U.S. exports of Cored Wire of Base Metal for Electric Arc Welding (HS 831120) totaled $13.0M in August 2026.
Importers of Cored Wire of Base Metal for Electric Arc Welding paid $676K in duties in August 2026, an average duty rate of 10.22% — duty actually collected as a share of the imports that cleared customs, not the published tariff schedule. Cored Wire of Base Metal for Electric Arc Welding imports of $6.6M in August 2026 ran 10% below the year-to-date monthly average of $7.4M.
Last updated: August 2026 dataFlux-cored and metal-cored wire for gas-shielded or self-shielded arc welding processes (FCAW/MCAW) is a high-productivity consumable widely used in automotive manufacturing, offshore fabrication, and structural steel erection. Classified under a single 10-digit line (8311200000), this heading is distinct from solid MIG wire (heading 7229 or 7217 depending on alloy) and from coated stick electrodes (8311.10). The cored construction — a metal sheath filled with flux or alloying powder — is the defining physical characteristic, and importers should ensure product specifications clearly document the hollow or filled cross-section to support classification.
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179 import shipments a month
Cored wire under 8311200000 has a tubular metal sheath filled with flux or alloying materials, giving it a hollow or powder-filled cross-section. Solid MIG wire, by contrast, is a homogeneous drawn wire and is classified in Chapter 72 or 73 depending on the base metal. The cross-sectional structure — not the welding process — is the classification determinant.
Importers should provide the manufacturer's product data sheet confirming the cored (tubular or filled) construction, the base metal alloy (e.g., carbon steel, stainless, nickel alloy), and the intended welding process. AWS classification designations (e.g., E71T-1) are useful supporting evidence. A licensed customs broker can help confirm that the documentation aligns with the 8311200000 tariff line.
Subheading 1 of 4 in heading 8311
Subheading 831120 · $13.0M of $30.0M
ImportsExports
Imports
$6.6MYoY · free account
Exports
$13.0MYoY · free account
12-mo low · imports
Low · free accountOver the twelve months to August 2026, the U.S. imported $85.2M of Cored Wire of Base Metal for Electric Arc Welding and exported $150.0M.
Through August 2026. Source: U.S. Census Bureau.
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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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 8311200000 | Cored Wire of Base Metal, For Electric Arc-Welding | $6.6M | 10.22% | 92.45% | $676K |
HS10 export codes under this HS6 parent, each with its own page. Source: U.S. Schedule B export classification.
| Code | Description | Export Value |
|---|---|---|
| 8311200000 | Cored Wire of Base Metal, For Electric Arc-Welding | $13.0M |
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.
Exports · August 2026
destination
Canada and Mexico together take 69% of it.
customs district
origin
entry
rate provision · imports
7.6% enters free of duty; duty collected equals 10.22% of imports for consumption.