U.S. imports of Carbides of Boron, Chromium, Tungsten, and Other Metals (NESOI) (HS 284990) totaled $27.7M in August 2026, imported from 22 countries.
Importers of Carbides of Boron, Chromium, Tungsten, and Other Metals (NESOI) paid $1.5M in duties in August 2026, an average duty rate of 5.45% — duty actually collected as a share of the imports that cleared customs, not the published tariff schedule. Carbides of Boron, Chromium, Tungsten, and Other Metals (NESOI) imports of $27.7M in August 2026 ran 85% above the year-to-date monthly average of $15.0M.
Last updated: August 2026 dataTungsten carbide, boron carbide, and chromium carbide are the commercially dominant materials under this heading, serving as essential inputs for cutting inserts, wear-resistant coatings, and hard-metal tooling across aerospace, mining, and metalworking industries. The US schedule breaks out boron carbide (2849901000), chromium carbide (2849902000), and tungsten carbide (2849903000) as distinct 10-digit lines, with residual carbides captured under 2849905000 and 2849906000. China is the leading supplier, with Austria and Canada also significant sources — Austria in particular is a recognized center of cemented carbide manufacturing. Tungsten carbide lines may attract Section 301 scrutiny when sourced from China, and importers should confirm classification carefully since mixed carbide powders can straddle multiple lines.
AI-written summary of the official U.S. Census Bureau trade figures on this page — verify before relying on it.
121 import shipments a month
Classification depends on whether the product meets the definition of a chemically defined compound or a mixture. Pure tungsten carbide (WC) falls under 2849903000, but cemented carbide powders containing cobalt binders may be classified differently — potentially under Chapter 28 or as a metal powder under Chapter 81. A binding ruling from CBP is advisable for mixed-composition materials.
Importers must provide a commercial invoice, packing list, and a certificate of origin or manufacturer's declaration. For USMCA-adjacent supply chains involving Canadian re-export of Austrian carbide, substantial transformation rules apply and the actual country of origin must be correctly declared to avoid misclassification.
Subheading 1 of 3 in heading 2849
Subheading 284990 · $27.7M of $36.7M
ImportsExports
Imports
$27.7MYoY · free account
Exports
$6.2MYoY · free account
12-mo low · imports
Low · free accountOver the twelve months to August 2026, the U.S. imported $152.3M of Carbides of Boron, Chromium, Tungsten, and Other Metals (NESOI) and exported $74.7M.
Through August 2026. Source: U.S. Census Bureau.
HS10 import codes under this HS6 parent, each with its own page. Source: U.S. Harmonized Tariff Schedule.
| Code | Description | Imports for consumption | Average duty rate | Dutiable Share | Duty Collected |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2849903000 | Carbides, Chem Defined/not, of Tungsten | $22.9M | 4.53% | 79.53% | $1.0M |
| 2849901000 | Carbides, Chem Defined/not, of Boron | $3.4M | 2.49% | 23.62% | $86K |
| 2849905000 | Carbides, Whether or not Chemically Defined, NESOI | $848K | 38.34% | 99.74% | $325K |
| 2849902000 | Carbides, Chem Defined/not, of Chromium | $174K | 24.98% | 87.12% | $44K |
HS10 export codes under this HS6 parent, each with its own page. Source: U.S. Schedule B export classification.
| Code | Description | Export Value |
|---|---|---|
| 2849903000 | Carbides, Chem Defined/not, of Tungsten | $4.9M |
| 2849906000 | Carbides, Excluding of Boron or of Tungsten | $1.3M |
| 2849901000 | Carbides, Chem Defined/not, of Boron | $105K |
Import lines come from the U.S. Harmonized Tariff Schedule and export lines from Schedule B. The two are numbered by different agencies, so the same 10-digit code can appear in both tables describing a different product.
Trade Directory
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Imports · August 2026
origin
Austria and Israel together supply 72% of it. China pays 19.9% duty; Israel 0.3%.
customs district
destination
entry
rate provision · imports
26.5% enters free of duty; duty collected equals 5.45% of imports for consumption.