EU Combined Nomenclature · CN code · HS 8901.90
Cargo ships and other goods vessels
✓ Can be used in a customs declaration Data: EU Combined Nomenclature, in force from 1 January 2026 · checked on 24 October 2026
Importing into EU
Charges on top of the customs duty, and rules the goods must meet at the border.
Prohibitions, licences, controls and sanctions that apply when these goods leave the EU.
| Export measures | Destination | Legal act | Validity |
|---|---|---|---|
| Export prohibitionSanctions regime: North Korea | North Korea | Regulation 0285/18 | 28 February 2018 |
| Restriction on exportSanctions regime: Iraq | All third countries | Regulation 1210/03 | 1 January 2007 |
| Export authorizationSanctions regime: Syria | All third countries | Regulation 1332/13 | 15 December 2013 |
| Export controlSanctions regime: Crimea and Sevastopol | Ukraine | Regulation 0692/14 | 25 February 2025 |
| Export control on restricted goods and technologiesSanctions regime: North Korea | North Korea | Regulation 1509/17 | 1 September 2017 |
| Export control on restricted goods and technologiesSanctions regime: Russia | Russia | Decision 0512/14 | 1 August 2014 – 31 July 2027 |
| Export control on restricted goods and technologiesSanctions regime: South Sudan | South Sudan | Regulation 0735/15 | 9 May 2015 |
| Export control on restricted goods and technologiesSanctions regime: Sudan | Sudan | Regulation 0747/14 | 11 July 2014 |
| Export control on luxury goodsSanctions regime: Russia | Russia | Regulation 0833/14 | 1 January 2024 |
| Export control on luxury goodsSanctions regime: Belarus | Belarus | Regulation 0765/06 | 1 July 2024 |
| Export control on luxury goodsSanctions regime: North Korea | North Korea | Regulation 2062/17 | 28 June 2018 |
| Export controlSanctions regime: Zimbabwe | Zimbabwe | Regulation 0384/26 | 19 February 2026 |
| Export controlSanctions regime: Belarus | Belarus | Regulation 0765/06 | 20 July 2025 |
| Import/export restriction - Common Military List (CML) goodsSanctions regime: Russia | Russia | Regulation 0833/14 | 20 July 2025 |
| Export controlSanctions regime: Central African Republic | Central African Republic | Decision 0798/13 | 8 April 2020 |
| Export controlSanctions regime: Haiti | Haiti | Regulation 2309/22 | 26 March 2025 |
| Export controlSanctions regime: Libya | Libya | Regulation 0813/25 | 29 April 2025 |
| Export controlSanctions regime: Non-government-controlled areas of Ukraine | Ukraine | Regulation 0263/22 | 25 August 2022 |
| Export controlSanctions regime: Russia | Russia | Regulation 0833/14 | 24 June 2023 |
| Export controlSanctions regime: Belarus | Belarus | Regulation 0765/06 | 25 February 2025 |
| Export controlSanctions regime: Iran | Iran | Regulation 0267/12 | 30 September 2025 |
| Export control on ozone-depleting substances | All third countries | Regulation 0590/24 | 11 March 2024 |
| Export control on cultural goods | All third countries | Regulation 0116/09 | 2 March 2009 |
| Export control of fluorinated greenhouse gases | All third countries | Regulation 0573/24 | 31 January 2025 |
TARIC data as of 24 October 2026
The rate each member state applies to goods of this code, from the Commission’s Taxes in Europe Database. A reduced rate can cover only part of the goods under a code: check the national VAT law.
Austria 20% 
Belgium 21% 
Bulgaria 20% 
Croatia 25% 
Cyprus 19% 
Czechia 21% 
Denmark 25% 
Estonia 24% 
Finland 25.5% 
France 20% 
Germany 19% 
Greece 24% 
Hungary 27% 
Ireland 23% 
Italy 22% 
Latvia 21% 
Lithuania 21% 
Luxembourg 17% 
Malta 18% 
Netherlands 21% 
Poland 23% 
Portugal 23% 
Romania 21% 
Slovakia 23% 
Slovenia 22% 
Spain 21% 
Sweden 25% TEDB · 24 October 2026
| Country | Value | Share | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
 China | €3bn | 57.1% | +52.1% |
 South Korea | €755.7m | 14.5% | -85.5% |
 Marshall Islands | €287m | 5.5% | +68.4% |
 Norway | €212.3m | 4.1% | +101.6% |
 Singapore | €200.7m | 3.9% | +144.8% |
 Panama | €185.3m | 3.6% | -35% |
 Türkiye | €113.8m | 2.2% | +2,389.5% |
 Liberia | €113.2m | 2.2% | +133.5% |
UK Free Third-country duty 2 tariff lines Türkiye Free – 1.7% Third-country duty 2 tariff lines · average 0.9% 
USA Free General (MFN) 1 tariff line 
Canada 15% – 25% Third-country duty 3 tariff lines · average 21.7% 
Mexico 5% – 15% Third-country duty 4 tariff lines · average 11.3% 
Brazil 12.6% Third-country duty 1 tariff line 
Argentina 12.6% Third-country duty 1 tariff line 
Peru Free Third-country duty 3 tariff lines 
New Zealand Free – 5% Third-country duty 8 tariff lines · average 3.1% 
Japan Free Third-country duty 1 tariff line 
Taiwan Free Third-country duty 4 tariff lines 
GCC Free Third-country duty 2 tariff lines 
Switzerland Free Third-country duty 1 tariff line Norway Free Third-country duty 4 tariff lines 
North Macedonia 7% Third-country duty 2 tariff lines 
Nigeria Free – 5% Third-country duty 3 tariff lines · average 3.3% 1. Subheadings 89011010, 89012010, 89013010, 89019010, 89020010, 89032210, 89032310, 89033210, 89033310, 89040091 and 89069010 are to be taken to apply only to vessels, designed as seagoing, having a hull of an overall length (excluding any projecting parts) of not less than 12 m. However, fishing boats and lifeboats, designed as seagoing, shall be considered as seagoing vessels regardless of their length.
2. Subheadings 89051010 and 89059010 are to be taken to apply only to vessels and floating docks, designed as seagoing.
3. For the purpose of heading 8908, the expression ‘vessels and other floating structures for breaking up’ includes the following articles when presented for breaking up, on condition that they have formed part of their normal equipment:
spare parts (such as propellers), whether or not in a new condition,
movable articles (furniture, kitchen equipment, tableware, etc.) showing clear evidence of use.
The European Commission's explanatory notes on how to classify goods in these CN codes. They are not legally binding but customs authorities follow them; they complement the HS Explanatory Notes of the World Customs Organization.
Half-hulls and thirds of hulls do not fall in this heading but are classified by reference to their constituent material (for example, heading 7308).
Vessels designed for carrying barges or lighters also fall in this subheading. The traditional-type containers are replaced, in these ships, by barges or lighters which come by water for loading direct onto the mother ship, which is itself divided into vertical compartments in which three or four lighters or barges can be stacked. Such ships are fitted with travelling-gantry cranes, submersible lifting platforms or other means of loading, handling and unloading barges.
Only the mother ship is classifiable in this subheading; the barges are used successively as boats for inland navigation, as ‘containers’ for the sea voyages and again as boats for inland navigation, and are to be classified in subheading 8901 90 90.
Additional note 1
The expression ‘vessels, designed as seagoing’ means vessels which, by reason of their construction and equipment, are capable of operating at sea even in bad weather (winds of about force 7 on the Beaufort scale). Such vessels are generally fitted with watertight decks and weatherproof superstructures.
The expression ‘hull of an overall length’ means the length of the hull measured between the foremost point of the bow and the aftermost point of the stern, but not including projections whether or not moulded with the hull (for example, rudders, bowsprits, fishing platforms or diving boards).
The expression ‘seagoing vessels’ means ships and hovercraft which satisfy the above conditions, whether or not they are actually used mainly in coastal waters, in estuaries or on lakes, etc.
It is further to be noted that:
1. vessels of less than 12 m in length which are designed as seagoing are covered by the term ‘fishing boats’ only when they are specifically designed and equipped for professional fishing, even though they may occasionally be used for pleasure purposes;
2. the term ‘lifeboats’ covers vessels placed on seagoing ships for taking off the crew and passengers if the ships are in danger; it also covers lifeboats placed at suitable points along the coast and intended for going to the assistance of ships in distress.
Explanatory Notes to the Combined Nomenclature of the European Union, Official Journal C (consolidated text and later amendments) · © European Union
The Combined Nomenclature of each year, as published in the Official Journal: description, third-country duty and supplementary unit.
| Year | Description | Third-country duty | Supplementary unit |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | Seagoing | Free | p/st |
| 2025 | unchanged | Free | p/st |
| 2024 | unchanged | Free | p/st |
| 2023 | unchanged | Free | p/st |
| 2022 | unchanged | Free | p/st |
| 2021 | unchanged | Free | p/st |
| 2020 | unchanged | Free | p/st |
| 2019 | Seagoing | Free | p/st |
CN code 8901 90 10 is a line of the EU Combined Nomenclature under HS subheading 8901.90 (other vessels for the transport of goods and other vessels for the transport of…).
The third-country duty is free, and quantities are declared in p/st.
Imports of cargo ships and other goods vessels (HS 8901.90) into the EU came to €5.2bn between September 2025 and August 2026 (down 39% on the year before); China supplied 57%, followed by South Korea.
For the same subheading, the UK duty is free, the Türkiye duty is 0%–1.7%, the US duty is free, the Canada duty is 15%–25%, the Mexico duty is 5%–15%, the Brazil duty is 12.6%, the Argentina duty is 12.6%, the Peru duty is free, the New Zealand duty is 0%–5%, the Japan duty is free, the Taiwan duty is free, the GCC duty is free, the Switzerland duty is free, the Norway duty is free, the North Macedonia duty is 7% and the Nigeria duty is 0%–5%.
EU member states imported goods of subheading 8901.90 worth US$15.8bn in 2024; the largest supplier from outside the EU was South Korea.
The third-country duty in the EU Combined Nomenclature is free; the supplementary unit is p/st. Preferential rates for goods from agreement countries, anti-dumping duties and VAT are not included.
For subheading 8901.90 as a whole, the largest supplier from outside the EU in 2024 was South Korea (US$6.2bn), followed by China.