IB
Preferential rates by country
| Agreement or scheme | Countries | Rate |
|---|---|---|
| standard rate (no agreement) | — | |
| DCTS Comprehensive | Afghanistan, Angola, Bangladesh, Benin and 38 moreAfghanistan, Angola, Bangladesh, Benin, Bhutan, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cambodia, Central African Republic, Chad, Comoros, Congo - Kinshasa, Djibouti, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Gambia, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Haiti, Kiribati, Laos, Liberia, Malawi, Mali, Mauritania, Myanmar (Burma), Nepal, Niger, Rwanda, São Tomé & Príncipe, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Somalia, South Sudan, Sudan, Tanzania, Timor-Leste, Togo, Tuvalu, Uganda, Yemen, Zambia | Free |
| European Union (including code "EU") | Free | |
| CARIFORUM | Antigua & Barbuda, Bahamas, Barbados, Belize and 10 moreAntigua & Barbuda, Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Grenada, Guyana, Jamaica, St Kitts & Nevis, St Lucia, St Vincent & the Grenadines, Suriname, Trinidad & Tobago | Free |
| OCTs (Overseas Countries and Territories) | Anguilla, Bermuda, British Indian Ocean Territory, British Virgin Islands and 7 moreAnguilla, Bermuda, British Indian Ocean Territory, British Virgin Islands, Cayman Islands, Falkland Islands, Montserrat, Pitcairn Islands, South Georgia & South Sandwich Islands, St Helena, Turks & Caicos Islands | Free |
| Central America | Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua, Panama | Free |
| SADC EPA | Botswana, Eswatini, Lesotho, Mozambique, Namibia | Free |
| Eastern and Southern Africa States | Madagascar, Mauritius, Seychelles, Zimbabwe | Free |
| CPTPP | Brunei, Malaysia | Free |
| UK–Andorra agreement | Andorra | Free |
| UK–Albania agreement | Albania | Free |
| UK–Australia agreement | Australia | Free |
| UK–Canada agreement | Canada | Free |
| UK–Switzerland agreement | Switzerland | Free |
| UK–Côte d’Ivoire agreement | Côte d’Ivoire | Free |
| UK–Chile agreement | Chile | Free |
| UK–Cameroon agreement | Cameroon | Free |
| UK–Colombia agreement | Colombia | Free |
| UK–Ceuta & Melilla agreement | Ceuta & Melilla | Free |
| UK–Ecuador agreement | Ecuador | Free |
| UK–Egypt agreement | Egypt | Free |
| UK–Fiji agreement | Fiji | Free |
| UK–Faroe Islands agreement | Faroe Islands | Free |
| UK–Georgia agreement | Georgia | Free |
| UK–Ghana agreement | Ghana | Free |
| UK–Israel agreement | Israel | Free |
| UK–India agreement | India | Free |
| UK–Iceland agreement | Iceland | Free |
| UK–Jordan agreement | Jordan | Free |
| UK–Japan agreement | Japan | Free |
| UK–Kenya agreement | Kenya | Free |
| UK–South Korea agreement | South Korea | Free |
| UK–Lebanon agreement | Lebanon | Free |
| UK–Liechtenstein agreement | Liechtenstein | Free |
| UK–Morocco agreement | Morocco | Free |
| UK–Moldova agreement | Moldova | Free |
| UK–North Macedonia agreement | North Macedonia | Free |
| UK–Mexico agreement | Mexico | Free |
| UK–Norway agreement | Norway | Free |
| UK–New Zealand agreement | New Zealand | Free |
| UK–Peru agreement | Peru | Free |
| UK–Papua New Guinea agreement | Papua New Guinea | Free |
| UK–Palestinian Territories agreement | Palestinian Territories | Free |
| UK–Serbia agreement | Serbia | Free |
| UK–Solomon Islands agreement | Solomon Islands | Free |
| UK–Singapore agreement | Singapore | Free |
| UK–San Marino agreement | San Marino | Free |
| UK–Tunisia agreement | Tunisia | Free |
| UK–Türkiye agreement | Türkiye | Free |
| UK–Ukraine agreement | Ukraine | Free |
| UK–Vietnam agreement | Vietnam | Free |
| UK–Samoa agreement | Samoa | Free |
| UK–Kosovo agreement | Kosovo | Free |
| UK–South Africa agreement | South Africa | Free |
UK: imports by month
Main suppliers, last 12 months
| Country | Value | Share | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
 Switzerland | £7k | 22.4% | -0.9% |
 Germany | £6k | 18.6% | +109.2% |
 Italy | £6k | 18% | +99.5% |
 United States | £5k | 15.3% | -91.2% |
 Türkiye | £4k | 14% | — |
| United Kingdom | £2k | 6.1% | -25.8% |
 Poland | £1k | 3.6% | — |
 Netherlands | £314 | 1% | -56.2% |
Same subheading in other tariffs
EU Free Third-country duty 1 tariff line Türkiye Free Third-country duty 1 tariff line USA specific or compound duty General (MFN) 1 tariff line 
Canada Free General (MFN) 4 tariff lines 
Mexico Free General (MFN) 1 tariff line 
Brazil Free General (MFN) 2 tariff lines 
Argentina Free General (MFN) 4 tariff lines 
Peru Free General (MFN) 1 tariff line 
New Zealand Free General (MFN) 1 tariff line 
Japan Free General (MFN) 1 tariff line 
Taiwan Free General (MFN) 1 tariff line 
GCC 5% General (MFN) 28 tariff lines Switzerland Free General (MFN) 1 tariff line 
Norway Free General (MFN) 1 tariff line 
North Macedonia Free General (MFN) 1 tariff line 
Nigeria 5% General (MFN) 1 tariff line World trade in 2024
Trade value (US$) no reported trade < US$22mUS$22m+US$476m+US$3bn+> US$8bn
Exports: 107
- Chile: US$31bn
- Peru: US$21bn
- Indonesia: US$8bn
- Australia: US$5bn
- Brazil: US$4bn
- United States: US$4bn
- Mexico: US$4bn
- Canada: US$3bn
- Mongolia: US$3bn
- Kazakhstan: US$3bn
- Congo - Kinshasa: US$3bn
- Serbia: US$2bn
- Russia: US$2bn
- Papua New Guinea: US$1bn
- Spain: US$1bn
- Ecuador: US$1bn
- Philippines: US$1bn
- Botswana: US$820m
- Taiwan: US$711m
- Türkiye: US$661m
- Saudi Arabia: US$638m
- Bulgaria: US$628m
- South Korea: US$600m
- Armenia: US$543m
- Laos: US$476m
- Portugal: US$381m
- South Africa: US$320m
- Morocco: US$264m
- Eritrea: US$258m
- Mauritania: US$219m
- Sweden: US$217m
- Tanzania: US$210m
- United Arab Emirates: US$181m
- Romania: US$153m
- Singapore: US$124m
- Montenegro: US$111m
- Dominican Republic: US$111m
- Germany: US$105m
- Zambia: US$95m
- Colombia: US$86m
- North Macedonia: US$72m
- Malaysia: US$71m
- Albania: US$67m
- Georgia: US$66m
- Finland: US$49m
- India: US$48m
- China: US$29m
- Bolivia: US$27m
- Panama: US$23m
- Cyprus: US$22m
- Kyrgyzstan: US$21m
- Denmark: US$18m
- Tajikistan: US$17m
- Myanmar (Burma): US$17m
- Oman: US$14m
- Croatia: US$11m
- Congo - Brazzaville: US$11m
- Vietnam: US$10m
- Slovenia: US$8m
- Pakistan: US$8m
Trade value (US$) no reported trade < US$181kUS$181k+US$81m+US$1bn+> US$5bn
Imports: 102
- China: US$66bn
- Japan: US$13bn
- South Korea: US$5bn
- India: US$4bn
- Spain: US$3bn
- Germany: US$3bn
- Bulgaria: US$2bn
- Philippines: US$2bn
- Mexico: US$2bn
- Finland: US$1bn
- Sweden: US$926m
- Taiwan: US$903m
- Canada: US$751m
- Poland: US$509m
- Serbia: US$321m
- Malaysia: US$282m
- Russia: US$228m
- Uzbekistan: US$190m
- Belgium: US$165m
- Zambia: US$148m
- Singapore: US$144m
- Mozambique: US$118m
- Peru: US$87m
- Chile: US$81m
- Kazakhstan: US$66m
- Switzerland: US$50m
- Cyprus: US$33m
- Cambodia: US$12m
- Portugal: US$12m
- Iran: US$11m
- Mauritius: US$9m
- Hong Kong SAR China: US$6m
- Georgia: US$5m
- United Kingdom: US$5m
- Italy: US$4m
- Thailand: US$2m
- Senegal: US$2m
- Saudi Arabia: US$2m
- Indonesia: US$1m
- Netherlands: US$1m
- United Arab Emirates: US$749k
- Vietnam: US$654k
- United States: US$458k
- Pakistan: US$446k
- Tanzania: US$345k
- Qatar: US$269k
- South Africa: US$181k
- Australia: US$170k
- France: US$170k
- Türkiye: US$142k
- Dominican Republic: US$129k
- Oman: US$118k
- Laos: US$113k
- Ukraine: US$105k
- Czechia: US$97k
- Slovenia: US$87k
- Central African Republic: US$46k
- Bolivia: US$40k
- El Salvador: US$33k
- Kuwait: US$32k
Top exporters
| Rank | Country | Value | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |  Chile | US$31bn | 29.3% |
| 2 | Peru | US$21bn | 19.4% |
| 3 |  Indonesia | US$8bn | 8% |
| 4 |  Australia | US$5bn | 4.3% |
| 5 | Brazil | US$4bn | 3.9% |
| 6 | United States | US$4bn | 3.8% |
| 7 | Mexico | US$4bn | 3.5% |
| 8 | Canada | US$3bn | 3.3% |
| 9 |  Mongolia | US$3bn | 3.1% |
| 10 |  Kazakhstan | US$3bn | 3% |
Top importers
| Rank | Country | Value | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |  China | US$66bn | 62.5% |
| 2 | Japan | US$13bn | 12.8% |
| 3 |  South Korea | US$5bn | 4.5% |
| 4 |  India | US$4bn | 3.8% |
| 5 |  Spain | US$3bn | 2.4% |
| 6 | Germany | US$3bn | 2.4% |
| 7 |  Bulgaria | US$2bn | 2.3% |
| 8 |  Philippines | US$2bn | 1.8% |
| 9 | Mexico | US$2bn | 1.5% |
| 10 |  Finland | US$1bn | 1% |
Import duty on this product around the world 165
The most-favoured-nation (MFN) duty each country applies to goods of this HS subheading: the average over its national tariff lines, with the lowest and highest line where they differ. Goods from countries with a trade agreement often pay less.
- 2.5%median duty
- 69number of duty-free countries (MFN)
- 45%highest: Bahamas, Bermuda, Cayman Islands
165
| Importing country | MFN duty | lines from – to | data year |
|---|---|---|---|
 Afghanistan | 2.5% | 2018 · HS 2012 | |
 Albania | 2% | 2023 | |
 Algeria | 5% | 2023 | |
 Angola | 0% | 2023 · HS 2017 | |
 Anguilla | 10% | 2021 · HS 2017 | |
 Antigua & Barbuda | 0% | 2021 · HS 2007 | |
| Argentina | 2% | 2023 · HS 2017 | |
 Armenia | 3% | 2023 | |
 Aruba | 12% | 2021 · HS 2012 | |
| Australia | 0% | 2023 | |
 Azerbaijan | 0% | 2023 · HS 2017 | |
 Bahamas | 45% | 2022 | |
 Bahrain | 5% | 2023 | |
 Bangladesh | 5% | 2023 · HS 2017 | |
 Barbados | 5% | 2022 · HS 2017 | |
 Belarus | 3% | 2021 · HS 2017 | |
 Belize | 5% | 2023 | |
 Benin | 5% | 2023 | |
 Bermuda | 25% | 2023 | |
 Bhutan | 10% | 2022 | |
 Bolivia | 10% | 2023 · HS 2017 | |
 Bosnia & Herzegovina | 0% | 2022 | |
 Botswana | 0% | 2023 | |
| Brazil | 2% | 2023 · HS 2017 | |
 Brunei | 0% | 2023 · HS 2017 | |
 Burkina Faso | 5% | 2023 | |
 Burundi | 0% | 2023 | |
 Cambodia | 0% | 2023 · HS 2017 | |
 Cameroon | 10% | 2023 | |
| Canada | 0% | 2023 | |
 Cape Verde | 5% | 2023 · HS 2017 | |
 Cayman Islands | 22% | 2021 · HS 2002 | |
 Central African Republic | 10% | 2023 | |
 Chad | 10% | 2023 | |
| Chile | 6% | 2023 · HS 2017 | |
| China | 0% | 2023 | |
 Colombia | 0% | 2023 · HS 2017 | |
 Comoros | 20% | 2021 · HS 2017 | |
 Congo - Brazzaville | 10% | 2023 | |
 Cook Islands | 0% | 2022 · HS 2017 | |
 Costa Rica | 0% | 2023 | |
 Côte d’Ivoire | 5% | 2023 · HS 2017 | |
 Cuba | 10% | 5% – 15% | 2023 · HS 2017 |
 Dominica | 5% | 2023 · HS 2017 | |
 Dominican Republic | 0% | 2023 | |
 Ecuador | 0% | 2023 · HS 2017 | |
 Egypt | 2% | 2019 · HS 2017 | |
 El Salvador | 0% | 2022 | |
 Equatorial Guinea | 10% | 2023 | |
 Eswatini | 0% | 2023 | |
 Ethiopia | 5% | 2021 · HS 2017 | |
| European Union (27 countries) | 0% | 2023 | |
 Fiji | 5% | 2023 | |
 French Polynesia | 10% | 2023 | |
 Gabon | 10% | 2023 | |
 Gambia | 5% | 2023 | |
 Georgia | 0% | 2022 · HS 2017 | |
 Ghana | 5% | 2023 | |
 Gibraltar | 12% | 2023 · HS 2017 | |
 Grenada | 5% | 2023 · HS 2012 | |
 Guatemala | 10% | 2023 | |
 Guinea | 5% | 2023 | |
 Guinea-Bissau | 5% | 2023 | |
 Guyana | 5% | 2023 · HS 2017 | |
 Haiti | 0% | 2020 · HS 2017 | |
 Honduras | 0% | 2023 | |
 Hong Kong SAR China | 0% | 2023 | |
 Iceland | 0% | 2023 | |
| India | 2.5% | 2023 | |
| Indonesia | 0% | 2023 | |
 Iran | 5% | 2020 · HS 2017 | |
 Israel | 0% | 2022 · HS 2017 | |
 Jamaica | 0% | 2023 | |
| Japan | 0% | 2023 | |
 Jordan | 0% | 2023 | |
| Kazakhstan | 3% | 2023 | |
 Kenya | 0% | 2023 | |
 Kiribati | 0% | 2023 · HS 2002 | |
 Kuwait | 5% | 2023 | |
 Kyrgyzstan | 3% | 2021 · HS 2017 | |
 Laos | 5% | 2023 · HS 2017 | |
 Lebanon | 0% | 2020 · HS 2017 | |
 Lesotho | 0% | 2023 | |
 Liberia | 5% | 2023 | |
 Libya | 5% | 2021 · HS 2017 | |
 Liechtenstein | 0% | 2021 · HS 2017 | |
 Macao SAR China | 0% | 2023 | |
 Madagascar | 5% | 2023 | |
 Malawi | 10% | 2021 · HS 2017 | |
 Malaysia | 0% | 2023 | |
 Maldives | 0% | 2023 | |
 Mali | 5% | 2023 | |
 Mauritania | 5% | 2023 · HS 2017 | |
 Mauritius | 0% | 2023 | |
| Mexico | 0% | 2023 · HS 2017 | |
 Micronesia | 4% | 2021 · HS 2017 | |
 Moldova | 0% | 2023 · HS 2017 | |
| Mongolia | 5% | 2023 | |
 Montserrat | 5% | 2023 · HS 2017 | |
 Morocco | 2.5% | 2023 | |
 Mozambique | 2.5% | 2023 | |
 Myanmar (Burma) | 3% | 2023 · HS 2017 | |
 Namibia | 0% | 2023 | |
 Nauru | 10% | 2021 · HS 2017 | |
 Nepal | 10% | 2023 | |
| New Zealand | 0% | 2023 | |
 Nicaragua | 0% | 2023 | |
 Niger | 5% | 2023 | |
| Nigeria | 5% | 2023 | |
| North Macedonia | 0% | 2023 | |
| Norway | 0% | 2023 | |
 Oman | 5% | 2023 | |
 Pakistan | 0% | 2023 | |
 Palau | 3% | 2023 · HS 2012 | |
 Palestinian Territories | 0% | 2017 · HS 2017 | |
 Panama | 0% | 2023 | |
 Papua New Guinea | 0% | 2023 | |
 Paraguay | 2% | 2023 · HS 2017 | |
| Peru | 0% | 2023 · HS 2017 | |
| Philippines | 3% | 2023 | |
 Qatar | 5% | 2023 | |
 Russia | 3% | 2021 · HS 2017 | |
 Rwanda | 0% | 2023 | |
 Samoa | 8% | 2020 · HS 2017 | |
 São Tomé & Príncipe | 10% | 2019 · HS 2017 | |
 Saudi Arabia | 5% | 2023 | |
 Senegal | 5% | 2023 | |
 Seychelles | 0% | 2023 | |
 Sierra Leone | 5% | 2023 | |
 Singapore | 0% | 2023 · HS 2017 | |
 Solomon Islands | 10% | 2023 · HS 2017 | |
 Somalia | 5% | 2023 · HS 2017 | |
 South Africa | 0% | 2023 | |
| South Korea | 0% | 2023 | |
 Sri Lanka | 0% | 2023 | |
 St Kitts & Nevis | 0% | 2023 | |
 St Lucia | 5% | 2023 · HS 2012 | |
 St Pierre & Miquelon | 5% | 2021 · HS 2017 | |
 St Vincent & the Grenadines | 5% | 2023 | |
 Sudan | 3% | 2021 · HS 2017 | |
 Suriname | 5% | 2023 · HS 2007 | |
| Switzerland | 0% | 2023 | |
 Syria | 1% | 2020 · HS 2012 | |
 Tajikistan | 8% | 2021 · HS 2012 | |
 Tanzania | 0% | 2023 | |
 Thailand | 0% | 2023 | |
 Togo | 5% | 2023 | |
 Tonga | 15% | 2023 · HS 2017 | |
 Trinidad & Tobago | 0% | 2023 · HS 2012 | |
| Türkiye | 0% | 2023 | |
 Tuvalu | 0% | 2017 · HS 2017 | |
 Uganda | 0% | 2023 | |
 Ukraine | 2% | 2023 · HS 2017 | |
 United Arab Emirates | 5% | 2023 | |
| United Kingdom | 0% | 2023 | |
| United States | 0.7%* | 2023 | |
 Uruguay | 2% | 2023 · HS 2017 | |
 Uzbekistan | 0% | 2021 · HS 2017 | |
 Vanuatu | 0% | 2023 | |
 Venezuela | 2% | 2023 · HS 2017 | |
 Vietnam | 0% | 2023 | |
 Wallis & Futuna | 4% | 2021 · HS 2012 | |
 Yemen | 10% | 2017 · HS 2017 | |
 Zambia | 0% | 2023 | |
 Zimbabwe | 0.1% | 2023 |
Tariff data years 2017–2023; rates may have changed since. * ad valorem equivalent of specific duties (UNCTAD estimate) · UNCTAD TRAINS, accessed via WITS (World Bank)
Classifications and correspondences
Where this HS subheading sits in the United Nations' statistical classifications, and which codes it had in earlier editions of the Harmonized System.
- SITC Rev. 4
- 2831 Copper ores & concentrates
- End use (BEC Rev. 5)
- Intermediate goods · BEC 2111
- CPC 2.1 product
- 14210 Copper, ores and concentrates
- ISIC Rev. 4 activity
- 0729 Mining of other non-ferrous metal ores
Earlier HS editions
| HS | Code | |
|---|---|---|
| 2017 | 2603.00 | unchanged |
| 2012 | 2603.00 | unchanged |
| 2007 | 2603.00 | unchanged |
| 2002 | 2603.00 | unchanged |
| 1996 | 2603.00 | unchanged |
| 1992 | 2603.00 | unchanged |
Correspondence tables of the United Nations Statistics Division (UNSD)
Recent rule changes mentioning this code
Acts whose text cites this code or its heading. Check the act itself: a code can be cited for reasons other than a change of its duty.
- Sanctions · Applies from:
CELEX 32026R1848 · Source: eur-lex.europa.eu
- Import and export controls
FR Doc. 2026-14542 · 91 FR 45516 · Source: federalregister.gov
- Tariff change
FR Doc. 2026-11158 · 91 FR 33854 · Source: federalregister.gov
- Tariff change
Update to Russia and Belarus Additional Duties Following Technical Fix – 18 May 2026
Trade Tariff news 6302 · Source: trade-tariff.service.gov.uk
The EU Combined Nomenclature has one tariff line for subheading 2603.00; the duty is duty-free.
Subheading 2603.00 is a single line in the Turkish Customs Tariff Schedule, where the duty is duty-free.
In the UK, additional duty of 35% applies on top of the customs duty to goods from Belarus and Russia.
In the 12 months to August 2026, the UK imported copper ores and concentrates worth £31k (down 73% on the year before), at an average of £4.80 per kg; Switzerland supplied 22%, followed by Germany.
World trade in copper ores and concentrates reached US$106bn in 2024, up 10% on 2023.
Chile was the largest exporter with 29.3% of the total, ahead of Peru.
Questions and answers
What is the HS code for copper ores and concentrates?
Copper ores and concentrates fall under HS subheading 2603.00, part of heading 2603, in section V of the Harmonized System.
What is the import duty on copper ores and concentrates in the EU?
Under the EU Combined Nomenclature, imports under 2603.00 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 copper ores and concentrates in Türkiye?
Under the Turkish Customs Tariff Schedule, imports under 2603.00 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 copper ores and concentrates?
Chile, with US$31bn in 2024 (29.3% of world exports).
Is there anti-dumping duty on copper ores and concentrates?
The UK charges additional duty of 35% on goods from Belarus and Russia. Lower rates apply to the named exporters listed in the measure.
Where does the UK import copper ores and concentrates from?
In the 12 months to August 2026, the largest suppliers were Switzerland (22%), Germany (19%) and Italy (18%), out of total imports of £31k.