Subheading · Chapter 28 · Heading 2811

2811.12

2811.12: Hydrogen cyanide (hydrocyanic acid)

2811.12 is a six-digit subheading of heading 2811, other inorganic acids and other inorganic oxygen compounds of non-metals, chapter 28.

What you pay

Importing into UK

Customs duty 4% standard rate depends on the country of origin
Additional duties and charges 2 additional measures Import requirements: 4
VAT 20.00 % import VAT
Duty calculatorCalculate duty and taxes →

Rates by national line · UK Global Tariff

UK lines →
  1. 2811 12 00 00 Hydrogen cyanide (hydrocyanic acid) 4%

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 2

  • Additional dutyAdditional duties 35%
    Applies to goods from
    Belarus, Russia
    Legal act
    2022 No. 833
    Documents
    • 9018
  • Duty suspensionSuspension - goods for certain categories of ships, boats and other vessels and for drilling or production platforms Free
    Applies to goods from
    all countries
    Legal act
    2020 No. 1431
    Documents
    • C990 End use authorisation ships and platforms (Column 8c, Annex A of Delegated Regulation (EU) 2015/2446)

Import requirements 4

  • Prohibition or restrictionImport prohibition
    Applies to goods from
    North Korea
    Legal act
    S.I. 2019/411
  • Import controlRestriction on entry into free circulation
    Applies to goods from
    Russia, Ukraine
    Legal act
    2023 No. 440, S.I. 2022/395
    Documents
    • 9011
    • 9022
    • 9038
    • 9009
    • 9010
    • 9017
  • Import controlImport control on restricted goods and technologies
    Applies to goods from
    Iran, North Korea
    Legal act
    S.I. 2019/461, S.I. 2019/411
    Documents
    • Y966 Goods other than those described in the MG footnotes linked to the measure (Missile Technology Control Regime list - Annex III of Reg. (EU) 267/2012)
    • Y920 Goods other than those described in the footnotes linked to the measure
  • Import controlImport control - Waste
    Applies to goods from
    all countries
    Legal act
    S.I. 2019/590
    Documents
    • C672 Information document accompanying shipments of waste as mentioned in Regulation (EU) 2024/1157 – Article 18 and Annex VII
    • C669 Notification document as mentioned in Regulation (EU) 2024/1157 - Article 5 and Annex IA
    • Y923 Product not subjected to the provisions of Regulation (EU) 2024/1157
    • C670 Movement document as mentioned in Regulation (EU) 2024/1157 – Article 5 and Annex IB

Preferential rates by country

Agreement or schemeCountriesRate
standard rate (no agreement)—4%
DCTS Comprehensive
Afghanistan, Angola, Bangladesh, Benin and 38 more

Afghanistan, 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")
Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia and 23 more

Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czechia, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden

Free
DCTS Enhanced
Algeria, Bolivia, Cape Verde, Congo - Brazzaville and 13 more

Algeria, 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 more

Antigua & 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 more

Anguilla, 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, Malaysia Free
UK–Andorra agreement Andorra 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–Chile agreement Chile 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–Iceland agreement Iceland 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

last 12 months£54k+62,630.2% · previous 12 months
Average import price£2.54 per kg
Aug 2024: £10kMay 2025: £86Jul 2026: £54k
Data up to August 2026 (provisional) · Monthly data: Eurostat Comext (CC BY 4.0), HMRC (OGL v3.0)

Main suppliers, last 12 months

CountryValueShareChange
China £34k 62.4% —
Czechia £20k 37.6% —
Kazakhstan £0 0% -100%

Same subheading in other tariffs

World trade in 2024

2811.12 · US$3m

Trade value (US$) no reported trade < US$3kUS$3k+US$35k+US$289k+> US$1m

Exports: 28
  1. China: US$1m
  2. Czechia: US$557k
  3. Germany: US$289k
  4. United States: US$276k
  5. Kazakhstan: US$115k
  6. United Kingdom: US$45k
  7. South Africa: US$35k
  8. Belgium: US$30k
  9. Norway: US$12k
  10. Italy: US$11k
  11. Netherlands: US$9k
  12. Denmark: US$7k
  13. Kuwait: US$3k
  14. Sweden: US$3k
  15. France: US$2k
  16. Taiwan: US$2k
  17. India: US$1k
  18. Slovenia: US$900
  19. Russia: US$600
  20. Austria: US$300
  21. Malaysia: US$300
  22. Japan: US$200
  23. Portugal: US$200
  24. Switzerland: US$100
  25. South Korea: US$100
  26. Argentina: US$0
  27. Côte d’Ivoire: US$0
  28. Serbia: US$0

Top exporters

RankCountryValueShare
1 China US$1m 49.4%
2 Czechia US$557k 20.1%
3 Germany US$289k 10.4%
4 United States US$276k 10%
5 Kazakhstan US$115k 4.1%
6 United Kingdom US$45k 1.6%
7 South Africa US$35k 1.3%
8 Belgium US$30k 1.1%
9 Norway US$12k 0.4%
10 Italy US$11k 0.4%

Top importers

RankCountryValueShare
1 Burkina Faso US$1m 49.4%
2 Germany US$449k 16.2%
3 Norway US$207k 7.5%
4 Mexico US$165k 5.9%
5 Russia US$115k 4.1%
6 Suriname US$70k 2.5%
7 Slovakia US$53k 1.9%
8 Switzerland US$49k 1.8%
9 Sweden US$34k 1.2%
10 Congo - Kinshasa US$33k 1.2%

Import duty on this product around the world 152

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
  • 47number of duty-free countries (MFN)
  • 45%highest: Bahamas, Bermuda, Comoros

152

Importing countryMFN dutylines from – todata year
Albania 2% 2023
Algeria 15% 2023
Angola 0% 2023 · HS 2017
Anguilla 10% 2021 · HS 2017
Argentina 2% 2023 · HS 2017
Armenia 5% 2023
Australia 0% 2023
Azerbaijan 0% 2023 · HS 2017
Bahamas 45% 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 25% 2023
Bhutan 10% 2022
Bolivia 5% 2023 · HS 2017
Bosnia & Herzegovina 5% 2022
Botswana 0% 2023
Brazil 2% 2023 · HS 2017
Brunei 0% 2023 · HS 2017
Burkina Faso 5% 2023
Burundi 10% 2023
Cambodia 7% 2023 · HS 2017
Cameroon 10% 2023
Canada 0% 2023
Cape Verde 5% 2023 · HS 2017
Central African Republic 10% 2023
Chad 10% 2023
Chile 6% 2023 · HS 2017
China 5% 2023
Colombia 0% 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 10% 2023 · HS 2017
Dominica 5% 2023 · HS 2017
Dominican Republic 0% 2023
Ecuador 0% 2023 · HS 2017
Egypt 2% 2019 · HS 2017
El Salvador 0% 2022
Equatorial Guinea 10% 2023
Eswatini 0% 2023
Ethiopia 20% 2021 · HS 2017
European Union (27 countries) 5.3% 2023
Fiji 5% 2023
French Polynesia 8% 2023
Gabon 10% 2023
Gambia 5% 2023
Georgia 0% 2022 · HS 2017
Ghana 5% 2023
Gibraltar 12% 2023 · HS 2017
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 7.5% 2023
Indonesia 5% 2023
Iran 5% 2020 · HS 2017
Israel 0% 2022 · HS 2017
Jamaica 0% 2023
Japan 3.3% 2023
Jordan 0% 2023
Kazakhstan 5% 2023
Kenya 10% 2023
Kuwait 5% 2023
Kyrgyzstan 5% 2021 · HS 2017
Laos 5% 2023 · HS 2017
Lebanon 0% 2020 · HS 2017
Lesotho 0% 2023
Liberia 5% 2023
Libya 5% 2021 · HS 2017
Liechtenstein 1.5%* 2021 · HS 2017
Macao SAR China 0% 2023
Madagascar 5% 2023
Malawi 0% 2021 · HS 2017
Malaysia 0% 2023
Maldives 15% 2023
Mali 5% 2023
Mauritania 5% 2023 · HS 2017
Mauritius 0% 2023
Mexico 0% 2023 · HS 2017
Micronesia 4% 2021 · HS 2017
Moldova 5.5% 2023 · HS 2017
Mongolia 5% 2023
Montserrat 15% 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 15% 2023
New Zealand 0% 2023
Nicaragua 0% 2023
Niger 5% 2023
Nigeria 5% 2023
North Macedonia 5% 2023
Norway 0% 2023
Oman 5% 2023
Pakistan 0% 2023
Palestinian Territories 0% 2017 · HS 2017
Panama 0% 2023
Papua New Guinea 0% 2023
Paraguay 2% 2023 · HS 2017
Peru 0% 2023 · HS 2017
Philippines 3% 2023
Qatar 5% 2023
Russia 5% 2021 · HS 2017
Rwanda 10% 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 15% 2023 · HS 2017
South Africa 0% 2023
South Korea 5.5% 2023
Sri Lanka 0% 2023
St Kitts & Nevis 5% 2023
St Pierre & Miquelon 8% 2021 · HS 2017
St Vincent & the Grenadines 5% 2023
Sudan 3% 2021 · HS 2017
Switzerland 0.2%* 2023
Tanzania 10% 2023
Thailand 0% 2023
Togo 5% 2023
Tonga 15% 2023 · HS 2017
Türkiye 5.3% 2023
Tuvalu 15% 2017 · HS 2017
Uganda 10% 2023
Ukraine 0% 2023 · HS 2017
United Arab Emirates 5% 2023
United Kingdom 4% 2023
United States 4.2% 2023
Uruguay 2% 2023 · HS 2017
Uzbekistan 0% 2021 · HS 2017
Vanuatu 0% 2023
Venezuela 2% 2023 · HS 2017
Vietnam 0% 2023
Yemen 5% 2017 · HS 2017
Zambia 7.5% 0% – 15% 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
52236 Other inorganic acids
End use (BEC Rev. 5)
Intermediate goods · BEC 211220
CPC 2.1 product
34231 Chemical elements n.e.c.; inorganic acids except phosphoric, nitric and sulphonitric; inorganic oxygen compounds of boron, silicon and carbon; halogen or sulphur compounds of non-metals; sodium hydroxide; hydroxide and peroxide of magnesium; oxides, hydroxides and peroxides of strontium or barium; aluminium hydroxide; hydrozine and hydroxylamine and their inorganic salts
ISIC Rev. 4 activity
2011 Manufacture of basic chemicals

Earlier HS editions

HSCode
20172811.12unchanged
20122811.19changed
20072811.19changed
20022811.19changed
19962811.19changed
19922811.19changed

Correspondence tables of the United Nations Statistics Division (UNSD)

Recent rule changes mentioning this code

Acts whose text cites this code or its heading. Check the act itself: a code can be cited for reasons other than a change of its duty.

  1. US Import and export controls

    Notice of Action: Brazil's Acts, Policies, and Practices Related to Digital Trade and Electronic Payment Services; Unfair, Preferential Tariffs; Anti-Corruption Enforcement; Intellectual Property Protection; Ethanol Market Access; and Illegal Deforestation

    FR Doc. 2026-14542 · 91 FR 45516 · Source: federalregister.gov

Rule changes →

Code history

Since 2017; before, these goods were classified under 2811.19.

Subheading 2811.12 is a single line in the UK Global Tariff, where the duty is 4%.

The EU Combined Nomenclature has one tariff line for subheading 2811.12; the duty is 5.3%.

Goods from 174 countries can enter the UK at a preferential rate instead of the standard 4%; 174 of them pay no duty at all, for example under DCTS Comprehensive or European Union.

In the UK, additional duty of 35% applies on top of the customs duty to goods from Belarus and Russia.

In the 12 months to August 2026, the UK imported these goods worth £53.9k (up 62630% on the year before), at an average of £2.54 per kg; China supplied 62%, followed by Czechia.

World trade in these goods reached US$3m in 2024, up 12.9% on 2023.

China was the largest exporter with 49.4% of the total, ahead of the Czechia.

Questions and answers

What is the HS code for hydrogen cyanide (hydrocyanic acid)?

Hydrogen cyanide (hydrocyanic acid) fall under HS subheading 2811.12, part of heading 2811, in section VI of the Harmonized System.

What is the import duty on hydrogen cyanide (hydrocyanic acid) in the UK?

Under the UK Global Tariff, imports under 2811.12 from countries without a preferential agreement are charged at 4%. Preferential rates, anti-dumping duties and VAT are not included.

What is the import duty on hydrogen cyanide (hydrocyanic acid) in the EU?

Under the EU Combined Nomenclature, imports under 2811.12 from countries without a preferential agreement are charged at 5.3%. Preferential rates, anti-dumping duties and VAT are not included.

Which country exports the most hydrogen cyanide (hydrocyanic acid)?

China, with US$1m in 2024 (49.4% of world exports).

Which countries can export these goods to the UK duty-free?

174 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 4% 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 China (62%), Czechia (38%) and Kazakhstan (0%), out of total imports of £53.9k.

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