U.S. exports of nickel ores & concentrates (HS 260400) totaled $14.2M in August 2026, exported to 2 countries.
Last updated: August 2026 dataNickel ores and concentrates feed the production of refined nickel, ferronickel, and nickel pig iron — materials critical to stainless steel and battery cathode manufacturing — and are split at the US tariff level between nickel content (2604000040) and other metal content (2604000080). Sweden and Canada are the leading suppliers to the US under this heading, with China, Mexico, and Belgium also present in the import mix. The growing demand for battery-grade nickel in electric vehicle supply chains has heightened interest in concentrate specifications, particularly sulfide versus laterite ore chemistry, which affects downstream processing routes.
AI-written summary of the official U.S. Census Bureau trade figures on this page — verify before relying on it.
HTS 260400 does not distinguish between sulfide and laterite ore types — both fall under the same heading. However, the distinction matters commercially because sulfide concentrates typically carry higher nickel grades and are more amenable to conventional smelting, while laterite ores require hydrometallurgical processing. Buyers should specify ore type in contracts, and customs valuation should reflect the actual payable nickel content per the assay certificate.
Nickel ores and concentrates are not among the products currently subject to Section 232 tariffs, which target finished steel and aluminum products. Importers should nonetheless verify at the time of entry whether any antidumping or countervailing duty orders apply to the specific origin, as trade-remedy coverage evolves. A licensed customs broker can confirm current order status before shipment.
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Subheading 1 of 1 in heading 2604
Subheading 260400 · $14.2M of $14.2M
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2604000040 | Nickel Ores & Concentrates, Nickel Content | — | -- | -- |
| 2604000080 | Nickel Ores & Concentrates, Other Metal Content | — | -- | -- |
HS10 export codes under this HS6 parent, each with its own page. Source: U.S. Schedule B export classification.
| Code | Description | Export Value |
|---|---|---|
| 2604000040 | Nickel Ores & Concentrates, Nickel Content | $14.0M |
| 2604000080 | Nickel Ores & Concentrates, Other Metal Content | $195K |
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.
ImportsExports
Imports
—YoY · free account
Exports
$14.2MYoY · free account
12-mo low · imports
YoY · free accountThrough August 2026. Source: U.S. Census Bureau.
Exports · August 2026
destination
Canada and Netherlands together take 100% of it.
customs district
origin
entry
rate provision · imports
None recorded for this period.