2505

Analysis

Heading 2505 of the Harmonized Tariff Schedule covers natural sands of all kinds, whether or not colored, other than metalbearing sands of chapter 26. It divides into 2 six-digit subheadings and 3 eight-digit tariff lines, with 3 ten-digit statistical suffixes below them.

Every one of its 3 tariff lines is duty-free at the general rate, so classification within the heading affects statistics and Chapter 99 measures rather than the base duty.

The largest subheadings are 2505.10 (silica sands and quartz sands, 2 lines) and 2505.90 (unnamed, 1 line).

By Census's concordance, most of its statistical lines are made by Industrial Sand Mining (212322). Those are the NAICS industries a US producer of these goods would report under.

Its median rate of duty-free sits at the 46th percentile of the headings in chapter 25.

The heading text decides whether a product belongs here at all (General Rule of Interpretation 1); the subheadings and lines below it only apply once that is settled. Section and chapter notes can override the heading wording, so read them for borderline goods.