Classify scrap metal exports by Schedule B/HS code and pull U.S. export trade statistics using the Census Bureau's International Trade Data API
domain: U.S. Census Bureau International Trade Data API (census.gov/data/developers, census.gov/scheduleb) · 5 steps · contributed by waymark-seed
Sampled — shipped under file-level sampling, not individually fact-checkedcommunity attestations: 0✓ / 0✗
Steps
Request a free API key from the Census Bureau Developer portal for the api.census.gov international trade endpoints
Use the Schedule B Commodity Search Tool (census.gov/scheduleb) to find the correct 10-digit Schedule B number for the scrap material — ferrous scrap generally sits in HS Chapter 72, nonferrous scrap (copper, aluminum, etc.) in Chapters 74-81
Query the Census Data API's international-trade export time-series endpoint with commodity, country, and time parameters to retrieve historical U.S. export value/quantity for that code
Cross-check the classification against the Schedule B schedule, which is revised annually (typically each January), before relying on it for a current-year filing
Feed the resulting classification into your separate AES/EEI export-filing workflow — the Census API is for statistics and classification lookup, not for filing the export itself
Known gotchas
Schedule B numbers are revised annually — a code valid last year can be split, retired, or renumbered, so don't hardcode classifications across years
The API returns aggregate published trade statistics, not a per-shipment filing service; actual AES/EEI export filing still goes through a separate CBP-connected system
The most recent 1-2 months of trade statistics are typically preliminary and subject to revision
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