HS Code 2523
Complete HS code 2523 reference for Egyptian cement + clinker exports — sub-headings 2523.10 (clinker), 2523.21 (white Portland), 2523.29 (other Portland), 2523.30 (aluminous), 2523.90. Trade compliance, MFN duty by destination.
HS heading 2523 covers "Portland cement, aluminous cement, slag cement, supersulphate cement and similar hydraulic cements, whether or not coloured or in the form of clinkers." Egypt is the largest cement exporter in MENA with 30+ million MT/year export surplus.
Market at a glance
| Metric | Value | Source / year |
|---|---|---|
| HS heading | 2523 — Portland, aluminous, slag, supersulphate and similar hydraulic cements, incl. clinker | HS nomenclature |
| Export surplus | 30+ million MT/year, largest cement exporter in MENA | 2026 reference |
| Largest sub-heading | 2523.29 other Portland (CEM I 42.5N / 52.5N, CEM II/A-L, CEM II/B-M, SRC) | 2026 reference |
| Clinker typical | C₃S 60–65 %, C₂S 10–15 %, C₃A 6–9 %, C₄AF 8–10 %, free lime ≤ 1.5 %, LOI ≤ 0.5 %, insoluble residue ≤ 0.8 % | 2026 reference |
| White cement | Fe₂O₃ ≤ 0.4 %, whiteness ≥ 87 Hunter L, ≥ 42.5 MPa | 2026 reference |
| MFN duty — EU / USA / UK | 0 % clinker and Portland | 2026 reference |
| MFN duty — India / China / Brazil / GCC | 0 % clinker; 10 % / 12 % / 4 % TEC / 5 % Portland | 2026 reference |
| MFN duty — ECOWAS / EAC | 5 % clinker, 10 % Portland (ECOWAS CET); 0 % clinker, 25 % Portland (EAC) | 2026 reference |
| Vessel sizes | Handysize 25,000 MT to Panamax 65,000 MT | 2026 reference — vessel size guide |
Sub-headings
| Sub-heading | Coverage | Egyptian product | Annual export volume |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2523.10 | Cement clinker | Portland clinker (65% C₃S) | Major |
| 2523.21 | White Portland cement | EGG White Portland | Niche premium |
| 2523.29 | Other Portland cement | CEM I 42.5N / 52.5N, CEM II/A-L, CEM II/B-M, SRC | Largest category |
| 2523.30 | Aluminous cement | Calcium aluminate (niche) | Limited |
| 2523.90 | Other hydraulic cements | Specialty blends | Niche |
Country-specific extensions
Typical MFN duty rates by destination
| Destination | 2523.10 (clinker) | 2523.29 (Portland) | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| EU | 0% | 0% | EUR.1 preferential applies |
| USA | 0% | 0% | Subject to anti-dumping reviews for select origins |
| UK | 0% | 0% | DCTS Enhanced |
| India | 0% | 10% MFN | Concessional rates available |
| China | 0% | 12% MFN | — |
| Brazil | 4% TEC | 4% TEC | 0% under Egypt-MERCOSUR FTA |
| Saudi Arabia | 5% MFN | 5% MFN | 0% PAFTA |
| Bangladesh | 5% | 5% | Major cement importer |
| Sri Lanka | 5% | 5% | Major importer |
| West Africa (ECOWAS) | 5% CET | 10% CET | High demand zone |
| Ghana | 5% | 10% | |
| Nigeria | 5% | 10% | |
| Côte d'Ivoire | 5% | 10% | |
| Senegal | 5% | 10% | |
| East Africa (EAC) | 0% | 25% MFN | Most volume goes to clinker for local grinding |
| Kenya | 0% | 25% | |
| Tanzania | 0% | 25% | |
| Mozambique | 5% | 10% | |
| Yemen | 5% | 5% |
Egyptian cement specs by sub-code
2523.10 — Cement Clinker
Egyptian Portland clinker typical:
- C₃S (alite): 60-65%
- C₂S (belite): 10-15%
- C₃A (aluminate): 6-9%
- C₄AF (ferrite): 8-10%
- Free lime: ≤ 1.5%
- Loss on ignition: ≤ 0.5%
- Insoluble residue: ≤ 0.8%
- Vessel sizes: Handysize 25,000 MT → Panamax 65,000 MT typical
2523.29 — Other Portland Cement
| Grade | Standard | NaOH-equivalent | Typical 28-day MPa |
|---|---|---|---|
| CEM I 42.5 N | EN 197-1 | ≤ 0.6% Na₂O eq. | 42.5-52.5 |
| CEM I 42.5 R | EN 197-1 | ≤ 0.6% | 42.5-52.5 (rapid hardening) |
| CEM I 52.5 N | EN 197-1 | ≤ 0.6% | 52.5-62.5 |
| CEM II/A-L 42.5N (with 6-20% limestone) | EN 197-1 | ≤ 0.6% | 42.5-52.5 |
| CEM II/B-L 32.5N (with 21-35% limestone) | EN 197-1 | ≤ 0.6% | 32.5-42.5 |
| CEM II/A-V (with fly ash) | EN 197-1 | ≤ 0.6% | 42.5+ |
| SRC (Sulphate Resistant) | EN 197-1 / ASTM C150 Type V | C₃A ≤ 5% | 32.5-42.5 |
2523.21 — White Portland Cement
- Iron Fe₂O₃ ≤ 0.4%
- High whiteness index (≥ 87 on Hunter L scale)
- 28-day MPa: ≥ 42.5
- ASTM C150 White Type I or II
- Premium architectural + decorative use
Supply options from EGG
| Product | Grade / spec headline | HS sub-code | MOQ |
|---|---|---|---|
| Portland clinker 65 % C₃S | Blaine ≥ 310 m²/kg | 2523.10 | 1,000 MT |
| CEM I 42.5N | 28-day 42.5–62.5 MPa, SO₃ ≤ 3.5 % | 2523.29 | 5,000 MT |
| CEM I 52.5N · CEM I 52.5N (legacy listing) | 28-day ≥ 52.5 MPa | 2523.29 | 1,000–3,000 MT |
| CEM II / B-M (S-LL) 42.5N | Slag 21–35 %, limestone 6–20 % | 2523.29 | 3,000 MT |
| SRC sulphate resistant | C₃A ≤ 3.5 %, SO₃ ≤ 2.3 % | 2523.29 | 3,000 MT |
| CEM IV / B (P) 32.5N | Pozzolana 36–55 % | 2523.29 | 3,000 MT |
| White Portland cement | Fe₂O₃ ≤ 0.5 %, whiteness ≥ 85 % | 2523.21 | 250 MT |
| Oilwell cement Class G | API Spec 10A HSR | 2523.29 | 1,000 MT |
| EN 197-1 · ASTM C150 · construction applications | — | — | — |
Documentation per cement shipment
- Commercial Invoice (USD-denominated typical)
- Packing List
- Bill of Lading (3/3 originals)
- Certificate of Origin (preferential where applicable — EUR.1, PAFTA)
- Mill Test Certificate (MTC) per ASTM C114 chemical + ASTM C109 strength
- Declaration of Performance (DoP) for CE-marked product (EU)
- AASHTO M-85 acceptance letter for US state highway projects
- BIS conformity for India (IS 269/8112)
- SDS per OSHA/CLP HazCom in destination language
- ISCC + sustainability statement (some EU buyers)
- Third-party pre-shipment inspection (TÜV Austria / SGS / Intertek / Bureau Veritas) — buyer option
QA and reliability
Egypt Globe Group positions itself as your verified, long-term supply-chain ally: incorporated 2014 with an internal Quality Assurance division at its nucleus, ISO 9001:2015 across all divisions, and uncompromising QA verification from extraction to destination port. Every lot is tested at the loading-port laboratory and the Certificate of Analysis or Mill Test Certificate is issued before the Bill of Lading; lots outside specification are rejected at the loading port, never re-graded or renegotiated. Independent inspection by TÜV Austria, SGS, Intertek or Bureau Veritas (all ISO/IEC 17020 + 17025) is available on every shipment, laycans are run with documented NOR / SOF, and the specification is guaranteed at the port of loading under the sales contract — see inspection & quality control, trade documentation and quality & compliance. The Mill Test Certificate (ASTM C114 chemistry, ASTM C109 / EN 196-1 strength) is issued per lot before B/L and ties to the declared sub-code, the CE Declaration of Performance or BIS conformity, and the preferential origin certificate.
Cement & Clinker market brief (HS 2523.29 deep dive) →
Browse cement catalog →
Egyptian construction materials overview →
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