Subheading · Chapter 29 · Heading 2918
2918.11: Lactic acid, its salts and esters
Subheading 2918.11 belongs to heading 2918 (carboxylic acids with additional oxygen function and their anhydrides, halides…) in chapter 29.
What you pay
Importing into UK
Rates by national line · UK Global Tariff
UK lines →- 2918 11 00 00 Lactic acid, its salts and esters Free
- 2918 11 00 20 L-(+)-lactic acid (cas rn 79-33-4) with a purity by weight of 99% or more, for use in the manufacturing of: - esters and other derivatives (i.e. products obtained from a chemical reaction with the formation of new intramolecular bonds), or - solutions produced under gmp (good manufacturing practice) conditions to be supplied to the pharmaceutical industry Free
- 2918 11 00 80 Other 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 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 1
- Import controlRestriction on entry into free circulation
- Applies to goods from
- Ukraine
- Legal act
- S.I. 2022/395
- Documents
- 9009
- 9010
- 9017
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, 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
Main suppliers, last 12 months
| Country | Value | Share | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
 Netherlands | £4.9m | 34.5% | -22.3% |
 France | £1.6m | 11.1% | +29.6% |
 China | £1.6m | 10.9% | -12.2% |
 Belgium | £1.2m | 8.7% | +5.4% |
 Germany | £1.2m | 8.1% | +694.4% |
 Spain | £1.1m | 7.8% | -19.9% |
 Thailand | £956k | 6.7% | +160.6% |
 Ireland | £851k | 6% | +50.2% |
Same subheading in other tariffs
EU
TürkiyeWorld trade in 2024
Trade value (US$) no reported trade < US$207.1kUS$207.1k+US$1.5m+US$27.4m+> US$135.1m
Exports: 87
- Netherlands: US$185.8m
- China: US$153.9m
- Thailand: US$135.1m
- Spain: US$75.9m
- Belgium: US$67.5m
- France: US$67.4m
- United States: US$32.6m
- Germany: US$31.8m
- Brazil: US$27.4m
- India: US$9.8m
- Japan: US$9m
- South Korea: US$8.3m
- Malaysia: US$6.5m
- United Kingdom: US$4.1m
- Denmark: US$3.8m
- Austria: US$3.8m
- Italy: US$3.1m
- Taiwan: US$3m
- Serbia: US$2.9m
- Poland: US$2.4m
- Switzerland: US$1.8m
- Israel: US$1.5m
- Singapore: US$1.5m
- Ireland: US$1.4m
- Canada: US$1.2m
- Sweden: US$1.2m
- Türkiye: US$983.5k
- Hong Kong SAR China: US$877.7k
- Czechia: US$862k
- Mexico: US$762.4k
- South Africa: US$719.3k
- Lithuania: US$711.5k
- Eswatini: US$690.5k
- Indonesia: US$507.3k
- Peru: US$414.1k
- Estonia: US$358.9k
- Slovenia: US$334.2k
- Guatemala: US$332.1k
- Colombia: US$313.4k
- Hungary: US$268k
- Portugal: US$233.8k
- Bulgaria: US$214k
- Chile: US$207.1k
- Latvia: US$191.7k
- Croatia: US$176.1k
- Australia: US$141.1k
- Greece: US$133.5k
- Russia: US$126.9k
- Togo: US$118.6k
- Kenya: US$114.4k
- Saudi Arabia: US$65.4k
- Costa Rica: US$61.3k
- Ecuador: US$51.9k
- Romania: US$51.1k
- Finland: US$34.3k
- El Salvador: US$28.7k
- Uruguay: US$28.7k
- Slovakia: US$26k
- Ukraine: US$25.2k
- Laos: US$21.9k
Trade value (US$) no reported trade < US$335.9kUS$335.9k+US$3m+US$13.2m+> US$42.8m
Imports: 168
- Netherlands: US$84.4m
- United States: US$81.6m
- Spain: US$71m
- Germany: US$54.4m
- Italy: US$44.8m
- China: US$42.8m
- South Korea: US$40.5m
- Japan: US$39.6m
- Mexico: US$32.6m
- Belgium: US$30.8m
- France: US$22.4m
- Poland: US$20.5m
- United Kingdom: US$18.1m
- Canada: US$17.1m
- Brazil: US$15.7m
- Russia: US$13.7m
- Thailand: US$13.2m
- Indonesia: US$11.2m
- Malaysia: US$11m
- Switzerland: US$10.7m
- India: US$9.9m
- Ukraine: US$9.7m
- Taiwan: US$9.4m
- South Africa: US$7.6m
- Türkiye: US$7.2m
- Singapore: US$6.8m
- Hungary: US$6.7m
- Vietnam: US$6.2m
- Czechia: US$5.3m
- Ireland: US$5.2m
- Australia: US$5.1m
- Argentina: US$4.9m
- Colombia: US$4.8m
- Austria: US$4.7m
- Israel: US$4.4m
- Sweden: US$4.4m
- Chile: US$4m
- Greece: US$3.9m
- Philippines: US$3.7m
- Denmark: US$3.4m
- United Arab Emirates: US$3.2m
- Portugal: US$3m
- Romania: US$3m
- Saudi Arabia: US$2.8m
- Egypt: US$2.8m
- Guatemala: US$2.4m
- New Zealand: US$2.1m
- Finland: US$2m
- Bulgaria: US$1.9m
- Morocco: US$1.7m
- Croatia: US$1.7m
- Pakistan: US$1.7m
- Dominican Republic: US$1.7m
- Hong Kong SAR China: US$1.6m
- Peru: US$1.5m
- Uzbekistan: US$1.5m
- Slovakia: US$1.4m
- Bangladesh: US$1.3m
- Ecuador: US$1.2m
- Slovenia: US$1.1m
Top exporters
| Rank | Country | Value | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Netherlands | US$185.8m | 21.8% |
| 2 | China | US$153.9m | 18% |
| 3 | Thailand | US$135.1m | 15.8% |
| 4 | Spain | US$75.9m | 8.9% |
| 5 | Belgium | US$67.5m | 7.9% |
| 6 | France | US$67.4m | 7.9% |
| 7 |  United States | US$32.6m | 3.8% |
| 8 | Germany | US$31.8m | 3.7% |
| 9 |  Brazil | US$27.4m | 3.2% |
| 10 |  India | US$9.8m | 1.1% |
Top importers
| Rank | Country | Value | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Netherlands | US$84.4m | 9.9% |
| 2 | United States | US$81.6m | 9.6% |
| 3 | Spain | US$71m | 8.3% |
| 4 | Germany | US$54.4m | 6.4% |
| 5 |  Italy | US$44.8m | 5.3% |
| 6 | China | US$42.8m | 5% |
| 7 |  South Korea | US$40.5m | 4.7% |
| 8 |  Japan | US$39.6m | 4.6% |
| 9 |  Mexico | US$32.6m | 3.8% |
| 10 | Belgium | US$30.8m | 3.6% |
Binding rulings for similar goods 2
Decisions of U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CROSS) and HMRC (Advance Tariff Rulings) on goods classified here. A ruling binds only its holder, but shows how the authorities classify similar goods. The descriptions are the authorities’ own, in English.
The UK Global Tariff divides subheading 2918.11 into 2 tariff lines; the duty is duty-free.
Subheading 2918.11 is a single line in the EU Combined Nomenclature, where the duty is 6.5%.
174 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 £14.3m between September 2025 and August 2026 (up 4% on the year before); Netherlands supplied 35%, followed by France.
In 2024, countries exported these goods worth US$853.1m (+3.1% year on year).
The largest exporter was the Netherlands (US$185.8m), followed by China.
Products classified here
Questions and answers
What is the HS code for lactic acid, its salts and esters?
Lactic acid, its salts and esters fall under HS subheading 2918.11, part of heading 2918, in section VI of the Harmonized System.
What is the import duty on lactic acid, its salts and esters in the UK?
Under the UK Global Tariff, imports under 2918.11 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 lactic acid, its salts and esters in the EU?
Under the EU Combined Nomenclature, imports under 2918.11 from countries without a preferential agreement are charged at 6.5%. Preferential rates, anti-dumping duties and VAT are not included.
Which country exports the most lactic acid, its salts and esters?
The Netherlands, with US$185.8m in 2024 (21.8% 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 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 Netherlands (35%), France (11%) and China (11%), out of total imports of £14.3m.