U.S. imports of Base Metals (NES) Unwrought; Waste, Scrap & Powders (SITC 68998) totaled $47.1M in August 2026, imported from 32 countries.
Importers of Base Metals (NES) Unwrought; Waste, Scrap & Powders paid $2.2M in duties in August 2026, an average duty rate of 4.62% — duty actually collected as a share of the imports that cleared customs, not the published tariff schedule.
Last updated: August 2026 dataUnwrought forms, waste, scrap, and powders of base metals not elsewhere specified — a catch-all classification that captures commercially significant but less common metals such as bismuth, cadmium, cobalt, and indium in their primary or recovered forms. Classification here turns on whether the metal is specifically enumerated elsewhere in the schedule; importers frequently face reclassification disputes when a material straddles this residual heading and a named-metal provision. Scrap and powder forms may trigger additional documentation requirements related to hazardous-material content or export-control regimes depending on the specific metal involved.
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81 import shipments a month
Classification hinges on whether the metal is specifically enumerated in another heading of the schedule. If the metal has its own dedicated provision — as copper, nickel, or zinc do — it cannot be classified here regardless of form. Only metals with no dedicated heading fall into this residual category, making precise chemical identification and purity documentation critical at entry.
Depending on the specific metal, powders may be subject to export-control licensing in the country of origin, hazardous-material transport regulations (IATA/IMDG), and EPA reporting thresholds under TSCA. Importers should verify whether the specific metal powder is listed on any controlled-substance or strategic-material registry before shipment.
Basic heading 129 of 766 in section 6
Basic heading 68998 · $47.1M of $27.0B
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Imports · August 2026
origin
Germany and Canada together supply 52% of it. China pays 17.1% duty; Canada <0.1%.
customs district
Census does not publish district detail for this classification system.
destination
Census does not publish state detail for this classification system.
entry
Census does not publish port detail for this classification system.
ImportsExports
Imports
$47.1MYoY · free account
Exports
$5.7MYoY · free account
12-mo low · imports
Low · free accountOver the twelve months to August 2026, the U.S. imported $430.3M of Base Metals (NES) Unwrought; Waste, Scrap & Powders and exported $95.2M.
Through August 2026. Source: U.S. Census Bureau.