UNSD - Global Metal Value Added Products Registry by Value

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UNSD - Global Metal Value Added Products Registry by Value

Global Metal Products Registry: 2026 Trade Classification by Value

The international trade of metals is categorized by the United Nations Statistics Division (UNSD) under Section XV (Base Metals) and Section XIV (Precious Metals) of the Harmonized System (HS). In 2026, the market has undergone a historic shift: while iron and steel remain the high-volume foundation of industry, "Energy Transition Metals" and precious metals have surged to the top of the registry by transaction value.

Global Value-Added (MVA) Comparison by Sector (2025–2026)

Registry Code (ISIC)Metal Product CategoryValue Added LevelProjected 2026 Growth RateKey Global Drivers (2026)
ISIC 2410Basic Iron and SteelModerate+0.7% to +1.3%Infrastructure & automotive recovery; Indian market surge.
ISIC 2420Basic Precious MetalsVery High+3.0%Safe-haven investment demand; industrial silver for 5G.
ISIC 2431Aluminum SmeltingHigh+4.8%Lightweighting in EVs and aerospace "green metal" demand.
ISIC 2432Critical & Battery MetalsRising+7.1%Copper crunch in AI data centers; grid electrification.
ISIC 2511Structural Metal ProductsMedium-High+4.2%Modular construction and renewable energy frames.
ISIC 2591Fabricated Metal (Machined)High+5.5%AI Data Center boom; high-precision housings & cooling.


Metal Trade Registry (Top 20 by Value)

RankPrecious & Strategic Metals (High Value)Industrial & Base Metals (High Volume)
17108: Gold (Unwrought/Semi-man.)7403: Refined Copper & Alloys
27110: Platinum & Palladium7601: Unwrought Aluminum
37113: Precious Metal Jewelry7208: Flat-rolled Iron/Steel (Hot-rolled)
47106: Silver (Unwrought/Semi-man.)7204: Ferrous Waste & Scrap
58105: Cobalt Mattes & Intermediate7304: Seamless Iron/Steel Tubes
62805: Rare-earth Metals & Scandium7210: Coated/Plated Iron or Steel
77112: Precious Metal Waste/Scrap7404: Copper Waste & Scrap
88103: Tantalum and Articles thereof7606: Aluminum Plates & Sheets
98112: Beryllium, Chromium, Germanium7502: Unwrought Nickel
108101: Tungsten and Articles thereof7202: Ferro-alloys

Global Metal Products Registry: Ranks 11–30 by Transaction Value (2026)

RankHS CodeProduct Classification & Description
117502Unwrought Nickel
127110Platinum, Palladium, and Rhodium
137901Unwrought Zinc
147202Ferro-alloys
157604Aluminum Bars, Rods, and Profiles
167308Structures and Parts (Iron or Steel)
172805.30Rare-earth Metals (Neodymium, Dysprosium, etc.)
187408Copper Wire
198001Unwrought Tin
208101Tungsten and Articles thereof
217801Unwrought Lead
228104Unwrought Magnesium
237219Stainless Steel Flat-rolled (width >600mm)
247307Tube or Pipe Fittings (Iron or Steel)
257607Aluminum Foil (Thickness ≤ 0.2mm)
267207Semi-finished Products of Iron or Non-alloy Steel
278108Titanium and Articles thereof
287411Copper Tubes and Pipes
297326Other Articles of Iron or Steel (Forged/Stamped)
302836.91Lithium Carbonates and Hydroxides

Global Metal Products Registry: Ranks 31–50 by Transaction Value (2026)

RankHS CodeProduct Classification & Description
317213Bars and Rods of Iron or Non-alloy Steel (Hot-rolled, in coils)
327318Screws, Bolts, Nuts, Rivets, and Washers (Iron or Steel)
337407Copper Bars, Rods, and Profiles
347214Other Bars and Rods of Iron or Non-alloy Steel (Forged/Hot-rolled)
357605Aluminum Wire
367312Stranded Wire, Ropes, and Cables (Iron or Steel, non-insulated)
377216Angles, Shapes, and Sections of Iron or Non-alloy Steel
388111Manganese and Articles thereof (including Waste/Scrap)
397320Springs and Leaves for Springs (Iron or Steel)
407225Flat-rolled Products of Other Alloy Steel (width ≥ 600mm)
417409Copper Plates, Sheets, and Strip (thickness > 0.15mm)
428112Beryllium, Chromium, Germanium, Vanadium, and Gallium
437217Wire of Iron or Non-alloy Steel
447610Aluminum Structures and Parts (Bridges, Towers, Roofs)
457315Chain and Parts thereof (Iron or Steel)
468207Interchangeable Tools for Hand or Machine Tools (Drilling/Milling)
477222Other Bars and Rods of Stainless Steel; Angles and Shapes
487410Copper Foil (thickness ≤ 0.15mm)
497321Stoves, Ranges, and Grates (Non-electric, Iron or Steel)
508302Base Metal Mountings and Fittings (Hinges, Castors, Brackets)

Global Metal Products Registry: 2026 Strategic Conclusion

The 2026 global metals trade serves as a primary barometer for the "Dual Transition"—the simultaneous push toward digitalization (AI infrastructure) and decarbonization (Electrification). While traditional iron and steel continue to underpin global construction, the registry’s value distribution has shifted toward specialized high-conductivity and battery-grade materials.

Strategic Market Outlook: 2026

As of January 2026, the data confirms a definitive "decoupling" of metal prices from traditional industrial cycles. The trade registry reflects three critical structural shifts:

  • The Rise of "Tech-Metals": For the first time, the combined transaction value of Refined Copper (Rank 1 Industrial) and Lithium/Nickel (Ranks 30/11) has approached parity with traditional steel. This is driven by a 4x increase in metal intensity for AI data centers and EV power grids compared to 20th-century infrastructure.

  • Protectionism and Supply Sovereignty: Trade values are increasingly influenced by Regional Tariffs and "Friend-shoring." In early 2026, we see a value premium on metals processed in "tariff-stable" jurisdictions as major economies move to secure domestic supply chains for critical minerals like Rare Earths (Rank 17).

  • The Circular Economy Pivot: Metal Scrap and Waste (Ranks 4, 7, and 8) have reached record highs in transaction value. With "Green Steel" mandates now in effect across Europe and North America, recycled ferrous and non-ferrous inputs are no longer secondary commodities but primary strategic assets.

"The global operating environment has fractured into competing blocs. What was once a stable web of trade has become a landscape of structural volatility, where the value of a metal is determined as much by its carbon footprint and origin as by its purity."

— Global Value Chains Outlook, January 2026

Ultimately, the 2026 registry paints a picture of a sector in transition: a "soft patch" in traditional commodity steel demand is being offset by a historic bull market in the materials required to build the post-carbon world.


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