U.S. exports of Zinc Ores & Concentrates (HS 260800) totaled $783.6M in August 2026.
Zinc Ores & Concentrates imports of $13.4M in August 2026 ran 143% above the year-to-date monthly average of $5.5M.
Last updated: August 2026 dataZinc concentrates — produced by flotation of sulfide zinc ores — are the primary feedstock for zinc smelters that supply galvanizing, die-casting alloys, and brass production, and the US schedule allocates value across five metal-content lines: lead content (2608000020), zinc content (2608000030), precious metal content (2608000035), silver content (2608000040), and other metal content (2608000055). Ireland and Peru lead US imports under this heading, with Canada, Finland, and China also supplying the market. Silver is frequently a significant co-product credit in zinc concentrates, making accurate assay-based valuation across multiple HTS lines a routine compliance requirement for importers.
AI-written summary of the official U.S. Census Bureau trade figures on this page — verify before relying on it.
26 import shipments a month
Many zinc concentrates carry commercially significant silver grades, and US customs requires that the value attributable to silver be declared separately under 2608000040 rather than aggregated into the zinc-content line. The payable silver value is calculated from the final assay, the applicable silver price participation factor in the offtake contract, and any deductions for treatment charges. Failure to separately declare co-product metal values can result in undervaluation findings.
Zinc sulfide ores commonly contain lead as a co-occurring mineral, and the value of payable lead in the concentrate must be declared under 2608000020 separately from the zinc content line (2608000030). If lead content is below the smelter's payable threshold, it may have no commercial value and need not be separately declared, but importers should document this with the purchase contract terms to support the entry in the event of a CBP inquiry.
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Subheading 1 of 1 in heading 2608
Subheading 260800 · $783.6M of $783.6M
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2608000030 | Zinc Ores and Concentrates, Zinc Content | $12.9M | 0.00% | 0.00% |
| 2608000040 | Zinc Ores and Concentrates, Silver Content | $544K | 0.00% | 0.00% |
| 2608000020 | Zinc Ores and Concentrates, Lead Content | — | -- | -- |
HS10 export codes under this HS6 parent, each with its own page. Source: U.S. Schedule B export classification.
| Code | Description | Export Value |
|---|---|---|
| 2608000030 | Zinc Ores and Concentrates, Zinc Content | $723.8M |
| 2608000035 | Zinc Ores & Concentrates, Precious Metal Content | $49.8M |
| 2608000055 | Zinc Ores and Concentrates, Other Metal Content | $10.0M |
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.
ImportsExports
Imports
$13.4MYoY · free account
Exports
$783.6MYoY · free account
12-mo low · imports
Low · free accountOver the twelve months to August 2026, the U.S. imported $66.0M of Zinc Ores & Concentrates and exported $2.1B.
Through August 2026. Source: U.S. Census Bureau.
Exports · August 2026
destination
Canada and South Korea together take 52% of it.
customs district
origin
entry
rate provision · imports
100.0% enters free of duty; duty collected equals 0.00% of imports for consumption.