2610.00.00 - Chromium ores and concentrates

Category 2610.00.00 specifically classifies chromium ores and their concentrates. This classification encompasses all raw or partially processed forms of chromium-bearing minerals, as well as materials derived from such ores that retain their essential mineral character and are intended for further metallurgical processing to extract chromium. The emphasis is on the mineral content and its unrefined or semi-refined state.

Unlike sibling categories within Section V that cover other mineral products such as precious metals, base metals, or non-metallic mineral manufactures, 2610.00.00 is exclusively dedicated to chromium-bearing geological materials. It is distinct from processed chromium metal (Chapter 81) or compounds derived from chromium (Chapter 28), which have undergone significant chemical or physical transformations beyond concentration.

This category is further subdivided based on the chromium content expressed as chromic oxide (Cr2O3). The subcategories, 2610.00.00.20, 2610.00.00.40, and 2610.00.00.60, differentiate between ores and concentrates with low, medium, and high percentages of chromic oxide, respectively. These distinctions are crucial for trade statistics and potentially for duty calculations, reflecting the economic value and suitability for different industrial applications of the chromium ore based on its concentration.