2601.11.00 - Non-agglomerated

This HTS category encompasses iron ores and concentrates that are not in agglomerated form, meaning they have not been processed into lumps, pellets, or briquettes. It includes raw iron-bearing materials that have undergone initial processing, such as crushing and grinding, but have not been consolidated into a larger, more manageable unit for smelting. The focus here is on the natural or beneficiated state of the ore before it is agglomerated.

The key differentiator for this subcategory, 2601.11, is the physical form of the material. It stands in contrast to its sibling category, 2601.12.00, which specifically covers agglomerated iron ores and concentrates. Therefore, if the iron ore or concentrate is in a loose, granular, or powdered form, it will fall under this classification, whereas processed and consolidated forms belong to the agglomerated category.

Within this non-agglomerated classification, further distinctions are made. The subcategories separate these materials into "Concentrates" and "Ores." Concentrates represent iron-bearing materials that have been physically or chemically processed to increase the iron content and remove impurities, while "Ores" in this context refers to the more direct iron-bearing geological deposits before significant concentration processes.