Steel ships by ocean. Sheets, plates, bars and bundled steel go in FCL containers, oversized or awkward pieces go on flat-racks or open-tops, and large volumes of coils, billets or structural steel go on breakbulk vessels. The risks to plan for are weight, rust, scratches and bending. For a US import, you need a certificate of origin, a mill test certificate (MTC) is sometimes requested, and safeguard duties may apply depending on origin and steel type.
Overview
Steel cargo covers coils, sheets, plates, pipes, bars, rods, billets and structural sections. It is extremely dense, it rusts when it gets wet, and it bends or scratches if it is handled badly. A safe shipment needs the right handling equipment, a clean loading surface, a weight distribution plan and rust protection.
Steel Product Categories
Each category differs in density, surface finish and packing needs.
Flat Steel Products
Coils, sheets and plates, hot-rolled or cold-rolled
Long Steel Products
Bars, rods, rebar, angles, channels and beams
Pipes & Tubes
Welded pipes, seamless tubes and structural hollow sections
Semi-Finished Steel
Billets, blooms and slabs
Shipping steel?
Get a quoteHow Steel Gets Damaged, and How to Prevent It
Most steel cargo claims come from rust, surface scratches, deformation and poor weight distribution. Here is what causes each problem and how to pack against it.
Steel is extremely dense. Handled badly, it can damage the container floor or throw the load off balance.
- Mark the weight clearly on every bundle
- Use forklifts, coil rams or cranes suited to the product
- Spread the weight evenly across the container floor
- Cradle coils so they never point-load the floor
Steel corrodes quickly in moisture, salt air or condensation.
- Apply rust-preventive oil where appropriate
- Wrap in VCI (vapor corrosion inhibitor) film, kraft paper or plastic covers
- Add desiccants on long sea routes
- Keep steel away from the container walls
Steel surfaces scratch easily, and sharp edges can damage packaging or other cargo.
- Put separators between sheets
- Fit corner protectors and edge guards
- Strap bundles securely
- Avoid metal-to-metal contact where you can
Bars, pipes and structural sections bend if they are unsupported or stacked badly.
- Support loads with timber or steel cradles
- Secure long items so they cannot roll
- Never stack heavy bundles on lighter ones
- Lift long loads with spreader bars
Mud, grease or debris can affect the steel grade and later finishing work.
- Load onto clean surfaces
- Cover with tarps or wraps
- Do not load alongside contaminants such as fertilizers or chemicals
Documents for a Steel Shipment
Alongside the standard documents, industrial-grade steel often needs a mill test certificate (MTC).
| Document | Why It Matters |
|---|---|
| Commercial Invoice & Packing List | Lists the steel grade, thickness, weight and HS code |
| Certificate of Origin | Confirms the country of manufacture; needed for customs and duty programs |
| Mill Test Certificate (MTC) | Confirms the chemical composition and mechanical properties |
| Packing declaration | Describes the bundling, wrapping and dunnage used |
| SDS (only if chemically treated) | Required when rust-preventive chemicals or oils are classed as regulated |
Customs Rules by Destination
Clearance for steel often turns on its grade and country of origin.
- Certificate of origin (COO) required
- Safeguard duties may apply, depending on origin and steel type
- Mill test certificate (MTC) sometimes requested
- Certificate of origin required
- Anti-dumping rules may apply to certain grades
- Certificate of origin mandatory
- Structural steel is often checked for compliance and markings
Choosing a Container or Vessel for Steel
Match the equipment to the size and volume of your steel, then plan the load so nothing shifts.
| Mode | Best For | |
|---|---|---|
| FCL | Sheets, plates, bars and bundled steel | - |
| Flat-rack | Oversized or heavy steel structures | - |
| Open-top | Tall or awkwardly shaped steel loads | - |
| Breakbulk vessels | Large volumes of coils, billets or structural steel | - |
Shipping steel?
Get a quoteHS Codes for Steel Products
| HS Code | Description |
|---|---|
| 7208–7212 | Flat-rolled steel sheets and plates |
| 7213 / 7214 | Steel bars and rods |
| 7306 | Steel pipes and tubes |
| 7207 | Billets and other semi-finished steel |
These codes are indicative starting points, not a classification. Find the exact 10-digit line for your product in the HTS Code Finder. Getting the classification right is the importer of record’s legal responsibility.
Classification depends on the product's form, alloy content and finish. Estimate US import duty for these codes with our free tariff simulator.
Steel Shipping FAQs
No. You need one if the steel is for industrial, structural or fabrication use. Consumer goods don't always need one.
Yes, as long as they sit in coil cradles that stop them rolling and protect the container floor.
No, unless it is packed with wooden dunnage or crating that must comply with ISPM-15.
Rust, surface scratches, deformation and poor weight distribution. The damage section above shows how to prevent each one.
Shipping terms in this guide:Commercial InvoicePacking ListHarmonized System Code (HS Code)Certificate of Origin (COO)Full Container Load (FCL)Flat Rack Container
U.S. import duty on Steel Logistics by country of origin
Total duty on the highest-value tariff lines in this category, by country of origin, calculated with our tariff engine and U.S. Census import values. Each page breaks down the duty components, how the rate has changed by entry date, and the landed-cost math.
- Nonalloy pig iron from Brazil
- Articles of iron or steel from China
- Semifinished products of iron or nonalloy steel from Brazil
- Stainless steel kitchenware from China
- Self-tapping screws from Taiwan
- Alloy steel in ingots or other primary forms from Brazil
- Articles of iron or steel from India
- Articles of iron or steel from Vietnam
- Grooved-end fittings from China
- Steel flanges from India
- Articles of iron or steel from Taiwan
- Iron or steel kitchenware from China
- Stainless steel flanges from India
- Stainless steel kitchenware from India
- Articles of iron or steel from Thailand
- Stainless steel pipe fittings from China
57 more in this group. Rates are our tariff engine's total for a commercial entry today. Open a page for the duty lines behind a rate and how it changed by entry date, browse all import duty pages, or price your own shipment.
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