What project owners need to know.
HS 2506 is the customs heading for quartz (other than natural sands) and quartzite, split into 2506 10 for quartz and 2506 20 for quartzite. It does not separate high-purity quartz from ordinary lump or grit quartz, so India's HS 2506 import totals cannot by themselves tell you how much crucible-grade HPQ the country buys; finished fused-quartz crucibles also sit under different glass headings.
What HS 2506 covers, and what it does not
The Harmonized System places quartz under Chapter 25, which covers salt, sulphur, earths, stone and other mineral products. Heading 2506 covers quartz other than natural sands, and quartzite. In India it is split into 2506 10 for quartz and 2506 20 for quartzite, with further 8-digit lines in the national tariff.
Three things sit elsewhere. Natural silica and quartz sands fall under heading 2505. Fused quartz products, such as tubes and rods, fall under 7002, and other articles of fused silica, which is where finished crucibles typically land, fall under 7020. Silicon itself is 2804, and doped silicon ingots and wafers are usually classified under 3818. A reader who adds up only 2506 is therefore counting raw rock, not the purified material or the finished crucible that an ingot plant actually consumes.
- 2505: natural silica and quartz sands
- 2506: quartz (lump) and quartzite
- 7002 / 7020: fused quartz tubes, rods and other fused-silica articles, typically including crucibles
- 2804 / 3818: silicon, and doped silicon ingots and wafers
Where the official numbers live
The Department of Commerce's TradeStat Export Import Data Bank publishes India's merchandise trade compiled by DGCI&S, Kolkata. It offers annual data from 1997-98 and monthly data from January 2007, with quantities and values at the 8-digit commodity level and a country-wise breakdown. It is the most direct public source for HS 2506 import volumes.
For the domestic side, the Indian Bureau of Mines publishes an Indian Minerals Yearbook chapter titled 'Quartz & Other Silica Minerals', which covers reserves, production, uses and trade. For the global context, the US Geological Survey's Mineral Commodity Summaries 2026 carries a dedicated chapter on high-purity and cultured quartz.
- TradeStat (Department of Commerce, DGCI&S data): imports by HS code, country and month
- Indian Bureau of Mines: Indian Minerals Yearbook, 'Quartz & Other Silica Minerals'
- USGS Mineral Commodity Summaries 2026: Quartz (high-purity and industrial cultured crystal)
Why raw trade totals mislead
Most quartz traded under HS 2506 serves glass, ceramics, foundry, ferro-silicon and engineered-stone uses, where purity in the 98 to 99.5 percent range is normal. Crucible-grade high-purity quartz is a different product: it must clear very low limits on aluminium, titanium, iron and alkali metals after processing, and only a small share of mined quartz can be refined to that level.
Because the customs code does not record purity, a large import tonnage can coexist with a shortage of genuine HPQ, and a small tonnage can carry most of the value. Unit value (rupees per tonne) is often a better first signal than volume: a shipment priced far above typical lump quartz is more likely to be processed high-purity material. Even then, unit value is an inference, not proof of grade.
What crucible makers and ingot plants actually need
India's July 2026 Minerals (Evidence of Mineral Contents) amendment, notified as G.S.R. 567(E), defines high-purity quartz as SiO₂ above 99.99 percent with total impurities below 50 ppm. Crucible and semiconductor users often specify tighter element-by-element limits than that legal threshold, so the useful question for a buyer is the impurity profile of each lot, not the headline silica percentage.
USGS notes that demand for high-purity quartz is rising with silicon ingot production for solar and semiconductor wafers, and that fused-quartz crucibles are one of its main uses. As India builds ingot capacity ahead of ALMM List-III, that link makes trade data on quartz, fused silica and crucibles worth tracking together rather than in isolation.
- Ask for ICP-based impurity reports by element (Al, Ti, Fe, Na, K, Li, Ca)
- Ask for lot traceability from ore source to processed sand
- Ask whether the material has been qualified for crucible fusion, not only chemistry
A method for estimating HPQ imports, with its limits
There is no reliable public figure for India's high-purity quartz import share, and this guide does not invent one. A defensible estimate would pull HS 2506 and the fused-silica lines from TradeStat for the same period, separate shipments by country of origin and unit value, and cross-check against known HPQ-producing regions. Every assumption should be written down next to the result.
Two cautions apply. Some high-purity material is imported already converted into crucibles or tubes, so it never appears under 2506. And 8-digit sub-lines vary between tariff editions, so confirm the current Indian Customs Tariff schedule for Chapter 25 and Chapter 70 before relying on a specific code.
How JRST supports this requirement
JRST works on the quartz-to-ingot link: high-purity quartz sand processing, crucible supply coordination and Maharashtra's first silicon-ingot line in Nagpur. We help project teams think about quartz grade, traceability and qualification alongside equipment. This guide explains public data sources and classification as of the date shown. Tariff lines and data availability can change; confirm codes against the current Indian Customs Tariff and figures against the official source before making a procurement or investment decision.
Discuss your requirement
Mohammed Saif Zaveri connects JRST's industrial content to execution conversations.
As Co-Founder and designated partner of JRST Technology LLP, Mohammed Saif Zaveri works across industrial growth, strategic partnerships, client conversations, equipment strategy, and project pathways for silicon, solar, semiconductor, and advanced-manufacturing opportunities.
This knowledge page is part of JRST's public industrial knowledge base, designed to help buyers move from search terms and early research toward a structured technical-commercial discussion.
View Mohammed Saif Zaveri's profileConnect on LinkedInFrequently asked questions
What is HS code 2506?
HS 2506 is the customs heading for quartz (other than natural sands) and quartzite. 2506 10 covers quartz and 2506 20 covers quartzite.
Is high-purity quartz tracked separately in Indian customs data?
No. HS 2506 does not record purity, so high-purity quartz and ordinary lump or grit quartz are reported together. Finished fused-quartz crucibles are typically classified under glass headings such as 7020.
Where can I find India's quartz import numbers?
The Department of Commerce's TradeStat Export Import Data Bank publishes DGCI&S import data by HS code, country and month. The Indian Bureau of Mines' Indian Minerals Yearbook chapter on quartz and other silica minerals adds production and trade context.
What is India's legal definition of high-purity quartz?
The Minerals (Evidence of Mineral Contents) amendment notified in July 2026 defines high-purity quartz as SiO₂ above 99.99 percent with total impurities below 50 ppm.
Why is crucible-grade quartz harder to source than ordinary quartz?
Crucibles need very low levels of specific trace metals after processing, and only a small share of mined quartz can be refined to that level. Purity, consistency and lot traceability matter more than tonnage.
Primary sources and further reading
Last reviewed 2026-10-20. Technical scope, policy eligibility, availability, and commercial terms should be independently confirmed for each project.