When Are Melt and Pour or Smelt and Cast Details Required for U.S. Shipments?

When shipping certain steel or aluminum products to the United States, U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) may require information about where the metal was originally produced.

For steel, this is generally referred to as the Country of Melt and Pour. For aluminum, customs reporting may require the Country of Smelt and Country of Most Recent Cast.

These requirements support U.S. import reporting and Section 232 trade measures. Providing accurate metal-origin information when required can help prevent customs delays and requests for additional information.

When Are Metal-Origin Details Required?

Metal-origin information may be required when the product's HTS classification is subject to U.S. steel or aluminum reporting requirements or Section 232 measures.

Many covered steel products fall within HTS Chapters 72 and 73, while many aluminum products fall within Chapter 76. However, certain finished or derivative products classified in other chapters can also be covered.

This means that simply containing a steel or aluminum component does not automatically mean a product requires a metal-origin declaration. The applicable HTS code and the product's composition determine whether the requirement applies.

If you're unsure whether your product is affected, confirm the product's HTS classification and metal composition before shipping.

What Information May Be Required?

Steel: Country of Melt and Pour

The Country of Melt and Pour is the country where the raw steel was originally:

1. Melted into a liquid state in a steel-making furnace; and
2. Poured into its first solid form.

This information is commonly available from the manufacturer or on a mill test certificate or material certificate.

Example:
Steel melted and poured in Canada.

Aluminum: Country of Smelt and Most Recent Cast

For covered aluminum products, additional information may be required, including:

• Primary Country of Smelt: Where the largest volume of primary aluminum used in the product was produced.
• Secondary Country of Smelt: Where the second-largest volume of primary aluminum was produced, when applicable.
• Country of Most Recent Cast: Where the aluminum was most recently liquefied by heat and cast into a solid form.

The country of smelt and country of most recent cast may be different from the country where the finished product was manufactured.

If you do not know the metal's origin, confirm the information with your manufacturer or supplier rather than guessing.

Country of Origin Is Different

The Country of Origin of the finished product and the origin of the steel or aluminum are separate pieces of customs information.

For example:

Country of Origin: Canada
Steel: Melted and poured in Canada

A product manufactured in one country can contain steel or aluminum originally produced in another country.

Where to Enter This Information in ShipTime

When creating your international shipment, go to the International Details page and provide a clear description of each product.

If metal-origin information is required for your item, include the applicable details in the Item Description along with an accurate description of the product.

Example Item Description:

Automotive fuel injector. Precision-machined steel component. Steel melted and poured in Canada. Country of origin: Canada.

Providing clear product and metal-origin information helps give the carrier or customs broker the information needed to process the shipment.

What If Additional Documentation Is Requested?

Depending on the product, carrier, and customs requirements, you may also be asked to provide supporting documentation.

This could include:

• A mill test certificate
• A manufacturer's material-origin statement
• A certificate of analysis
• Other documentation confirming where the steel or aluminum was produced

For supported couriers, additional customs documents can be attached to a product from the International Details page using Add Document.

If CBP or the carrier requests information after the shipment has been created, follow the instructions provided and always include the shipment's tracking number when sending supporting information.

Best Practices to Help Avoid Customs Delays

• Confirm your product's correct HTS classification before shipping.
• Ask your manufacturer or supplier for metal-origin information when your product is subject to steel or aluminum requirements.
• Do not assume the Country of Origin is the same as the Country of Melt and Pour or Country of Smelt and Cast.
• Keep supporting material documentation available in case the carrier or CBP requests it.
• Provide detailed and accurate product descriptions instead of broad descriptions such as "parts," "hardware," or "metal items."
• Do not guess the metal's origin if the information is unknown.

Quick Reference

Material	Information That May Be Required
Steel	Country of Melt and Pour
Aluminum	Primary/secondary Country of Smelt and Country of Most Recent Cast
Non-metal goods	Metal-origin information generally does not apply
Finished or mixed-material goods	Depends on the HTS classification and whether the product is covered by current steel or aluminum requirements

Need Help With a U.S. Shipment?

If you're unsure what information to enter in ShipTime or a carrier has requested additional metal-origin documentation, contact our Heroic Support™ team. We can help you review the shipment details and determine what information the carrier is requesting.

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