Harmonized System
U.S. exports of electrical waste & scrap for precious metal recovery, containing primary cells & batteries (HS 854921) totaled $3.0M in August 2026.
Electrical Waste & Scrap for Precious Metal Recovery, Containing Primary Cells & Batteries imports of $4K in August 2026 ran 97% below the year-to-date monthly average of $116K.
Last updated: August 2026 dataElectronic scrap destined for precious metal recovery — gold, silver, platinum, and palladium — that contains primary cells, batteries, accumulators, mercury switches, or cathode-ray tube glass is classified under a single line, 8549210000. Precious metal recovery from e-scrap is a specialized smelting and refining operation, and the intended end-use (precious metal recovery) is a classification criterion that importers must document. Canada leads US import supply under this heading, followed by Ecuador, Guatemala, Brazil, and Honduras — a supplier mix that reflects both North American e-scrap recycling flows and Latin American mining-adjacent precious metal recovery operations.
AI-written summary of the official U.S. Census Bureau trade figures on this page — verify before relying on it.
1 shipments/mo
CBP expects evidence that the material is consigned to a facility licensed for precious metal recovery, such as a smelter or refinery. Supporting documents may include a purchase contract specifying precious metal content, assay reports, and the receiving facility's operating permits. Without clear documentation of the recovery intent, CBP may reclassify the goods under a different e-scrap heading.
Countries such as Ecuador, Guatemala, Brazil, and Honduras appear in the supplier mix partly because precious metal recovery operations in those regions generate scrap streams — including battery and electronic components — that are exported to US refiners. The composition of these shipments often reflects mining and industrial activity rather than consumer electronics collection alone.
HSChapter 85
Subheading 5 of 11 in heading 8549
Subheading 854921 · $3.0M of $115.1M
Trade Directory
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ImportsExports
Imports
$4KYoY · free account
Exports
$3.0MYoY · free account
12-mo low · imports
YoY · free accountOver the twelve months to August 2026, the U.S. imported $1.0M of Electrical Waste & Scrap for Precious Metal Recovery, Containing Primary Cells & Batteries.
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 | Import Value | Effective Tariff % | Dutiable Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 8549210000 | Waste/Scrap for Prec Met Recov Prim Cells/Batt Etc | $4K | 0.00% | 0.00% |
HS10 export codes under this HS6 parent, each with its own page. Source: U.S. Schedule B export classification.
| Code | Description | Export Value |
|---|---|---|
| 8549210000 | Waste/Scrap for Prec Met Recov Prim Cells/Batt Etc | $3.0M |
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.
Exports · August 2026
destination
Korea, South and Japan together take 100% of it.
customs district
origin
entry
rate provision · imports
100.0% enters free of duty; duty collected equals 0.00% of total import value.