Harmonized System
U.S. imports of Refractory Nonconstructional Ceramic Goods — Over 50% Alumina or Silica (Retorts, Muffles, Nozzles, Plugs, etc.) (HS 690320) totaled $16.1M in August 2026, imported from 36 countries.
Importers of Refractory Nonconstructional Ceramic Goods — Over 50% Alumina or Silica (Retorts, Muffles, Nozzles, Plugs, etc.) paid $1.3M in duties in August 2026, an average duty rate of 8.30% — duty actually collected as a share of the imports that cleared customs, not the published tariff schedule.
Last updated: August 2026 dataAlumina- and silica-rich refractory shapes used as process equipment components — retorts, muffles, nozzles, plugs, tubes, and similar non-structural articles — are classified here rather than with constructional bricks, because their function is process containment or flow control rather than furnace lining. All imports under this heading consolidate into a single 10-digit line (6903200000), so the classification decision turns on confirming both the alumina/silica dominance and the nonconstructional character of the article. Mexico and Japan lead US supply, with Germany and India also significant sources. Nozzles and flow-control components for continuous casting are a commercially important subset, often subject to tight dimensional and chemistry specifications.
AI-written summary of the official U.S. Census Bureau trade figures on this page — verify before relying on it.
1.3K import shipments a month
Constructional refractory goods (heading 6902) are designed to form the structural lining of furnaces, kilns, or reactors — bricks, blocks, and tiles that are assembled into walls or floors. Nonconstructional goods (heading 6903) are discrete functional components used within a process: nozzles that direct molten metal flow, retorts that contain chemical reactions, muffles that shield workpieces from direct flame, and plugs that seal tap holes. The distinction is based on function and form, not composition.
Alumina-graphite or high-alumina continuous casting nozzles are a common import under this heading, provided free carbon does not exceed 50% (which would shift classification to 6903.10) and alumina or silica exceeds 50% by weight. Importers should verify the precise chemistry of each nozzle grade, as composition varies by steel grade application, and misclassification between 6903.10 and 6903.20 is a recurring audit issue.
Subheading 2 of 3 in heading 6903
Subheading 690320 · $16.1M of $37.6M
Trade Directory
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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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 6903200000 | Rfrc Ceram Gds NESOI >50% Alumina/Mix Alum&silica | $15.1M | 8.30% | 59.09% | $1.3M |
HS10 export codes under this HS6 parent, each with its own page. Source: U.S. Schedule B export classification.
| Code | Description | Export Value |
|---|---|---|
| 6903200000 | Rfrc Ceram Gds NESOI >50% Alumina/Mix Alum&silica | $12.5M |
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
$16.1MYoY · free account
Exports
$12.5MYoY · free account
12-mo low · imports
Low · free accountOver the twelve months to August 2026, the U.S. imported $183.9M of Refractory Nonconstructional Ceramic Goods — Over 50% Alumina or Silica (Retorts, Muffles, Nozzles, Plugs, etc.) and exported $129.2M.
Through August 2026. Source: U.S. Census Bureau.
Imports · August 2026
origin
Mexico and Japan together supply 42% of it. China pays 34.4% duty; Mexico 0.1%.
customs district
destination
entry
rate provision · imports
32.5% enters free of duty; duty collected equals 8.30% of imports for consumption.