HS Code for Petrochemicals (Chapter 29 & 39)
Base petrochemicals - ethylene, propylene, aromatics, methanol - are the feedstock chain between refineries and plastics. Most sit in Chapter 29 as organic chemicals; downstream polymers (PE, PP, PET, PVC) move to Chapter 39.
Sample 6-digit codes
| Code | Description |
|---|---|
| 2901.21 | Ethylene |
| 2901.22 | Propene (propylene) |
| 2902.20 | Benzene |
| 2902.30 | Toluene |
| 2902.43 | p-Xylene (PX) |
| 2902.50 | Styrene |
| 2905.11 | Methanol (methyl alcohol) |
| 2905.31 | Ethylene glycol (MEG) |
| 2917.36 | Purified terephthalic acid (PTA) |
Typical import duty by market
| Market | Duty |
|---|---|
| United States (MFN) | 0% - 6.5% |
| European Union | 0% - 6.5% REACH registration required over 1 MT/year. |
| India (BCD) | 2.5% - 7.5% AD duties on styrene, MEG, PTA from specific origins. |
| China | 1% - 2% 13% VAT on import value. |
| UAE | 0% Zero on most petrochemical feedstocks for local plants. |
Numerical Example: 6,000 MT methanol (HS 2905.11), CIF Kandla USD 2.4 M - Saudi origin
6,000 MT methanol (HS 2905.11), CIF Kandla USD 2.4 M - Saudi origin. Run your own numbers in the Import Duty & Tax calculator.
- · REACH pre-registration for EU import > 1 MT/year.
- · Dual-use export controls: some solvents on EU 2021/821 Annex I, US EAR ECCN 1C350.
- · ADR/IMDG UN 1114 (benzene), UN 1230 (methanol), UN 2055 (styrene).
- · Anti-dumping investigations - India DGTR, US ITC, EU Commission - are frequent on MEG, PTA, styrene.
- · United States
- · Saudi Arabia
- · South Korea
- · Iran
- · Singapore
- · Netherlands
- · China
- · UAE
Frequently asked questions
Chapter 29 covers monomers and defined organic chemicals. Once polymerised (PE, PP, PVC, PET), the product moves to Chapter 39 (plastics in primary forms). PTA remains in Chapter 29 even though it feeds PET production.
AD duties are stacked on top of MFN duty and are origin-specific. On MEG or PTA from named origins, they can add 10-40% and completely change the sourcing decision.
Import duty and tax by destination market
Typical MFN duty, consumption tax and the tax base applied to chemicals (HS 29 & 39) in each market we cover. Rates are indicative at the 6-digit line | confirm the national 8/10-digit code with your broker.
| Market | Duty | Consumption tax | Tax base | Tax as % of CIF |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| India | 5% | IGST 18% | Assessable value + duty | 24.1% |
| United Arab Emirates | 5% | VAT 5% | CIF + duty | 10.3% |
| Saudi Arabia | 5% | VAT 15% | CIF + duty | 20.8% |
| Singapore | 5% | GST 9% | CIF + duty | 14.4% |
| China | 5% | VAT 13% | CIF + duty | 18.6% |
| United States | 5% | Federal VAT 0% | CIF | 5.3% |
| United Kingdom | 5% | VAT 20% | CIF + duty | 26.0% |
| Germany | 5% | USt 19% | CIF + duty | 24.9% |
| Netherlands | 5% | BTW 21% | CIF + duty | 27.1% |
| Vietnam | 5% | VAT 10% | CIF + duty | 15.5% |
| Türkiye | 5% | KDV 20% | CIF + duty | 26.0% |
| Japan | 5% | JCT 10% | CIF + duty | 15.5% |
| South Korea | 5% | VAT 10% | CIF + duty | 15.5% |
| Brazil | 5% | IPI+PIS/COFINS+ICMS 32% | CIF + duty | 38.6% |
| Indonesia | 5% | PPN 11% | CIF + duty | 19.1% |
| Mexico | 5% | IVA 16% | CIF + duty | 22.7% |
| Egypt | 5% | VAT 14% | CIF + duty | 19.7% |
| Nigeria | 5% | VAT 7.5% | CIF + duty | 14.5% |
| South Africa | 5% | VAT 15% | Assessable value + duty | 22.8% |
| Australia | 5% | GST 10% | CIF + duty | 15.5% |
Run your own numbers with the landed cost calculator or check documentation requirements in the LC document checklist.