Nickel Ores and Concentrates

Classified under two US tariff lines — 2604000040 for nickel content and 2604000080 for other metal content — nickel ores and concentrates are a critical upstream input for stainless steel, battery cathode materials, and specialty alloys. Sweden and Canada are the leading suppliers to the US market, with China and Mexico also contributing meaningfully to import volumes. Importers should note that classification between the two lines depends on which metal content is being dutiable-reported, making accurate assay documentation essential at entry.