2613 - Molybdenum ores and concentrates:

This HTS category, 2613, encompasses ores and concentrates of molybdenum. Molybdenum is a metallic chemical element with the symbol Mo and atomic number 42, primarily used in alloys to increase strength, hardness, and toughness. The category includes raw, unprocessed or semi-processed forms of molybdenum-bearing minerals that are suitable for smelting and refining to extract the metal. Concentrates typically represent a material where the valuable mineral component has been increased by physical or chemical separation processes.

Unlike sibling categories in Section V, such as those covering other types of ores (e.g., copper, lead, zinc) or mineral fuels, HTS 2613 is specifically dedicated to molybdenum. Its placement within Chapter 26, "Ores, slag and ash," signifies its origin from geological deposits and its primary stage of processing for metallurgical purposes, distinguishing it from finished metal products or manufactured goods containing molybdenum.

Within HTS 2613, two subcategories exist: 2613.10.00.00 for "Roasted" molybdenum ores and concentrates, and 2613.90.00.00 for "Other." Roasting is a specific thermal treatment process often employed to prepare sulfide ores for further processing, such as by converting them into oxides. The "Other" category captures all molybdenum ores and concentrates that have not undergone this roasting treatment, providing a clear distinction based on a significant preparatory processing step.