7201.50.30.00 - Alloy pig iron

This HTS category, 7201.50.30.00, specifically covers alloy pig iron. Alloy pig iron is a type of pig iron that contains significant additions of alloying elements, such as manganese, silicon, chromium, or others, beyond the standard composition of basic pig iron. These additions are intentionally incorporated to impart specific properties to the iron, such as increased strength, hardness, corrosion resistance, or machinability, when it is subsequently melted and cast into finished products.

It is important to distinguish alloy pig iron from its sibling category, spiegeleisen (7201.50.60.00). While both are forms of pig iron with added elements, spiegeleisen is characterized by its high manganese content (typically 15% or more) and is primarily used as a deoxidizer and alloying agent in steelmaking. Alloy pig iron, on the other hand, encompasses a broader range of pig irons with various alloying elements intended to modify its properties for direct use in foundry applications or for alloying in the production of specialized ferrous materials. The key differentiator lies in the specific alloying elements and their intended functional impact on the ferrous material.

As a leaf node, this classification does not have further subdivisions. Therefore, the classification hinges on the presence of intentionally added alloying elements beyond the base composition of pig iron, differentiating it from plain pig iron and specifically from spiegeleisen. Importers and exporters should consult the chemical analysis of the material to confirm the presence and type of alloying elements that define it as "alloy pig iron."