Subheading · Chapter 29 · Heading 2937

2937.12

2937.12: Insulin and its salts

Subheading 2937.12 belongs to heading 2937 (hormones, prostaglandins, thromboxanes and leukotrienes, natural or reproduced…) in chapter 29.

What you pay

Importing into UK

Customs duty Free standard rate depends on the country of origin
Additional duties and charges 1 additional measure Import requirements: 1
VAT 20.00 % import VAT
Duty calculatorCalculate duty and taxes →

Rates by national line · UK Global Tariff

UK lines →
  1. 2937 12 00 00 Insulin and its salts Freeg

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. 833
    Documents
    • 9018

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 schemeCountriesRate
standard rate (no agreement)—Free
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
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
SADC EPA Botswana, Eswatini, Lesotho, Mozambique, Namibia Free
CPTPP Brunei, Chile, Malaysia, Mexico Free
Eastern and Southern Africa States Madagascar, Mauritius, Seychelles, Zimbabwe 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–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
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–Liechtenstein agreement Liechtenstein Free
UK–Morocco agreement Morocco Free
UK–Moldova agreement Moldova Free
UK–North Macedonia agreement North Macedonia 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–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£4.8m+62.9% · previous 12 months
Average import price£6,890.36 per kg
Jan 2024: £137kFeb 2024: £209kMar 2024: £168kApr 2024: £258kMay 2024: £122kJun 2024: £27kJul 2024: £112kAug 2024: £41kSept 2024: £59kOct 2024: £196kNov 2024: £166kDec 2024: £131kJan 2025: £83kFeb 2025: £222kMar 2025: £79kApr 2025: £548kMay 2025: £176kJun 2025: £856kJul 2025: £164kAug 2025: £284kSept 2025: £71kOct 2025: £309kNov 2025: £228kDec 2025: £398kJan 2026: £196kFeb 2026: £66kMar 2026: £331kApr 2026: £174kMay 2026: £38kJun 2026: £907kJul 2026: £171kAug 2026: £1.9m 202420252026
Data up to August 2026 (provisional) · Monthly data: Eurostat Comext (CC BY 4.0), HMRC (OGL v3.0)

Main suppliers, last 12 months

CountryValueShareChange
Malaysia £2.2m 45.5% +738.5%
Denmark £993k 20.6% +9.7%
United States £810k 16.8% +180.5%
United Arab Emirates £286k 5.9% -76.3%
India £181k 3.7% +9%
Australia £180k 3.7% —
France £161k 3.3% +131.7%
Belgium £15k 0.3% -53.3%

Same subheading in other tariffs

World trade in 2024

2937.12 · US$539m

Trade value (US$) no reported trade < US$58kUS$58k+US$4m+US$45m+> US$73m

Exports: 51
  1. Denmark: US$241m
  2. United States: US$73m
  3. Malaysia: US$61m
  4. Portugal: US$52m
  5. India: US$45m
  6. China: US$23m
  7. France: US$12m
  8. Germany: US$7m
  9. Canada: US$7m
  10. Belgium: US$4m
  11. Singapore: US$4m
  12. Poland: US$3m
  13. United Arab Emirates: US$2m
  14. Netherlands: US$2m
  15. Switzerland: US$1m
  16. Ireland: US$875k
  17. United Kingdom: US$778k
  18. Russia: US$557k
  19. Romania: US$322k
  20. Latvia: US$143k
  21. Morocco: US$89k
  22. Japan: US$58k
  23. Austria: US$50k
  24. Australia: US$31k
  25. Mexico: US$20k
  26. Italy: US$20k
  27. Sweden: US$15k
  28. Spain: US$15k
  29. Armenia: US$15k
  30. Argentina: US$13k
  31. Brazil: US$8k
  32. South Africa: US$7k
  33. Finland: US$5k
  34. Israel: US$4k
  35. Afghanistan: US$1k
  36. Sri Lanka: US$1k
  37. Türkiye: US$1k
  38. South Korea: US$1k
  39. Greece: US$200
  40. Estonia: US$100
  41. Hong Kong SAR China: US$100
  42. Kenya: US$100
  43. New Zealand: US$100
  44. Ukraine: US$100
  45. Colombia: US$0
  46. Czechia: US$0
  47. Algeria: US$0
  48. Croatia: US$0
  49. Kyrgyzstan: US$0
  50. Slovakia: US$0
  51. Thailand: US$0

Top exporters

RankCountryValueShare
1 Denmark US$241m 44.6%
2 United States US$73m 13.5%
3 Malaysia US$61m 11.3%
4 Portugal US$52m 9.7%
5 India US$45m 8.3%
6 China US$23m 4.3%
7 France US$12m 2.2%
8 Germany US$7m 1.4%
9 Canada US$7m 1.2%
10 Belgium US$4m 0.7%

Top importers

RankCountryValueShare
1 United States US$97m 17.9%
2 France US$83m 15.3%
3 Denmark US$55m 10.1%
4 Mexico US$40m 7.5%
5 India US$37m 6.9%
6 Italy US$36m 6.6%
7 Brazil US$34m 6.3%
8 China US$29m 5.4%
9 Germany US$14m 2.5%
10 Algeria US$12m 2.3%

Import duty on this product around the world 164

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.

  • 0%median duty
  • 91number of duty-free countries (MFN)
  • 45%highest: Bahamas, Bermuda, Comoros

164

Importing countryMFN dutylines from – todata year
Afghanistan 5% 2018 · HS 2012
Albania 0% 2023
Algeria 15% 2023
Angola 0% 2023 · HS 2017
Anguilla 10% 2021 · HS 2017
Antigua & Barbuda 5% 2021 · HS 2007
Argentina 14% 2023 · HS 2017
Armenia 0% 2023
Aruba 6% 2021 · HS 2012
Australia 0% 2023
Azerbaijan 0% 2023 · HS 2017
Bahamas 45% 2022
Bahrain 0% 2023
Bangladesh 0% 2023 · HS 2017
Barbados 5% 2022 · HS 2017
Belarus 0% 2021 · HS 2017
Belize 5% 2023
Benin 5% 2023
Bermuda 25% 2023
Bhutan 10% 2022
Bolivia 0% 2023 · HS 2017
Bosnia & Herzegovina 0% 2022
Botswana 0% 2023
Brazil 14% 2023 · HS 2017
Brunei 0% 2023 · HS 2017
Burkina Faso 5% 2023
Burundi 0% 2023
Cambodia 0% 2023 · HS 2017
Cameroon 5% 2023
Canada 0% 2023
Cape Verde 0% 2023 · HS 2017
Cayman Islands 0% 2021 · HS 2002
Central African Republic 5% 2023
Chad 5% 2023
Chile 6% 2023 · HS 2017
China 4% 2023
Colombia 0% 2023 · HS 2017
Comoros 20% 2021 · HS 2017
Congo - Brazzaville 5% 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 5% 2023
Eswatini 0% 2023
Ethiopia 5% 2021 · HS 2017
European Union (27 countries) 0% 2023
Fiji 5% 2023
French Polynesia 8% 2023
Gabon 5% 2023
Gambia 5% 2023
Georgia 0% 2022 · HS 2017
Ghana 5% 2023
Gibraltar 12% 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 7.5% 2023
Indonesia 0% 2023
Iran 5% 2020 · HS 2017
Israel 0% 2022 · HS 2017
Jamaica 0% 2023
Japan 0% 2023
Jordan 0% 2023
Kazakhstan 0% 2023
Kenya 0% 2023
Kiribati 0% 2023 · HS 2002
Kuwait 0% 2023
Kyrgyzstan 0% 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 0% 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 0% 2023 · HS 2017
Mauritius 0% 2023
Mexico 0% 2023 · HS 2017
Micronesia 4% 2021 · HS 2017
Moldova 0% 2023 · HS 2017
Mongolia 5% 2023
Montserrat 0% 2023 · HS 2017
Morocco 2.5% 2023
Mozambique 0% 2023
Myanmar (Burma) 3% 2023 · HS 2017
Namibia 0% 2023
Nauru 10% 2021 · HS 2017
Nepal 5% 2023
New Zealand 0% 2023
Nicaragua 0% 2023
Niger 5% 2023
Nigeria 5% 2023
North Macedonia 0% 2023
Norway 0% 2023
Oman 0% 2023
Pakistan 0% 2023
Palestinian Territories 0% 2017 · HS 2017
Panama 0% 2023
Papua New Guinea 0% 2023
Paraguay 14% 2023 · HS 2017
Peru 0% 2023 · HS 2017
Philippines 1% 2023
Qatar 0% 2023
Russia 0% 2021 · HS 2017
Rwanda 0% 2023
Samoa 8% 2020 · HS 2017
São Tomé & Príncipe 5% 2019 · HS 2017
Saudi Arabia 0% 2023
Senegal 5% 2023
Seychelles 0% 2023
Sierra Leone 5% 2023
Singapore 0% 2023 · HS 2017
Solomon Islands 5% 2023 · HS 2017
Somalia 5% 2023 · HS 2017
South Africa 0% 2023
South Korea 0% 2023
Sri Lanka 0% 2023
St Kitts & Nevis 5% 2023
St Lucia 0% 2023 · HS 2012
St Pierre & Miquelon 8% 2021 · HS 2017
St Vincent & the Grenadines 5% 2023
Sudan 3% 2021 · HS 2017
Suriname 5% 2023 · HS 2007
Switzerland 0% 2023
Syria 1% 2020 · HS 2012
Tajikistan 0% 2021 · HS 2012
Tanzania 0% 2023
Thailand 0% 2023
Togo 5% 2023
Tonga 0% 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 0% 2023
United Kingdom 0% 2023
United States 0% 2023
Uruguay 14% 2023 · HS 2017
Uzbekistan 0% 2021 · HS 2017
Vanuatu 0% 2023
Venezuela 14% 2023 · HS 2017
Vietnam 0% 2023
Wallis & Futuna 6% 2021 · HS 2012
Yemen 5% 2017 · HS 2017
Zambia 0% 2023
Zimbabwe 0.1% 2023

Tariff data years 2017–2023; rates may have changed since. · 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
54154 Polypeptide hormones, protein hormones & glycoprotein hormones, their derivatives & structural analogues
End use (BEC Rev. 5)
Intermediate goods · BEC 711220
CPC 2.1 product
35250 Provitamins, vitamins and hormones; glycosides and vegetable alkaloids and their salts, ethers, esters and other derivatives; antibiotics
ISIC Rev. 4 activity
2100 Manufacture of pharmaceuticals, medicinal chemical and botanical products

Earlier HS editions

HSCode
20172937.12unchanged
20122937.12unchanged
20072937.12unchanged
20022937.12unchanged
19962937.91changed
19922937.91changed

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 Tariff change

    Guidance and Procedures for Implementing Tariff Adjustments for Specialty Pharmaceuticals and Associated Pharmaceutical Ingredients and Technical Corrections to the Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States for Duties Imposed Under Proclamation 11020

    FR Doc. 2026-19498 · 91 FR 60360 · Source: federalregister.gov

  2. 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

  3. EU Tariff change · Applies from:

    Regulation (EU) 2026/1395 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 17 June 2026 on applying a generalised scheme of tariff preferences and repealing Regulation (EU) No 978/2012

    CELEX 32026R1395 · Source: eur-lex.europa.eu

  4. US Tariff change

    Notice of Determination and Request for Comments Concerning Action Pursuant to Section 301: 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. 2026-11158 · 91 FR 33854 · Source: federalregister.gov

Rule changes →

The UK Global Tariff has one tariff line for subheading 2937.12; the duty is duty-free.

Subheading 2937.12 is a single line in the EU Combined Nomenclature, where the duty is duty-free.

146 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 £4.8m between September 2025 and August 2026 (up 63% on the year before); Malaysia supplied 46%, followed by Denmark.

In 2024, countries exported these goods worth US$539m (−48.8% year on year).

The largest exporter was Denmark (US$241m), followed by the United States.

Products classified here

Questions and answers

What is the HS code for insulin and its salts?

Insulin and its salts fall under HS subheading 2937.12, part of heading 2937, in section VI of the Harmonized System.

What is the import duty on insulin and its salts in the UK?

Under the UK Global Tariff, imports under 2937.12 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 insulin and its salts in the EU?

Under the EU Combined Nomenclature, imports under 2937.12 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 insulin and its salts?

Denmark, with US$241m in 2024 (44.6% of world exports).

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

146 countries pay no duty under a trade agreement or preference scheme, among them partners under DCTS Comprehensive, European Union, CARIFORUM. 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 Malaysia (46%), Denmark (21%) and United States (17%), out of total imports of £4.8m.

Download as CSV Follow changes (RSS)

Typical products

Everyday names, not part of the legal text.