Heading · Chapter 85
8506: Primary cells and primary batteries
7 subheadings make up heading 8506 in chapter 85 (electrical machinery and equipment and parts thereof).
Duty rates compared
UK Free – 4% Third-country duty 15 tariff lines · average 3.7% 
EU Free – 4.7% Third-country duty 13 tariff lines · average 4.3% 
Türkiye Free – 4.7% Third-country duty 15 tariff lines · average 4.4% 
USA 2.7% General (MFN) 9 tariff lines 
Canada Free – 7% Third-country duty 11 tariff lines · average 4.5% 
Mexico Free Third-country duty 8 tariff lines 
Brazil Free – 16% Third-country duty 18 tariff lines · average 7.2% 
Argentina Free – 16% Third-country duty 25 tariff lines · average 9.5% 
Peru Free – 6% Third-country duty 22 tariff lines · average 0.6% 
New Zealand Free Third-country duty 15 tariff lines 
Japan Free Third-country duty 9 tariff lines 
Taiwan Free – 7.5% Third-country duty 12 tariff lines · average 2.7% 
GCC 5% Third-country duty 13 tariff lines 
Switzerland Free Third-country duty 7 tariff lines 
Norway Free Third-country duty 9 tariff lines 
North Macedonia 4.7% – 15% Third-country duty 14 tariff lines · average 12.8% 
Nigeria 5% – 20% Third-country duty 8 tariff lines · average 18.1% Subheadings 7
- 8506.10Primary cells and primary batteries: manganese dioxideAlkaline (manganese dioxide) batteries
- 8506.30Primary cells and primary batteries: mercuric oxide
- 8506.40Primary cells and primary batteries: silver oxide
- 8506.50Primary cells and primary batteries: lithiumLithium primary batteries
- 8506.60Primary cells and primary batteries: air-zinc
- 8506.80Other primary cells and primary batteries
- 8506.90Primary cells and primary batteries: parts
EU: imports by month
World trade in 2024
Trade value (US$) no reported trade < US$127kUS$127k+US$9m+US$84m+> US$534m
Exports: 182
- China: US$3bn
- United States: US$824m
- Germany: US$686m
- Indonesia: US$651m
- Belgium: US$548m
- Singapore: US$534m
- Japan: US$447m
- Poland: US$346m
- France: US$209m
- Netherlands: US$190m
- United Kingdom: US$165m
- South Korea: US$164m
- Israel: US$145m
- Hong Kong SAR China: US$144m
- Malaysia: US$138m
- Vietnam: US$129m
- Thailand: US$85m
- Romania: US$84m
- Canada: US$75m
- Switzerland: US$72m
- Czechia: US$66m
- Spain: US$64m
- Philippines: US$50m
- Taiwan: US$46m
- Italy: US$46m
- Denmark: US$35m
- Sweden: US$35m
- Mexico: US$33m
- Hungary: US$32m
- Norway: US$31m
- South Africa: US$29m
- Costa Rica: US$26m
- Austria: US$24m
- Brazil: US$24m
- India: US$23m
- Australia: US$21m
- Türkiye: US$16m
- Slovenia: US$15m
- Greece: US$14m
- Slovakia: US$14m
- Ireland: US$13m
- Chile: US$11m
- Egypt: US$10m
- Estonia: US$9m
- Finland: US$7m
- Lithuania: US$6m
- Bulgaria: US$6m
- Luxembourg: US$5m
- Serbia: US$5m
- Kazakhstan: US$5m
- Portugal: US$4m
- Latvia: US$3m
- North Macedonia: US$3m
- Dominican Republic: US$3m
- Croatia: US$3m
- Saudi Arabia: US$3m
- United Arab Emirates: US$3m
- Russia: US$2m
- Ukraine: US$2m
- Bangladesh: US$2m
Trade value (US$) no reported trade < US$5mUS$5m+US$19m+US$132m+> US$324m
Imports: 221
- United States: US$1bn
- Germany: US$675m
- United Kingdom: US$399m
- Mexico: US$342m
- Poland: US$336m
- Netherlands: US$327m
- Hong Kong SAR China: US$324m
- Singapore: US$321m
- France: US$320m
- Belgium: US$289m
- Malaysia: US$264m
- China: US$249m
- Canada: US$247m
- Japan: US$223m
- Italy: US$203m
- Indonesia: US$176m
- Spain: US$170m
- South Korea: US$164m
- Switzerland: US$142m
- Czechia: US$138m
- Austria: US$134m
- Ireland: US$132m
- Russia: US$132m
- Australia: US$125m
- Vietnam: US$117m
- Philippines: US$115m
- Brazil: US$113m
- Sweden: US$104m
- Romania: US$101m
- India: US$95m
- Türkiye: US$93m
- Taiwan: US$86m
- United Arab Emirates: US$79m
- Nigeria: US$78m
- Denmark: US$76m
- Norway: US$73m
- Israel: US$64m
- Thailand: US$58m
- Tanzania: US$55m
- Saudi Arabia: US$51m
- Chile: US$48m
- Hungary: US$47m
- Ukraine: US$47m
- Argentina: US$46m
- Slovakia: US$43m
- Finland: US$42m
- Greece: US$38m
- Portugal: US$38m
- Kenya: US$33m
- Colombia: US$30m
- South Africa: US$28m
- New Zealand: US$28m
- Congo - Kinshasa: US$27m
- Peru: US$26m
- Morocco: US$23m
- Ghana: US$19m
- Bulgaria: US$18m
- Cameroon: US$18m
- Lithuania: US$18m
- Guatemala: US$17m
Top exporters
| Rank | Country | Value | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |  China | US$3bn | 34.2% |
| 2 | United States | US$824m | 8.5% |
| 3 |  Germany | US$686m | 7% |
| 4 |  Indonesia | US$651m | 6.7% |
| 5 |  Belgium | US$548m | 5.6% |
| 6 |  Singapore | US$534m | 5.5% |
| 7 | Japan | US$447m | 4.6% |
| 8 |  Poland | US$346m | 3.6% |
| 9 |  France | US$209m | 2.1% |
| 10 |  Netherlands | US$190m | 2% |
Top importers
| Rank | Country | Value | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | United States | US$1bn | 13% |
| 2 | Germany | US$675m | 6.9% |
| 3 | United Kingdom | US$399m | 4.1% |
| 4 | Mexico | US$342m | 3.5% |
| 5 | Poland | US$336m | 3.5% |
| 6 | Netherlands | US$327m | 3.4% |
| 7 |  Hong Kong SAR China | US$324m | 3.3% |
| 8 | Singapore | US$321m | 3.3% |
| 9 | France | US$320m | 3.3% |
| 10 | Belgium | US$289m | 3% |
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:
The Iran (Sanctions) (Amendment) Regulations 2026
S.I. 2026/983 · Source: legislation.gov.uk
In the UK Global Tariff, heading 8506 covers 15 tariff lines and the duty is between 0% and 4%. 1 of them is duty-free.
The EU Combined Nomenclature divides heading 8506 into 13 tariff lines; the duty is between 0% and 4.7% (average 4.3%). 1 of them is duty-free.
In the Turkish Customs Tariff Schedule, heading 8506 covers 15 tariff lines and the duty is between 0% and 4.7%. 1 of them is duty-free.
The Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States divides heading 8506 into 9 tariff lines; the duty is 2.7%.
In the Customs Tariff of Canada, heading 8506 covers 11 tariff lines and the duty is between 0% and 7%. 4 of them are duty-free.
The Mexican Tariff (TIGIE) divides heading 8506 into 8 tariff lines; the duty is duty-free.
In the Brazilian Tariff (NCM/TEC), heading 8506 covers 18 tariff lines and the duty is between 0% and 16%. 9 of them are duty-free.
The Argentine Tariff (NCM-SIM) divides heading 8506 into 25 tariff lines; the duty is between 0% and 16% (average 9.5%). 10 of them are duty-free.
In the Customs Tariff of Peru, heading 8506 covers 22 tariff lines and the duty is between 0% and 6%. 20 of them are duty-free.
The Working Tariff Document of New Zealand divides heading 8506 into 15 tariff lines; the duty is duty-free.
In the Customs Tariff Schedules of Japan, heading 8506 covers 9 tariff lines and the duty is duty-free.
The Customs Import Tariff of Taiwan divides heading 8506 into 12 tariff lines; the duty is between 0% and 7.5% (average 2.7%). 2 of them are duty-free.
In the GCC Common Customs Tariff, heading 8506 covers 13 tariff lines and the duty is 5%.
The Swiss Customs Tariff (Tares) divides heading 8506 into 7 tariff lines; the duty is duty-free.
In the Customs Tariff of Norway, heading 8506 covers 9 tariff lines and the duty is duty-free.
The Customs Tariff of North Macedonia divides heading 8506 into 14 tariff lines; the duty is between 4.7% and 15% (average 12.8%).
In the ECOWAS Common External Tariff (Nigeria), heading 8506 covers 8 tariff lines and the duty is between 5% and 20%.
World trade in heading 8506 goods reached US$10bn in 2024, up 3.4% on 2023.
China was the largest exporter with 34.2% of the total, ahead of the United States.
The United States imported the most (US$1bn).
The United Kingdom ranked 11th among 182 exporters with US$165m.
The United Kingdom imported US$399m.
Products classified here
Questions and answers
What is the HS code for primary cells and primary batteries?
Primary cells and primary batteries fall under HS heading 8506, part of chapter 85, in section XVI of the Harmonized System.
What is the import duty on primary cells and primary batteries in the UK?
Under the UK Global Tariff, imports under 8506 from countries without a preferential agreement are charged at 0% to 4%, depending on the line. Preferential rates, anti-dumping duties and VAT are not included.
What is the import duty on primary cells and primary batteries in the EU?
Under the EU Combined Nomenclature, imports under 8506 from countries without a preferential agreement are charged at 0% to 4.7%, depending on the line. Preferential rates, anti-dumping duties and VAT are not included.
Which country exports the most primary cells and primary batteries?
China, with US$3bn in 2024 (34.2% of world exports).