U.S. imports of Hot-Worked Free-Cutting Nonalloy Steel Bars and Rods (HS 721430) totaled $5.1M in August 2026, imported from 9 countries.
Importers of Hot-Worked Free-Cutting Nonalloy Steel Bars and Rods paid $2.5M in duties in August 2026, an average duty rate of 49.16% — duty actually collected as a share of the imports that cleared customs, not the published tariff schedule. Hot-Worked Free-Cutting Nonalloy Steel Bars and Rods imports of $5.1M in August 2026 ran 69% above the year-to-date monthly average of $3.0M.
Last updated: August 2026 dataFree-cutting steel — nonalloy grades formulated with elevated sulfur, lead, or other additives to improve machinability — serves precision parts manufacturing, including fasteners, fittings, and turned components. The US schedule subdivides this heading by lead content: 7214300010 covers bars with 0.1% or more lead, while 7214300080 captures other free-cutting grades. Germany and France are the leading suppliers, reflecting European specialty steel producers' strong position in high-machinability grades. All steel imports under this heading are subject to Section 232 tariffs, and importers should confirm whether any product-specific exclusions apply.
AI-written summary of the official U.S. Census Bureau trade figures on this page — verify before relying on it.
232 import shipments a month
Free-cutting steel contains deliberate additions — most commonly sulfur, lead, phosphorus, or bismuth — that break chips during machining. For HTS classification, the key distinction is whether the composition meets the definition of free-cutting steel in the relevant chapter notes; if it does, it falls under 721430 rather than the general hot-worked bar headings.
Yes. Under the US schedule, 7214300010 specifically covers free-cutting steel bars with 0.1% or more lead by weight, while 7214300080 covers other free-cutting grades. Accurate chemical mill certifications are essential to determine the correct line at entry.
Subheading 2 of 5 in heading 7214
Subheading 721430 · $5.1M of $59.0M
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ImportsExports
Imports
$5.1MYoY · free account
Exports
$576KYoY · free account
12-mo low · imports
Low · free accountOver the twelve months to August 2026, the U.S. imported $35.4M of Hot-Worked Free-Cutting Nonalloy Steel Bars and Rods and exported $5.7M.
Through August 2026. Source: U.S. Census Bureau.
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 7214300010 | Bars & Rods of Free-Cuttng Steel Gt=0.1% Lead, Etc | $3.6M | 48.79% | 100.00% | $1.7M |
| 7214300080 | Bars & Rod Free-Cutting Steel Hot-Rolled Etc NESOI | $1.6M | 50.00% | 100.00% | $791K |
HS10 export codes under this HS6 parent, each with its own page. Source: U.S. Schedule B export classification.
| Code | Description | Export Value |
|---|---|---|
| 7214300000 | Bars & Rods of Free-Cutng Ios Na, Ht-Rld/Drw/Extrd | $576K |
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.
Imports · August 2026
origin
Germany and Canada together supply 81% of it. Germany pays 50.0% duty; Brazil 0.0%.
customs district
destination
entry
rate provision · imports
duty collected equals 49.16% of imports for consumption.