Subheading · Chapter 69 · Heading 6909

6909.12

6909.12: Articles having a hardness equivalent to 9 or more on the Mohs scale

6909.12 is a six-digit subheading of heading 6909, ceramic wares for laboratory, chemical or other technical uses, chapter 69.

What you pay

Importing into UK

Customs duty 4% standard rate depends on the country of origin
Additional duties and charges 3 additional measures Import requirements: 4
VAT 20.00 % import VAT
Duty calculatorCalculate duty and taxes →

Rates by national line · UK Global Tariff

UK lines →
  1. 6909 12 00 00 Articles having a hardness equivalent to 9 or more on the mohs scale 4%

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 3

  • Duty suspensionAutonomous tariff suspension Free
    Applies to goods from
    all countries
    In force
    until 31 December 2026
    Legal act
    2020 No. 1435
    Documents
    • 9Y12
  • Duty suspensionSuspension - goods for certain categories of ships, boats and other vessels and for drilling or production platforms Free
    Applies to goods from
    all countries
    Legal act
    2020 No. 1431
    Documents
    • C990 End use authorisation ships and platforms (Column 8c, Annex A of Delegated Regulation (EU) 2015/2446)
  • Duty suspensionAirworthiness tariff suspension Free
    Applies to goods from
    all countries
    Legal act
    S.I. 2018/1249
    Documents
    • C119 Authorised Release Certificate — EASA Form 1 (Appendix I to Annex I to Regulation (EU) No 748/2012), or equivalent certificate

Import requirements 4

  • 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
    Iraq, Ukraine
    Legal act
    S.I. 2020/707, S.I. 2022/395
    Documents
    • 9009
    • 9010
    • 9017
  • Import controlImport control on restricted goods and technologies
    Applies to goods from
    Iran, North Korea
    Legal act
    S.I. 2019/461, S.I. 2019/411
    Documents
    • Y966 Goods other than those described in the MG footnotes linked to the measure (Missile Technology Control Regime list - Annex III of Reg. (EU) 267/2012)
    • Y920 Goods other than those described in the footnotes linked to the measure
  • 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 schemeCountriesRate
standard rate (no agreement)—4%
DCTS Comprehensive
Afghanistan, Angola, Bangladesh, Benin and 38 more

Afghanistan, 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")
Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia and 23 more

Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czechia, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden

Free
DCTS Enhanced
Algeria, Bolivia, Cape Verde, Congo - Brazzaville and 13 more

Algeria, Bolivia, Cape Verde, Congo - Brazzaville, Cook Islands, Kyrgyzstan, Micronesia, Mongolia, Nigeria, Niue, Pakistan, Philippines, Sri Lanka, Syria, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, Vanuatu

Free
CARIFORUM
Antigua & Barbuda, Bahamas, Barbados, Belize and 10 more

Antigua & 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 more

Anguilla, 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
DCTS Standard Indonesia 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

last 12 months£29.7m+8.4% · previous 12 months
Average import price£90.95 per kg
Jan 2024: £1mFeb 2024: £1.6mMar 2024: £1.3mApr 2024: £1.3mMay 2024: £1.7mJun 2024: £1.5mJul 2024: £2.6mAug 2024: £2.1mSept 2024: £2.4mOct 2024: £1.9mNov 2024: £2mDec 2024: £1.6mJan 2025: £2.9mFeb 2025: £4mMar 2025: £2mApr 2025: £2.5mMay 2025: £2.4mJun 2025: £2.3mJul 2025: £1.7mAug 2025: £1.5mSept 2025: £1.5mOct 2025: £2.2mNov 2025: £2.3mDec 2025: £3.2mJan 2026: £1.7mFeb 2026: £3.2mMar 2026: £3.9mApr 2026: £2mMay 2026: £2mJun 2026: £2.1mJul 2026: £3mAug 2026: £2.5m 202420252026
Data up to August 2026 (provisional) · Monthly data: Eurostat Comext (CC BY 4.0), HMRC (OGL v3.0)

Main suppliers, last 12 months

CountryValueShareChange
Japan £10.5m 35.3% +56.4%
United States £10.3m 34.8% -9.6%
Germany £2.7m 9% +4.9%
Czechia £1.7m 5.6% +12.4%
China £1.4m 4.7% -27.2%
United Kingdom £676k 2.3% -20.7%
France £664k 2.2% +19.9%
Austria £556k 1.9% +112.1%

Same subheading in other tariffs

World trade in 2024

6909.12 · US$1bn

Trade value (US$) no reported trade < US$280kUS$280k+US$6m+US$28m+> US$148m

Exports: 88
  1. Japan: US$295m
  2. China: US$259m
  3. Germany: US$148m
  4. United States: US$113m
  5. Switzerland: US$93m
  6. South Korea: US$70m
  7. Austria: US$36m
  8. Mexico: US$32m
  9. Czechia: US$28m
  10. Hungary: US$25m
  11. Poland: US$21m
  12. Netherlands: US$17m
  13. Italy: US$15m
  14. United Kingdom: US$14m
  15. Taiwan: US$12m
  16. Singapore: US$12m
  17. Vietnam: US$9m
  18. Ireland: US$8m
  19. Belgium: US$8m
  20. France: US$7m
  21. Spain: US$6m
  22. Thailand: US$5m
  23. India: US$4m
  24. Malaysia: US$3m
  25. Türkiye: US$3m
  26. Israel: US$3m
  27. Brazil: US$2m
  28. Croatia: US$2m
  29. Bulgaria: US$2m
  30. Hong Kong SAR China: US$2m
  31. South Africa: US$2m
  32. Sweden: US$2m
  33. Indonesia: US$2m
  34. Luxembourg: US$1m
  35. Denmark: US$1m
  36. Australia: US$702k
  37. Canada: US$554k
  38. Peru: US$507k
  39. Portugal: US$409k
  40. Finland: US$381k
  41. Russia: US$280k
  42. Chile: US$243k
  43. Slovenia: US$240k
  44. Ukraine: US$225k
  45. Kazakhstan: US$217k
  46. Uzbekistan: US$196k
  47. Philippines: US$170k
  48. Bosnia & Herzegovina: US$166k
  49. New Zealand: US$161k
  50. North Macedonia: US$119k
  51. United Arab Emirates: US$87k
  52. Slovakia: US$64k
  53. Norway: US$40k
  54. Seychelles: US$35k
  55. Romania: US$35k
  56. Morocco: US$30k
  57. Costa Rica: US$21k
  58. Curaçao: US$13k
  59. Colombia: US$11k
  60. Greece: US$11k

Top exporters

RankCountryValueShare
1 Japan US$295m 23.2%
2 China US$259m 20.4%
3 Germany US$148m 11.7%
4 United States US$113m 8.9%
5 Switzerland US$93m 7.4%
6 South Korea US$70m 5.5%
7 Austria US$36m 2.9%
8 Mexico US$32m 2.5%
9 Czechia US$28m 2.2%
10 Hungary US$25m 2%

Top importers

RankCountryValueShare
1 China US$193m 15.2%
2 United States US$168m 13.2%
3 Germany US$119m 9.4%
4 Japan US$81m 6.4%
5 Taiwan US$65m 5.1%
6 South Korea US$44m 3.5%
7 Netherlands US$40m 3.1%
8 Mexico US$30m 2.4%
9 Singapore US$29m 2.3%
10 United Kingdom US$28m 2.2%

Import duty on this product around the world 164

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.

  • 5%median duty
  • 52number of duty-free countries (MFN)
  • 45%highest: Bahamas, Sudan, Algeria

164

Importing countryMFN dutylines from – todata year
Afghanistan 10% 2018 · HS 2012
Albania 2% 2023
Algeria 30% 2023
Angola 10% 2023 · HS 2017
Anguilla 15% 2021 · HS 2017
Antigua & Barbuda 0% 2021 · HS 2007
Argentina 6.5% 0% – 12% 2023 · HS 2017
Armenia 5% 2023
Aruba 12% 2021 · HS 2012
Australia 5% 2023
Azerbaijan 15% 2023 · HS 2017
Bahamas 45% 2022
Bahrain 5% 2023
Bangladesh 1% 2023 · HS 2017
Barbados 0% 2022 · HS 2017
Belarus 5% 2021 · HS 2017
Belize 0% 2023
Benin 5% 2023
Bermuda 25% 2023
Bhutan 10% 2022
Bolivia 15% 2023 · HS 2017
Bosnia & Herzegovina 5% 2022
Botswana 0% 2023
Brazil 6.5% 0% – 12% 2023 · HS 2017
Brunei 0% 2023 · HS 2017
Burkina Faso 5% 2023
Burundi 0% 2023
Cambodia 7% 2023 · HS 2017
Cameroon 30% 2023
Canada 2.3% 0% – 4.5% 2023
Cape Verde 5% 2023 · HS 2017
Cayman Islands 22% 2021 · HS 2002
Central African Republic 30% 2023
Chad 30% 2023
Chile 6% 2023 · HS 2017
China 8% 2023
Colombia 0% 2023 · HS 2017
Comoros 20% 2021 · HS 2017
Congo - Brazzaville 30% 2023
Cook Islands 0% 2022 · HS 2017
Costa Rica 0% 2023
Côte d’Ivoire 5% 2023 · HS 2017
Cuba 10% 2023 · HS 2017
Dominica 0% 2023 · HS 2017
Dominican Republic 0% 2023
Ecuador 0% 2023 · HS 2017
Egypt 10% 2019 · HS 2017
El Salvador 0% 2022
Equatorial Guinea 30% 2023
Eswatini 0% 2023
Ethiopia 5% 2021 · HS 2017
European Union (27 countries) 5% 2023
Fiji 5% 2023
French Polynesia 13% 2023
Gabon 30% 2023
Gambia 5% 2023
Georgia 0% 2022 · HS 2017
Ghana 5% 2023
Gibraltar 12% 2023 · HS 2017
Grenada 20% 2023 · HS 2012
Guatemala 0% 2023
Guinea 5% 2023
Guinea-Bissau 5% 2023
Guyana 0% 2023 · HS 2017
Haiti 0% 2020 · HS 2017
Honduras 0% 2023
Hong Kong SAR China 0% 2023
Iceland 0% 2023
India 10% 2023
Indonesia 5% 2023
Iran 5% 2020 · HS 2017
Israel 0% 2022 · HS 2017
Jamaica 0% 2023
Japan 0% 2023
Jordan 5% 2023
Kazakhstan 5% 2023
Kenya 0% 2023
Kiribati 0% 2023 · HS 2002
Kuwait 5% 2023
Kyrgyzstan 5% 2021 · HS 2017
Laos 5% 2023 · HS 2017
Lebanon 5% 2020 · HS 2017
Lesotho 0% 2023
Liberia 5% 2023
Libya 5% 2021 · HS 2017
Liechtenstein 2.1%* 2021 · HS 2017
Macao SAR China 0% 2023
Madagascar 20% 2023
Malawi 10% 2021 · HS 2017
Malaysia 5% 2023
Maldives 10% 2023
Mali 5% 2023
Mauritania 5% 2023 · HS 2017
Mauritius 0% 2023
Mexico 5% 2023 · HS 2017
Micronesia 4% 2021 · HS 2017
Moldova 10% 2023 · HS 2017
Mongolia 5% 2023
Montserrat 0% 2023 · HS 2017
Morocco 2.5% 2023
Mozambique 7.5% 2023
Myanmar (Burma) 3% 2023 · HS 2017
Namibia 0% 2023
Nauru 10% 2021 · HS 2017
Nepal 15% 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 20% 2023
Palau 3% 2023 · HS 2012
Palestinian Territories 0% 2017 · HS 2017
Panama 0% 2023
Papua New Guinea 0% 2023
Paraguay 6.5% 0% – 12% 2023 · HS 2017
Peru 6% 2023 · HS 2017
Philippines 1% 2023
Qatar 5% 2023
Russia 5% 2021 · HS 2017
Rwanda 0% 2023
Samoa 8% 2020 · HS 2017
São Tomé & Príncipe 5% 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 8% 2023
Sri Lanka 20% 2023
St Kitts & Nevis 0% 2023
St Lucia 0% 2023 · HS 2012
St Pierre & Miquelon 3% 2021 · HS 2017
St Vincent & the Grenadines 0% 2023
Sudan 40% 2021 · HS 2017
Suriname 0% 2023 · HS 2007
Switzerland 1.2%* 2023
Syria 5% 2020 · HS 2012
Tajikistan 10% 2021 · HS 2012
Tanzania 0% 2023
Thailand 0% 2023
Togo 5% 2023
Tonga 15% 2023 · HS 2017
Trinidad & Tobago 0% 2023 · HS 2012
Türkiye 5% 2023
Tuvalu 0% 2017 · HS 2017
Uganda 0% 2023
Ukraine 5% 2023 · HS 2017
United Arab Emirates 5% 2023
United Kingdom 4% 2023
United States 4% 2023
Uruguay 6.5% 0% – 12% 2023 · HS 2017
Uzbekistan 0% 2021 · HS 2017
Vanuatu 15% 2023
Venezuela 6.5% 0% – 12% 2023 · HS 2017
Vietnam 5% 2023
Yemen 5% 2017 · HS 2017
Zambia 15% 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
66391 Ceramic wares for laboratory, chemical/other technical uses; ceramic troughs, tubs & similar receptacles of a kind used in agriculture; ceramic pots, jars & similar articles of a kind used for the conveyance/packing of goods
End use (BEC Rev. 5)
Intermediate goods · BEC 311220
CPC 2.1 product
37291 Ceramic wares for laboratory, chemical or other technical uses; ceramic troughs, tubs and similar receptacles of a kind used in agriculture; ceramic pots, jars and similar articles of a kind used for the conveyance or packing of goods
ISIC Rev. 4 activity
2393 Manufacture of other porcelain and ceramic products

Earlier HS editions

HSCode
20176909.12unchanged
20126909.12unchanged
20076909.12unchanged
20026909.12unchanged
19966909.12unchanged
19926909.19changed

Correspondence tables of the United Nations Statistics Division (UNSD)

Binding rulings for similar goods 5

Decisions of U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CROSS) and HMRC (Advance Tariff Rulings) on goods classified here. A ruling binds only its holder, but shows how the authorities classify similar goods. The descriptions are the authorities’ own, in English.

  • N285514 U.S. CBP 16 August 2017 · 6909.12.00.00

    The tariff classification of ceramic pistons and sleeves from Germany.

  • N271512 U.S. CBP 14 April 2016 · 6909.12.00.00

    The tariff classification of a ceramic seal from China.

  • 600015780 HMRC 11 September 2026 – 10 September 2029 · 6909 12 00 00

    Mechanical seal faces. The seal faces are components of a mechanical seal assembly used in various industrial applications to prevent leakage. Manufactured from sintered silicon (SiC) which is generally rated at 9 to 9.5 on the Mohs scale of hardness is resistance to wear, corrosion and also…

  • 600014697 HMRC 4 March 2026 – 3 March 2029 · 6909 12 00 00

    The product is an alumina ceramic mechanical seal face and is one of the two seal faces in a mechanical seal assembly. Manufactured from pressed and sintered alumina ceramic powder, the seal face has a Mohs hardness value of 9, and can withstand temperatures above 1700ºC. Features a lapped sealing…

  • 600014283 HMRC 3 March 2026 – 2 March 2029 · 6909 12 00 00

    The product is a Silicon carbide mechanical seal face and is one of the two seal faces in a mechanical seal assembly. Manufactured from pressed and sintered silicon carbide powder, and machined to the extract design requirements. The seal face with Mohs Hardness value over of 9, features a lapped…

Subheading 6909.12 is a single line in the UK Global Tariff, where the duty is 4%.

The EU Combined Nomenclature has one tariff line for subheading 6909.12; the duty is 5%.

Goods from 174 countries can enter the UK at a preferential rate instead of the standard 4%; 174 of them pay no duty at all, for example under DCTS Comprehensive or European Union.

In the 12 months to August 2026, the UK imported these goods worth £29.7m (up 8% on the year before), at an average of £90.95 per kg; Japan supplied 35%, followed by United States.

World trade in these goods reached US$1bn in 2024, down 2% on 2023.

Japan was the largest exporter with 23.2% of the total, ahead of China.

Questions and answers

What is the HS code for articles having a hardness equivalent to 9 or more on the Mohs scale?

Articles having a hardness equivalent to 9 or more on the Mohs scale fall under HS subheading 6909.12, part of heading 6909, in section XIII of the Harmonized System.

What is the import duty on articles having a hardness equivalent to 9 or… in the UK?

Under the UK Global Tariff, imports under 6909.12 from countries without a preferential agreement are charged at 4%. Preferential rates, anti-dumping duties and VAT are not included.

What is the import duty on articles having a hardness equivalent to 9 or… in the EU?

Under the EU Combined Nomenclature, imports under 6909.12 from countries without a preferential agreement are charged at 5%. Preferential rates, anti-dumping duties and VAT are not included.

Which country exports the most articles having a hardness equivalent to 9 or…?

Japan, with US$295m in 2024 (23.2% of world exports).

Which countries can export these goods to the UK duty-free?

174 countries pay no duty under a trade agreement or preference scheme, among them partners under DCTS Comprehensive, European Union, DCTS Enhanced. The goods must meet the agreement’s rules of origin and the importer needs proof of origin; otherwise the standard rate of 4% applies. Pick a country above to see its rate.

Where does the UK import these goods from?

In the 12 months to August 2026, the largest suppliers were Japan (35%), United States (35%) and Germany (9%), out of total imports of £29.7m.

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