U.S. exports of High-Purity Sponge Iron and Other Spongy Ferrous Products (≥99.94% Fe) (HS 720390) totaled $43.8M in August 2026.
Importers of High-Purity Sponge Iron and Other Spongy Ferrous Products (≥99.94% Fe) paid $24K in duties in August 2026, an average duty rate of 5.79% — duty actually collected as a share of the imports that cleared customs, not the published tariff schedule. High-Purity Sponge Iron and Other Spongy Ferrous Products (≥99.94% Fe) imports of $419K in August 2026 ran 16% below the year-to-date monthly average of $499K.
Last updated: August 2026 dataUltra-high-purity iron at 99.94% or greater by weight occupies a niche above standard DRI, serving powder metallurgy, specialty magnetics, and precision alloy applications where trace impurities are unacceptable. Japan and China are the leading US suppliers, reflecting their advanced powder-iron and specialty-metal industries. The single tariff line (7203900000) covers both spongy forms and high-purity iron in lumps or pellets, so the critical classification question is whether the iron meets the 99.94% purity threshold — material falling short belongs in heading 7203.10 or elsewhere.
AI-written summary of the official U.S. Census Bureau trade figures on this page — verify before relying on it.
9 import shipments a month
CBP typically requires a mill certificate or third-party laboratory analysis confirming the iron content by weight meets or exceeds 99.94%. The certificate should identify the test method used (e.g., spectrometric analysis) and accompany the commercial invoice. Discrepancies between declared and tested purity can trigger reclassification into a lower-purity heading.
Powder metallurgy (sintered parts, metal injection molding), soft magnetic components, and specialty alloy production are the primary consumers. The stringent purity requirement excludes most steelmaking applications, making this a relatively low-volume but high-value niche within the broader ferrous materials market.
Subheading 1 of 2 in heading 7203
Subheading 720390 · $43.8M of $43.8M
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 7203900000 | Othr Spongy Ferrous Prdcts Min Purity 99.94 Pct Fe | $419K | 5.79% | 23.15% | $24K |
HS10 export codes under this HS6 parent, each with its own page. Source: U.S. Schedule B export classification.
| Code | Description | Export Value |
|---|---|---|
| 7203900000 | Spongy Ferrous Prdcts Min Purity 99.94 Pct Fe, Nes | $43.8M |
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.
Trade Directory
List your company under HS 720390 — High-Purity Sponge Iron and Other Spongy Ferrous Products (≥99.94% Fe), so the companies trading it can find you. Be the first supplier listed.
ImportsExports
Imports
$419KYoY · free account
Exports
$43.8MYoY · free account
12-mo low · imports
Low · free accountOver the twelve months to August 2026, the U.S. imported $6.9M of High-Purity Sponge Iron and Other Spongy Ferrous Products (≥99.94% Fe) and exported $405.1M.
Through August 2026. Source: U.S. Census Bureau.
Exports · August 2026
destination
Italy and Canada together take 75% of it.
customs district
origin
entry
rate provision · imports
76.8% enters free of duty; duty collected equals 5.79% of imports for consumption.