HSChapter 26
Classified entirely under a single 10-digit line (2605000000), cobalt ores and concentrates occupy a critical position in battery supply chains for electric vehicles and consumer electronics, as well as in superalloy production for aerospace applications. US import volumes under this heading are relatively modest because most cobalt enters the country in more processed forms — hydroxides, sulfates, or refined metal — rather than as raw ore or concentrate. Germany and Spain are the recorded US suppliers under this heading, an atypical sourcing pattern given that primary cobalt mining is concentrated in the Democratic Republic of Congo.
AI-written summary of the official U.S. Census Bureau trade figures on this page — verify before relying on it.
Cobalt is predominantly a by-product of copper and nickel mining, and it is typically upgraded to cobalt hydroxide, sulfate, or refined metal before export because those forms carry higher value and lower shipping costs per unit of cobalt content. Raw cobalt ore or concentrate reaching the US under 2605000000 is therefore uncommon and often represents recycled or reprocessed material.
Once cobalt has been converted to an oxide, hydroxide, sulfate, or refined metal, it leaves Chapter 26 and is classified in Chapter 28 (inorganic chemicals) or Chapter 75 (nickel) or Chapter 81 (other base metals), depending on the form. The Chapter 26 heading applies only to material that retains the character of an ore or concentrate.
Trade Directory
List your company under HS 260500 — Cobalt Ores and Concentrates, so the companies trading it can find you. Be the first supplier listed.
Subheading 1 of 1 in heading 2605
HS10 import codes under this HS6 parent, each with its own page. Source: U.S. Harmonized Tariff Schedule.
| Code | Description | Import Value | Effective Tariff % | Dutiable Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2605000000 | Cobalt Ores and Concentrates | — | -- | -- |
ImportsExports
Imports
—YoY · free account
Exports
—YoY · free account
12-mo low · imports
YoY · free accountFewer than 6 of the last 12 months reported trade above $500K; the trend chart is not shown for thin series.
Through August 2026. Source: U.S. Census Bureau.
Imports · August 2026
origin
customs district
destination
entry
rate provision · imports
None recorded for this period.