Chapter
Chapter 78: Lead and articles thereof
4 headings make up chapter 78, part of section XV, base metals and articles of base metal.
Duty rates compared
UK Free Third-country duty 11 tariff lines 
EU Free – 5% Third-country duty 10 tariff lines · average 2.3% 
Türkiye Free – 5% Third-country duty 11 tariff lines · average 2% 
USA Free – 3% General (MFN) 11 tariff lines · average 1.6% · 4× specific or compound duty 
Canada Free Third-country duty 10 tariff lines 
Mexico Free Third-country duty 9 tariff lines 
Brazil 3.6% – 14.4% Third-country duty 12 tariff lines · average 8.4% 
Argentina 3.6% – 16% Third-country duty 12 tariff lines · average 8.5% 
Peru Free Third-country duty 11 tariff lines 
New Zealand Free – 5% Third-country duty 15 tariff lines · average 1.7% 
Japan Free – 3% Third-country duty 20 tariff lines · average 2.1% · 12× specific or compound duty 
Taiwan Free – 2.5% Third-country duty 14 tariff lines · average 1% 
GCC 5% Third-country duty 14 tariff lines 
Switzerland Free Third-country duty 8 tariff lines 
Norway Free Third-country duty 8 tariff lines 
North Macedonia Free – 10% Third-country duty 11 tariff lines · average 4.6% 
Nigeria 5% – 20% Third-country duty 10 tariff lines · average 9% Headings 4
EU: imports by month
World trade in 2024
Trade value (US$) no reported trade < US$7mUS$7m+US$34m+US$179m+> US$436m
Exports: 178
- India: US$885m
- Australia: US$845m
- South Korea: US$779m
- United Kingdom: US$619m
- Germany: US$569m
- Malaysia: US$436m
- Belgium: US$395m
- Canada: US$362m
- Kazakhstan: US$292m
- Bulgaria: US$280m
- Mexico: US$259m
- United States: US$255m
- France: US$254m
- Poland: US$246m
- China: US$209m
- Japan: US$193m
- Singapore: US$189m
- Saudi Arabia: US$179m
- Sweden: US$164m
- Taiwan: US$152m
- Czechia: US$148m
- United Arab Emirates: US$138m
- Italy: US$137m
- Nigeria: US$114m
- Netherlands: US$108m
- Spain: US$105m
- Philippines: US$84m
- Indonesia: US$81m
- Austria: US$81m
- Thailand: US$62m
- Portugal: US$62m
- Ghana: US$60m
- Lebanon: US$60m
- Türkiye: US$58m
- South Africa: US$54m
- Pakistan: US$51m
- Myanmar (Burma): US$50m
- Chile: US$50m
- Ecuador: US$45m
- Greece: US$44m
- Ireland: US$43m
- Cambodia: US$42m
- Romania: US$38m
- Serbia: US$35m
- Switzerland: US$34m
- Tanzania: US$33m
- Libya: US$31m
- Vietnam: US$29m
- Israel: US$28m
- Russia: US$27m
- Oman: US$27m
- Brazil: US$26m
- Estonia: US$25m
- Togo: US$24m
- Laos: US$23m
- Iran: US$20m
- Belarus: US$18m
- Azerbaijan: US$18m
- Zambia: US$18m
- Costa Rica: US$18m
Trade value (US$) no reported trade < US$670kUS$670k+US$11m+US$158m+> US$506m
Imports: 199
- India: US$1bn
- United States: US$972m
- Vietnam: US$644m
- Germany: US$613m
- Singapore: US$568m
- China: US$506m
- United Kingdom: US$455m
- Czechia: US$415m
- South Korea: US$399m
- Türkiye: US$312m
- Spain: US$303m
- Italy: US$277m
- Malaysia: US$236m
- Poland: US$226m
- Belgium: US$220m
- Thailand: US$200m
- Greece: US$173m
- Austria: US$167m
- Brazil: US$166m
- France: US$158m
- United Arab Emirates: US$141m
- Pakistan: US$137m
- Philippines: US$131m
- Taiwan: US$127m
- Slovenia: US$107m
- Mexico: US$100m
- Bulgaria: US$99m
- Netherlands: US$98m
- Bangladesh: US$97m
- Indonesia: US$81m
- Japan: US$73m
- Finland: US$66m
- Romania: US$50m
- Norway: US$49m
- Sweden: US$44m
- Portugal: US$41m
- Colombia: US$38m
- North Macedonia: US$38m
- Ireland: US$36m
- Canada: US$23m
- Egypt: US$22m
- Hungary: US$21m
- Hong Kong SAR China: US$19m
- Saudi Arabia: US$18m
- Kazakhstan: US$17m
- Tunisia: US$16m
- South Africa: US$15m
- Switzerland: US$14m
- Australia: US$12m
- Congo - Kinshasa: US$11m
- Ecuador: US$11m
- Peru: US$11m
- Slovakia: US$10m
- Oman: US$8m
- Qatar: US$8m
- Serbia: US$7m
- Algeria: US$7m
- Botswana: US$6m
- Bosnia & Herzegovina: US$6m
- Morocco: US$5m
Top exporters
| Rank | Country | Value | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |  India | US$885m | 8.7% |
| 2 |  Australia | US$845m | 8.3% |
| 3 |  South Korea | US$779m | 7.7% |
| 4 | United Kingdom | US$619m | 6.1% |
| 5 |  Germany | US$569m | 5.6% |
| 6 |  Malaysia | US$436m | 4.3% |
| 7 |  Belgium | US$395m | 3.9% |
| 8 | Canada | US$362m | 3.6% |
| 9 |  Kazakhstan | US$292m | 2.9% |
| 10 |  Bulgaria | US$280m | 2.8% |
Top importers
| Rank | Country | Value | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | India | US$1bn | 12.2% |
| 2 | United States | US$972m | 9.6% |
| 3 |  Vietnam | US$644m | 6.3% |
| 4 | Germany | US$613m | 6% |
| 5 |  Singapore | US$568m | 5.6% |
| 6 |  China | US$506m | 5% |
| 7 | United Kingdom | US$455m | 4.5% |
| 8 |  Czechia | US$415m | 4.1% |
| 9 | South Korea | US$399m | 3.9% |
| 10 | Türkiye | US$312m | 3.1% |
In the UK Global Tariff, chapter 78 covers 11 tariff lines and the duty is duty-free. 10 of them are duty-free.
The EU Combined Nomenclature divides chapter 78 into 10 tariff lines; the duty is between 0% and 5% (average 2.3%). 4 of them are duty-free.
In the Turkish Customs Tariff Schedule, chapter 78 covers 11 tariff lines and the duty is between 0% and 5%. 5 of them are duty-free.
World trade in chapter 78 goods reached US$10bn in 2024, up 3.3% on 2023.
India was the largest exporter with 8.7% of the total, ahead of Australia.
India imported the most (US$1bn).
Chapter notes
Subheading note
1. In this chapter, the expression ‘refined lead’ means:
Metal containing by weight at least 99,9 % of lead, provided that the content by weight of any other element does not exceed the limit specified in the following table:
| Element | Limiting content % by weight | |
|---|---|---|
| Ag | Silver | 0,02 |
| As | Arsenic | 0,005 |
| Bi | Bismuth | 0,05 |
| Ca | Calcium | 0,002 |
| Cd | Cadmium | 0,002 |
| Cu | Copper | 0,08 |
| Fe | Iron | 0,002 |
| S | Sulphur | 0,002 |
| Sb | Antimony | 0,005 |
| Sn | Tin | 0,005 |
| Zn | Zinc | 0,002 |
| Other (for example, Te), each | 0,001 |
Products classified here
Questions and answers
What is the HS code for lead and articles thereof?
Lead and articles thereof make up HS chapter 78, in section XV of the Harmonized System.
What is the import duty on lead and articles thereof in the UK?
Under the UK Global Tariff, imports under 78 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 lead and articles thereof in the EU?
Under the EU Combined Nomenclature, imports under 78 from countries without a preferential agreement are charged at 0% to 5%, depending on the line. Preferential rates, anti-dumping duties and VAT are not included.
Which country exports the most lead and articles thereof?
India, with US$885m in 2024 (8.7% of world exports).