2702 - Lignite, whether or not agglomerated, excluding jet:

HTS 2702 encompasses lignite, a type of coal with a lower carbon content than bituminous coal. This classification includes lignite in its natural state, whether crushed, screened, or otherwise prepared for use, as well as lignite that has been compressed or formed into solid blocks or briquettes for easier handling and burning. Notably, jet, a compact variety of lignite that is often used for ornamental purposes, is specifically excluded from this heading.

As a sub-category within Chapter 27, "Mineral fuels, mineral oils and products of their distillation; bituminous substances; mineral waxes," HTS 2702 stands distinct from the diverse range of other products within Section V. Its siblings, such as live animals (Chapters 01-05), are fundamentally different in their nature and purpose, belonging to entirely separate chapters of the HTS. The focus here is solely on a specific type of solid fuel derived from fossilized organic matter.

Within HTS 2702, two principal subcategories exist to differentiate based on physical form. Subheading 2702.10.00.00 covers lignite that is either pulverized or in other forms but has not been agglomerated. Conversely, subheading 2702.20.00.00 is reserved for agglomerated lignite, meaning lignite that has been processed into a more consolidated, often block or briquette, form. This distinction aids in customs valuation and statistical tracking based on the processing applied to the raw lignite.