HEADING 72.03 - FERROUS PRODUCTS OBTAINED BY DIRECT REDUCTION OF IRON ORE AND OTHER SPONGY FERROUS PRODUCTS IN LUMPS PELLETS OR SIMILAR FORMS; IRON HAVING A MINIMUM PURITY BY WEIGHT OF 99.94 % IN LUMPS PELLETS OR SIMILAR FORMS.

14 COMMODITIES

7203.10 - Ferrous products obtained by direct reduction of iron ore

7203.90 - Other

This heading covers ferrous products produced by reducing the ore without fusion (see the General Explanatory Notes to this Chapter Part (I) - (B). These products are obtained from ore in lumps or in granules or from concentrated ore in the form of briquettes or pellets. They usually contain more than 80 % by weight of metallic iron and have a spongy structure (sponge iron). They are used in the manufacture of steel.

The products of this heading in the form of briquettes or pellets should not be confused with those consisting of concentrated ores of heading 26.01; the former differ from the latter notably by the shiny appearance of their cut surface.

Ferrous products obtained by direct reduction are easily differentiated from other spongy ferrous products (obtained from molten pig iron by the atomisation technique) by the fact that the former has a rough and porous surface whereas the latter has a rounded surface showing clearly that it has gone through the molten state.

The heading also covers very pure iron (i.e. iron having an impurity content not exceeding 0.06 %). This iron used in research laboratories and by certain branches of the iron-working industry (e.g. in powder metallurgy) is a good diluent for metals.

The heading also excludes steel wool etc. sometimes known as " steel sponge " (heading 73.23).