Subheading · Chapter 13 · Heading 1302
1302.31: Mucilages and thickeners, whether or not modified, derived: agar-agar
Official description Agar-agar
Subheading 1302.31 belongs to heading 1302 (vegetable saps and extracts) in chapter 13.
What you pay
Importing into UK
Rates by national line · UK Global Tariff
UK lines →- 1302 31 00 00 Agar-agar Free
Additional duties and import rules
Charges on top of the customs duty, and rules the goods must meet at the border.
Additional duties and charges 1
- Additional dutyAdditional duties 35%
- Applies to goods from
- Belarus, Russia
- Legal act
- 2022 No. 598
- Documents
- 9014
Import requirements 2
- Import controlRestriction on entry into free circulation
- Applies to goods from
- Ukraine
- Legal act
- S.I. 2022/395
- Documents
- 9009
- 9010
- 9017
- Import controlImport control of organic products
- Applies to goods from
- all countries except Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Switzerland, Cyprus, Czechia, Germany, Denmark, Estonia, Spain, Finland, France, United Kingdom, Greece, Croatia, Hungary, Ireland, Iceland, Italy, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Latvia, Malta, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Sweden, Slovenia, Slovakia
- Legal act
- S.I. 2019/693
Preferential rates by country
| Agreement or scheme | Countries | Rate |
|---|---|---|
| standard rate (no agreement) | — | Free |
| DCTS Comprehensive | Afghanistan, Angola, Bangladesh, Benin and 38 moreAfghanistan, Angola, Bangladesh, Benin, Bhutan, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cambodia, Central African Republic, Chad, Comoros, Congo - Kinshasa, Djibouti, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Gambia, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Haiti, Kiribati, Laos, Liberia, Malawi, Mali, Mauritania, Myanmar (Burma), Nepal, Niger, Rwanda, São Tomé & Príncipe, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Somalia, South Sudan, Sudan, Tanzania, Timor-Leste, Togo, Tuvalu, Uganda, Yemen, Zambia | Free |
| European Union (including code " EU") | Free | |
| DCTS Enhanced | Algeria, Bolivia, Cape Verde, Congo - Brazzaville and 13 moreAlgeria, Bolivia, Cape Verde, Congo - Brazzaville, Cook Islands, Kyrgyzstan, Micronesia, Mongolia, Nigeria, Niue, Pakistan, Philippines, Sri Lanka, Syria, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, Vanuatu | Free |
| CARIFORUM | Antigua & Barbuda, Bahamas, Barbados, Belize and 10 moreAntigua & Barbuda, Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Grenada, Guyana, Jamaica, St Kitts & Nevis, St Lucia, St Vincent & the Grenadines, Suriname, Trinidad & Tobago | Free |
| OCTs (Overseas Countries and Territories) | Anguilla, Bermuda, British Indian Ocean Territory, British Virgin Islands and 7 moreAnguilla, Bermuda, British Indian Ocean Territory, British Virgin Islands, Cayman Islands, Falkland Islands, Montserrat, Pitcairn Islands, South Georgia & South Sandwich Islands, St Helena, Turks & Caicos Islands | Free |
| Central America | Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua, Panama | Free |
| SADC EPA | Botswana, Eswatini, Lesotho, Mozambique, Namibia | Free |
| Eastern and Southern Africa States | Madagascar, Mauritius, Seychelles, Zimbabwe | Free |
| CPTPP | Brunei, Chile, Malaysia | Free |
| UK–Albania agreement | Albania | Free |
| UK–Australia agreement | Australia | Free |
| UK–Canada agreement | Canada | Free |
| UK–Switzerland agreement | Switzerland | Free |
| UK–Côte d’Ivoire agreement | Côte d’Ivoire | Free |
| UK–Cameroon agreement | Cameroon | Free |
| UK–Colombia agreement | Colombia | Free |
| UK–Ceuta & Melilla agreement | Ceuta & Melilla | Free |
| UK–Ecuador agreement | Ecuador | Free |
| UK–Egypt agreement | Egypt | Free |
| UK–Fiji agreement | Fiji | Free |
| UK–Faroe Islands agreement | Faroe Islands | Free |
| UK–Georgia agreement | Georgia | Free |
| UK–Ghana agreement | Ghana | Free |
| DCTS Standard | Indonesia | Free |
| UK–Israel agreement | Israel | Free |
| UK–India agreement | India | Free |
| UK–Jordan agreement | Jordan | Free |
| UK–Japan agreement | Japan | Free |
| UK–Kenya agreement | Kenya | Free |
| UK–South Korea agreement | South Korea | Free |
| UK–Lebanon agreement | Lebanon | Free |
| UK–Liechtenstein agreement | Liechtenstein | Free |
| UK–Morocco agreement | Morocco | Free |
| UK–Moldova agreement | Moldova | Free |
| UK–North Macedonia agreement | North Macedonia | Free |
| UK–Mexico agreement | Mexico | Free |
| UK–Norway agreement | Norway | Free |
| UK–New Zealand agreement | New Zealand | Free |
| UK–Peru agreement | Peru | Free |
| UK–Papua New Guinea agreement | Papua New Guinea | Free |
| UK–Palestinian Territories agreement | Palestinian Territories | Free |
| UK–Serbia agreement | Serbia | Free |
| UK–Solomon Islands agreement | Solomon Islands | Free |
| UK–Singapore agreement | Singapore | Free |
| UK–San Marino agreement | San Marino | Free |
| UK–Tunisia agreement | Tunisia | Free |
| UK–Türkiye agreement | Türkiye | Free |
| UK–Ukraine agreement | Ukraine | Free |
| UK–Vietnam agreement | Vietnam | Free |
| UK–Samoa agreement | Samoa | Free |
| UK–Kosovo agreement | Kosovo | Free |
| UK–South Africa agreement | South Africa | Free |
UK: imports by month
Main suppliers, last 12 months
| Country | Value | Share | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
 Spain | £4.7m | 52% | -1.4% |
 Morocco | £2.3m | 25.8% | +17.4% |
 United States | £601k | 6.7% | +63.6% |
 China | £423k | 4.7% | +22.9% |
 Mexico | £319k | 3.5% | -24.6% |
 Italy | £277k | 3.1% | -20.3% |
 France | £110k | 1.2% | -36.3% |
 Japan | £79k | 0.9% | +3,212.4% |
Same subheading in other tariffs
EU Free Third-country duty 1 tariff line 
Türkiye Free Third-country duty 2 tariff lines USA Free General (MFN) 1 tariff line 
Canada Free Third-country duty 1 tariff line Mexico 15% Third-country duty 1 tariff line 
Brazil 9% Third-country duty 1 tariff line 
Argentina 9% Third-country duty 1 tariff line 
Peru Free Third-country duty 1 tariff line 
New Zealand Free Third-country duty 1 tariff line Japan specific or compound duty Third-country duty 1 tariff line 
Taiwan 3.5% Third-country duty 1 tariff line 
GCC 5% Third-country duty 3 tariff lines 
Switzerland Free Third-country duty 1 tariff line 
Norway Free Third-country duty 1 tariff line 
North Macedonia Free Third-country duty 1 tariff line 
Nigeria 5% Third-country duty 1 tariff line World trade in 2024
Trade value (US$) no reported trade < US$61kUS$61k+US$1m+US$6m+> US$29m
Exports: 81
- China: US$83m
- Spain: US$46m
- Morocco: US$29m
- Chile: US$26m
- Italy: US$21m
- Indonesia: US$20m
- South Korea: US$8m
- Germany: US$6m
- United States: US$4m
- India: US$4m
- Mexico: US$3m
- Thailand: US$3m
- Singapore: US$2m
- Netherlands: US$2m
- Belgium: US$2m
- France: US$1m
- Japan: US$1m
- Vietnam: US$1m
- Taiwan: US$1m
- United Kingdom: US$1m
- Switzerland: US$774k
- Philippines: US$485k
- Canada: US$389k
- Russia: US$288k
- Poland: US$272k
- Slovakia: US$176k
- Bangladesh: US$174k
- Serbia: US$169k
- Malaysia: US$160k
- Czechia: US$113k
- Lithuania: US$105k
- Austria: US$101k
- Peru: US$100k
- Bahrain: US$92k
- Ireland: US$91k
- Türkiye: US$84k
- Portugal: US$84k
- Ukraine: US$61k
- Denmark: US$60k
- United Arab Emirates: US$43k
- Sweden: US$42k
- Latvia: US$37k
- Estonia: US$35k
- South Africa: US$31k
- Israel: US$29k
- Bulgaria: US$24k
- Egypt: US$24k
- Pakistan: US$22k
- Tunisia: US$19k
- Hong Kong SAR China: US$19k
- Hungary: US$18k
- Uruguay: US$18k
- Greece: US$17k
- Luxembourg: US$15k
- New Zealand: US$15k
- Croatia: US$7k
- Romania: US$6k
- Australia: US$5k
- Finland: US$5k
- Costa Rica: US$4k
Trade value (US$) no reported trade < US$78kUS$78k+US$563k+US$3m+> US$13m
Imports: 167
- Japan: US$42m
- United States: US$42m
- Italy: US$18m
- Spain: US$16m
- China: US$13m
- Germany: US$12m
- United Kingdom: US$12m
- Russia: US$12m
- Thailand: US$11m
- India: US$11m
- France: US$10m
- Malaysia: US$7m
- Poland: US$5m
- South Korea: US$5m
- Argentina: US$4m
- Canada: US$4m
- Taiwan: US$3m
- Belgium: US$3m
- Ukraine: US$3m
- Brazil: US$2m
- Egypt: US$2m
- Netherlands: US$2m
- Türkiye: US$2m
- Chile: US$2m
- Mexico: US$1m
- Denmark: US$1m
- Austria: US$1m
- United Arab Emirates: US$1m
- Singapore: US$1m
- Australia: US$1m
- Bangladesh: US$1m
- Serbia: US$1m
- Israel: US$771k
- Pakistan: US$735k
- Switzerland: US$729k
- Vietnam: US$648k
- Philippines: US$623k
- Greece: US$613k
- Kazakhstan: US$600k
- Morocco: US$564k
- Estonia: US$563k
- Uzbekistan: US$530k
- Mauritius: US$529k
- North Macedonia: US$489k
- Norway: US$472k
- South Africa: US$468k
- Sweden: US$462k
- Romania: US$426k
- Iran: US$398k
- Saudi Arabia: US$393k
- Czechia: US$352k
- Croatia: US$348k
- Qatar: US$345k
- Azerbaijan: US$341k
- Hungary: US$338k
- Uruguay: US$334k
- Paraguay: US$271k
- Finland: US$247k
- Portugal: US$236k
- Peru: US$228k
Top exporters
| Rank | Country | Value | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | China | US$83m | 30.8% |
| 2 | Spain | US$46m | 17.2% |
| 3 | Morocco | US$29m | 10.9% |
| 4 |  Chile | US$26m | 9.5% |
| 5 | Italy | US$21m | 7.8% |
| 6 |  Indonesia | US$20m | 7.5% |
| 7 |  South Korea | US$8m | 2.8% |
| 8 |  Germany | US$6m | 2.4% |
| 9 | United States | US$4m | 1.6% |
| 10 |  India | US$4m | 1.4% |
Top importers
| Rank | Country | Value | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Japan | US$42m | 15.5% |
| 2 | United States | US$42m | 15.4% |
| 3 | Italy | US$18m | 6.5% |
| 4 | Spain | US$16m | 5.9% |
| 5 | China | US$13m | 4.8% |
| 6 | Germany | US$12m | 4.6% |
| 7 | United Kingdom | US$12m | 4.4% |
| 8 |  Russia | US$12m | 4.4% |
| 9 |  Thailand | US$11m | 4.3% |
| 10 | India | US$11m | 3.9% |
Import duty on this product around the world 165
The most-favoured-nation (MFN) duty each country applies to goods of this HS subheading: the average over its national tariff lines, with the lowest and highest line where they differ. Goods from countries with a trade agreement often pay less.
- 5%median duty
- 60number of duty-free countries (MFN)
- 35%highest: Bahamas, Ethiopia, India
165
| Importing country | MFN duty | lines from – to | data year |
|---|---|---|---|
 Afghanistan | 5% | 2018 · HS 2012 | |
 Albania | 10% | 2023 | |
 Algeria | 5% | 2023 | |
 Angola | 0% | 2023 · HS 2017 | |
 Anguilla | 5% | 2021 · HS 2017 | |
 Antigua & Barbuda | 0% | 2021 · HS 2007 | |
| Argentina | 10% | 2023 · HS 2017 | |
 Armenia | 5% | 2023 | |
 Aruba | 6% | 2021 · HS 2012 | |
 Australia | 0% | 2023 | |
 Azerbaijan | 0% | 2023 · HS 2017 | |
 Bahamas | 35% | 2022 | |
 Bahrain | 5% | 2023 | |
 Bangladesh | 10% | 2023 · HS 2017 | |
 Barbados | 5% | 2022 · HS 2017 | |
 Belarus | 5% | 2021 · HS 2017 | |
 Belize | 5% | 2023 | |
 Benin | 5% | 2023 | |
 Bermuda | 5% | 2023 | |
 Bhutan | 10% | 2022 | |
 Bolivia | 10% | 2023 · HS 2017 | |
 Bosnia & Herzegovina | 0% | 2022 | |
 Botswana | 0% | 2023 | |
| Brazil | 10% | 2023 · HS 2017 | |
 Brunei | 0% | 2023 · HS 2017 | |
 Burkina Faso | 5% | 2023 | |
 Burundi | 0% | 2023 | |
 Cambodia | 15% | 2023 · HS 2017 | |
 Cameroon | 10% | 2023 | |
| Canada | 0% | 2023 | |
 Cape Verde | 5% | 2023 · HS 2017 | |
 Cayman Islands | 22% | 2021 · HS 2002 | |
 Central African Republic | 10% | 2023 | |
 Chad | 10% | 2023 | |
| Chile | 6% | 2023 · HS 2017 | |
| China | 10% | 2023 | |
 Colombia | 10% | 2023 · HS 2017 | |
 Comoros | 20% | 2021 · HS 2017 | |
 Congo - Brazzaville | 10% | 2023 | |
 Cook Islands | 0% | 2022 · HS 2017 | |
 Costa Rica | 0% | 2023 | |
 Côte d’Ivoire | 5% | 2023 · HS 2017 | |
 Cuba | 5% | 2023 · HS 2017 | |
 Dominica | 5% | 2023 · HS 2017 | |
 Dominican Republic | 0% | 2023 | |
 Ecuador | 0% | 2023 · HS 2017 | |
 Egypt | 0% | 2019 · HS 2017 | |
 El Salvador | 0% | 2022 | |
 Equatorial Guinea | 10% | 2023 | |
 Eswatini | 0% | 2023 | |
 Ethiopia | 30% | 2021 · HS 2017 | |
| European Union (27 countries) | 0% | 2023 | |
 Fiji | 5% | 2023 | |
 French Polynesia | 6% | 2023 | |
 Gabon | 10% | 2023 | |
 Gambia | 5% | 2023 | |
 Georgia | 0% | 2022 · HS 2017 | |
 Ghana | 5% | 2023 | |
 Gibraltar | 0% | 2023 · HS 2017 | |
 Grenada | 5% | 2023 · HS 2012 | |
 Guatemala | 0% | 2023 | |
 Guinea | 5% | 2023 | |
 Guinea-Bissau | 5% | 2023 | |
 Guyana | 5% | 2023 · HS 2017 | |
 Haiti | 0% | 2020 · HS 2017 | |
 Honduras | 0% | 2023 | |
 Hong Kong SAR China | 0% | 2023 | |
 Iceland | 0% | 2023 | |
| India | 30% | 2023 | |
| Indonesia | 5% | 2023 | |
 Iran | 5% | 2020 · HS 2017 | |
 Israel | 4% | 2022 · HS 2017 | |
 Jamaica | 0% | 2023 | |
| Japan | 4.1%* | 2023 | |
 Jordan | 0% | 2023 | |
 Kazakhstan | 5% | 2023 | |
 Kenya | 0% | 2023 | |
 Kiribati | 0% | 2023 · HS 2002 | |
 Kuwait | 5% | 2023 | |
 Kyrgyzstan | 5% | 2021 · HS 2017 | |
 Laos | 10% | 2023 · HS 2017 | |
 Lebanon | 5% | 2020 · HS 2017 | |
 Lesotho | 0% | 2023 | |
 Liberia | 5% | 2023 | |
 Libya | 5% | 2021 · HS 2017 | |
 Liechtenstein | 0% | 2021 · HS 2017 | |
 Macao SAR China | 0% | 2023 | |
 Madagascar | 10% | 2023 | |
 Malawi | 0% | 2021 · HS 2017 | |
 Malaysia | 0% | 2023 | |
 Maldives | 0% | 2023 | |
 Mali | 5% | 2023 | |
 Mauritania | 5% | 2023 · HS 2017 | |
 Mauritius | 0% | 2023 | |
| Mexico | 15% | 2023 · HS 2017 | |
 Micronesia | 4% | 2021 · HS 2017 | |
 Moldova | 0% | 2023 · HS 2017 | |
 Mongolia | 5% | 2023 | |
 Montserrat | 5% | 2023 · HS 2017 | |
| Morocco | 2.5% | 2023 | |
 Mozambique | 2.5% | 2023 | |
 Myanmar (Burma) | 3% | 2023 · HS 2017 | |
 Namibia | 0% | 2023 | |
 Nauru | 10% | 2021 · HS 2017 | |
 Nepal | 10% | 2023 | |
| New Zealand | 0% | 2023 | |
 Nicaragua | 0% | 2023 | |
 Niger | 5% | 2023 | |
| Nigeria | 5% | 2023 | |
| North Macedonia | 0% | 2023 | |
| Norway | 0% | 2023 | |
 Oman | 5% | 2023 | |
 Pakistan | 16% | 2023 | |
 Palau | 3% | 2023 · HS 2012 | |
 Palestinian Territories | 4% | 2017 · HS 2017 | |
 Panama | 0% | 2023 | |
 Papua New Guinea | 0% | 2023 | |
 Paraguay | 10% | 2023 · HS 2017 | |
| Peru | 0% | 2023 · HS 2017 | |
 Philippines | 3% | 2023 | |
 Qatar | 5% | 2023 | |
| Russia | 5% | 2021 · HS 2017 | |
 Rwanda | 0% | 2023 | |
 Samoa | 8% | 2020 · HS 2017 | |
 São Tomé & Príncipe | 10% | 2019 · HS 2017 | |
 Saudi Arabia | 5% | 2023 | |
 Senegal | 5% | 2023 | |
 Seychelles | 0% | 2023 | |
 Sierra Leone | 5% | 2023 | |
 Singapore | 0% | 2023 · HS 2017 | |
 Solomon Islands | 10% | 2023 · HS 2017 | |
 Somalia | 5% | 2023 · HS 2017 | |
 South Africa | 0% | 2023 | |
| South Korea | 8% | 2023 | |
 Sri Lanka | 0% | 2023 | |
 St Kitts & Nevis | 5% | 2023 | |
 St Lucia | 5% | 2023 · HS 2012 | |
 St Pierre & Miquelon | 5% | 2021 · HS 2017 | |
 St Vincent & the Grenadines | 5% | 2023 | |
 Sudan | 10% | 2021 · HS 2017 | |
 Suriname | 5% | 2023 · HS 2007 | |
| Switzerland | 0% | 2023 | |
 Syria | 10% | 2020 · HS 2012 | |
 Tajikistan | 5% | 2021 · HS 2012 | |
 Tanzania | 0% | 2023 | |
| Thailand | 3% | 2023 | |
 Togo | 5% | 2023 | |
 Tonga | 15% | 2023 · HS 2017 | |
 Trinidad & Tobago | 0% | 2023 · HS 2012 | |
| Türkiye | 0% | 2023 | |
 Tuvalu | 0% | 2017 · HS 2017 | |
 Uganda | 0% | 2023 | |
 Ukraine | 0% | 2023 · HS 2017 | |
 United Arab Emirates | 5% | 2023 | |
| United Kingdom | 0% | 2023 | |
| United States | 0% | 2023 | |
 Uruguay | 10% | 2023 · HS 2017 | |
 Uzbekistan | 0% | 2021 · HS 2017 | |
 Vanuatu | 0% | 2023 | |
 Venezuela | 10% | 2023 · HS 2017 | |
 Vietnam | 5% | 2023 | |
 Wallis & Futuna | 4% | 2021 · HS 2012 | |
 Yemen | 7.5% | 5% – 10% | 2017 · HS 2017 |
 Zambia | 5% | 2023 | |
 Zimbabwe | 0.1% | 2023 |
Tariff data years 2017–2023; rates may have changed since. * ad valorem equivalent of specific duties (UNCTAD estimate) · UNCTAD TRAINS, accessed via WITS (World Bank)
Classifications and correspondences
Where this HS subheading sits in the United Nations' statistical classifications, and which codes it had in earlier editions of the Harmonized System.
- SITC Rev. 4
- 29296 Mucilages & thickeners, whether/not modified, derived from vegetable products
- End use (BEC Rev. 5)
- Intermediate goods · BEC 111210
- CPC 2.1 product
- 04933 Wild seaweeds and other algae, fresh, frozen or dried, whether or not ground, unfit for human consumption04934 Farmed seaweeds and other algae, fresh, frozen or dried, whether or not ground, unfit for human consumption23999 Other food products n.e.c.
- ISIC Rev. 4 activity
- 0311 Marine fishing0312 Freshwater fishing0321 Marine aquaculture0322 Freshwater aquaculture
Earlier HS editions
| HS | Code | |
|---|---|---|
| 2017 | 1302.31 | unchanged |
| 2012 | 1302.31 | unchanged |
| 2007 | 1302.31 | unchanged |
| 2002 | 1302.31 | unchanged |
| 1996 | 1302.31 | unchanged |
| 1992 | 1302.31 | unchanged |
Correspondence tables of the United Nations Statistics Division (UNSD)
The UK Global Tariff has one tariff line for subheading 1302.31; the duty is duty-free.
Subheading 1302.31 is a single line in the EU Combined Nomenclature, where the duty is duty-free.
172 countries pay no duty in the UK thanks to trade agreements and preference schemes such as DCTS Comprehensive and European Union, against a standard rate of Free.
In the UK, additional duty of 35% applies on top of the customs duty to goods from Belarus and Russia.
Imports of these goods into the UK came to £9m between September 2025 and August 2026 (up 5% on the year before); Spain supplied 52%, followed by Morocco.
In 2024, countries exported these goods worth US$269m (−3.9% year on year).
The largest exporter was China (US$83m), followed by Spain.
Products classified here
Questions and answers
What is the HS code for mucilages and thickeners, whether or not modified, derived: agar-agar?
Mucilages and thickeners, whether or not modified, derived: agar-agar fall under HS subheading 1302.31, part of heading 1302, in section II of the Harmonized System.
What is the import duty on mucilages and thickeners in the UK?
Under the UK Global Tariff, imports under 1302.31 from countries without a preferential agreement are free of duty. Preferential rates, anti-dumping duties and VAT are not included.
What is the import duty on mucilages and thickeners in the EU?
Under the EU Combined Nomenclature, imports under 1302.31 from countries without a preferential agreement are free of duty. Preferential rates, anti-dumping duties and VAT are not included.
Which country exports the most mucilages and thickeners?
China, with US$83m in 2024 (30.8% of world exports).
Which countries can export these goods to the UK duty-free?
172 countries pay no duty under a trade agreement or preference scheme, among them partners under DCTS Comprehensive, European Union, DCTS Enhanced. The goods must meet the agreement’s rules of origin and the importer needs proof of origin; otherwise the standard rate of Free applies. Pick a country above to see its rate.
Is there anti-dumping duty on these goods?
The UK charges additional duty of 35% on goods from Belarus and Russia. Lower rates apply to the named exporters listed in the measure.
Where does the UK import these goods from?
In the 12 months to August 2026, the largest suppliers were Spain (52%), Morocco (26%) and United States (7%), out of total imports of £9m.
Typical products
Everyday names, not part of the legal text.