I. Understanding Metallic Minerals
Metallic minerals are naturally occurring mineral resources from which one or more metallic elements, whether in their elemental or compound form, can be economically extracted through industrial processes including mining, ore beneficiation, and smelting.
II. Classifying Metallic Minerals
These minerals are categorized into two broad groups based on their metallic properties and industrial applications - ferrous metallic minerals and non-ferrous metallic minerals.
(I) Ferrous Metallic Minerals: this category encompasses ores such as iron, manganese, and chromium.
(II) Non-ferrous Metallic Minerals: these are further divided into heavy nonferrous metals, light nonferrous metals, precious metals, and rare metals, among others.
Heavy nonferrous metals include fundamental industrial metals like copper, lead, and zinc, along with strategically significant minerals for China such as tungsten, tin, and antimony.
Light nonferrous metals, primarily aluminum and magnesium, are essential across modern industrial and healthcare sectors.
Precious metals, which comprise gold, silver, and platinum group metals, are prized for their scarcity and value, serving as both key monetary reserves and critical components in cutting-edge fields like catalysts and electronics.
Rare metals are principally deployed in high-tech sectors.Notable examples include lithium and cobalt as core components of power batteries, zirconium for nuclear energy applications, as well as niobium and tantalum, which are critical for aerospace and high-end electronics.
III. Profiling Key Metallic Minerals
(I) Iron Ore
There is a wide variety of iron ores, encompassing over 300 types of iron-bearing minerals, of which more than 170 are regularly identified in nature.Among these commonly identified varieties, major types include magnetite, hematite, maghemite, ilmenite, limonite, and siderite. The primary use of iron ore is in steelmaking - converted through ironmaking and steelmaking processes into various forms of steel that are widely used in machinery manufacturing, bridge construction, real estate, automotive industries, and more, making it an essential raw material for infrastructure construction.
Pursuant to the Import and Export Tariff of the People's Republic of China, iron ore is classified under Chapter 26 “Ores, Slag and Ash”. Specific codes are assigned based on processing status: non-agglomerated iron ore (2601.1100-2601.1900) and agglomerated iron ore (2601.1200). The tariff is generally 0% (for certain codes), and declarations must include key metrics such as iron grade and impurity content.
(II) Manganese Ore
Manganese ore is primarily composed of minerals such as rhodochrosite and pyrolusite, and exhibits a distinct dark metallic luster. Typical manganese content ranges from 35 percent to 55 percent, with common impurities including iron, silicon, and calcium. It serves mainly as an alloying element in steelmaking, where it significantly enhances strength, wear resistance, and corrosion resistance, making it a key raw material for producing high-strength and stainless steels. Beyond metallurgy, manganese compounds are used in drycells and alkaline batteries to improve capacity and service life, and are also employed in the chemical industry for products such as bleaching agents, colorants, and catalysts.
Pursuant to the Import and Export Tariff of the People's Republic of China, manganese ore falls under Chapter 26 with specific code 2602.0000 (manganese ores and concentrates). The import duty is 0%, and declarations must indicate manganese grade, moisture content, and particle size specifications.
(III) Chromium Ore
Chromium does not occur in its free metallic state in nature, with chromite being the primary ore containing this element. While pure chromium is too brittle for standalone structural use, it serves as a crucial alloying element when combined with metals such as iron, cobalt, nickel, tungsten, titanium, aluminum, and copper. These alloys yield engineered materials with exceptional heat resistance, thermal strength, wear resistance, and other specialized properties, making them suitable for stainless steel, acid-resistant steel, heat-resistant steel, ball bearing steel, spring steel, tool steel, and similar high-performance applications.
Pursuant to the Import and Export Tariff of the People's Republic of China, chromium ore is classified under code 2610.0000 (chromium ores and concentrates). A declaration under this categorymust include a full breakdown of composition, including silica content, and be supported by a certificate of origin.
(IV) Aluminum Ore
Aluminum ore, most commonly referred to as bauxite, is primarily composed of minerals such as hydrated aluminum oxide. With its color ranges from light brown to white, aluminum oreis found in a range of structures, from blocky and powdery to fragmental. In addition, its aluminum content ranges from 30 percent to 60 percent, along with impurities such as iron, silicon, and titanium. Valued for its light weight and excellent corrosion resistance, aluminum is extensively used in industries like aerospace, automotive manufacturing, and construction - for applications ranging from aircraft components and automotive body partsto aluminum doors and windows.
Pursuant to the Import and Export Tariff of the People's Republic of China, aluminum ore is classified under code 2606.0000 (bauxite). A declaration under this category must include a full breakdown of composition, including alumina content and impurity indices such as silica levels, and be supported by documentation of the mining method employed.
IV. Navigating On-Site Customs Checks for Imported Minerals
In recent years, the General Administration of Customshas continuously worked to improve the port business environment, enhance regulatory efficiency, and support foreign trade growth. As part of these efforts, it has introduced specific measures for imported mineral products, including “conditionalrelease”and “quality inspection upon request”.
According to theAnnouncement of the General Administration of Customs on Further Optimizing the Entry Supervision Modeof Imported Goods by Stages (Announcement No. 42 [2025] of the General Administration of Customs of the People’s Republic of China), eligible goods that require port inspection and are listed on the List of Goods Eligible for Conditional Release may be transferred out of the Customs surveillance zone at the port of entry upon Customs approval, provided that the results of all inspection items other than sampling show no abnormalities, the laboratory results of the sampled items are still pending, and the consignee or their agent has applied for conditional release with a commitment not to sell or use the goods until qualified test results are obtained.
Pursuant to the Announcement of the General Administration of Customs on Adjusting the Methods of Inspection and Supervision of Imported Iron Ores (Announcement No.69 [2020] of the General Administration of Customsof the People’s Republic of China), the quality inspection of imported iron ore is conducted on a request-only basis. This means that if the consignee or their agent requires an official quality certificate for the imported iron ore, they must select the "one-off finalized declaration" mode and check the "Quality Certificate" box during Customs declaration.This triggers a formal on-site inspection and quarantine by Customs. A successful outcome initiates the subsequent steps of sample collection, laboratory testing, and finally, the issuance of the quality certificate.Where no quality certificate is sought by the consignee or their agent, Customs will grant full clearance immediately after the imported iron ore passes on-site inspection and quarantine. (By Shao Jingchen)
Disclaimer：The above content is translated from Chinese version of China Inspection and Quarantine Times. The China Inspection and Quarantine Times version shall prevail.
