Heading · Section VI

3204: Synthetic organic colouring matter, whether or not chemically defined; preparations as specified in note 3 to this chapter based on synthetic organic colouring matter; synthetic organic products of a kind used as fluorescent brightening agents or as luminophores, whether or not chemically defined

3204
  • 0%–6%UK
  • 6%–6.5%EU
  • 20%Türkiye
  • 0%–6.5%USA
  • US$13bnWorld trade in 2024

11 subheadings make up heading 3204 in chapter 32 (tanning or dyeing extracts).

In the UK Global Tariff, heading 3204 covers 76 tariff lines and the duty is between 0% and 6%. 4 of them are duty-free.

The EU Combined Nomenclature divides heading 3204 into 11 tariff lines; the duty is between 6% and 6.5% (average 6.5%).

In the Turkish Customs Tariff Schedule, heading 3204 covers 16 tariff lines and the statutory rate is 20%.

The Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States divides heading 3204 into 52 tariff lines; the duty is between 0% and 6.5% (average 5.3%). 9 of them are duty-free.

World trade in heading 3204 goods reached US$13bn in 2024, up 4.8% on 2023.

China was the largest exporter with 20.8% of the total, ahead of India.

China imported the most (US$894.5m).

The United Kingdom ranked 17th among 160 exporters with US$168m.

The United Kingdom imported US$209m.

Duty rates compared

UK Free – 6% Third-country duty 76 tariff lines · average 5.7% EU 6% – 6.5% Third-country duty 11 tariff lines · average 6.5% Türkiye 20% Statutory rate (Law 474) 16 tariff lines USA Free – 6.5% General (MFN) 52 tariff lines · average 5.3%

The Turkish schedule prints the statutory rate set under Customs Law 474. The rate applied at import is laid down in the Import Regime Decision and can be lower, or different by country of origin.

Subheadings 11

World trade in 2024

3204 · US$13bn

Trade value (US$) no reported trade < US$839.5kUS$839.5k+US$12.8m+US$180.7m+> US$645.2m

Exports: 160
  1. China: US$2.7bn
  2. India: US$2.6bn
  3. Germany: US$1bn
  4. United States: US$982.8m
  5. South Korea: US$645.2m
  6. Japan: US$601m
  7. Netherlands: US$476.9m
  8. France: US$454.6m
  9. Switzerland: US$388.1m
  10. Taiwan: US$318m
  11. Spain: US$285.1m
  12. Belgium: US$269.2m
  13. Italy: US$246.6m
  14. Singapore: US$226.6m
  15. Indonesia: US$199.6m
  16. Thailand: US$180.7m
  17. United Kingdom: US$168m
  18. Türkiye: US$166.1m
  19. Mexico: US$137.1m
  20. Poland: US$82.7m
  21. Greece: US$69.9m
  22. Sweden: US$63.3m
  23. Denmark: US$60.8m
  24. Canada: US$52.7m
  25. Brazil: US$48m
  26. Czechia: US$46m
  27. Ireland: US$45.5m
  28. Malaysia: US$44.1m
  29. Austria: US$41.6m
  30. Hungary: US$33.1m
  31. Portugal: US$31.4m
  32. Hong Kong SAR China: US$26m
  33. Pakistan: US$21m
  34. Honduras: US$20.4m
  35. Romania: US$18.5m
  36. Norway: US$17.5m
  37. Vietnam: US$14.8m
  38. South Africa: US$14m
  39. Colombia: US$12.8m
  40. Finland: US$12.3m
  41. United Arab Emirates: US$11.7m
  42. Luxembourg: US$11.7m
  43. Uruguay: US$10.8m
  44. Australia: US$10.4m
  45. Slovakia: US$9.8m
  46. Guatemala: US$9.7m
  47. Lithuania: US$8.3m
  48. Saudi Arabia: US$7.3m
  49. Russia: US$7.3m
  50. Morocco: US$4.9m
  51. Chile: US$4.7m
  52. Latvia: US$4.4m
  53. Slovenia: US$4.2m
  54. Israel: US$3.8m
  55. Estonia: US$3.7m
  56. Serbia: US$3.5m
  57. Sri Lanka: US$3.4m
  58. Côte d’Ivoire: US$3.2m
  59. Costa Rica: US$3.1m
  60. Kuwait: US$2.9m

Top exporters

RankCountryValueShare
1 China US$2.7bn 20.8%
2 India US$2.6bn 19.8%
3 Germany US$1bn 8%
4 United States US$982.8m 7.6%
5 South Korea US$645.2m 5%
6 Japan US$601m 4.6%
7 Netherlands US$476.9m 3.7%
8 France US$454.6m 3.5%
9 Switzerland US$388.1m 3%
10 Taiwan US$318m 2.4%

Top importers

RankCountryValueShare
1 China US$894.5m 6.9%
2 United States US$782.2m 6%
3 South Korea US$768.7m 5.9%
4 Germany US$749.4m 5.8%
5 Türkiye US$556.7m 4.3%
6 Netherlands US$526.3m 4.1%
7 Bangladesh US$476.9m 3.7%
8 Vietnam US$454.9m 3.5%
9 Indonesia US$446.1m 3.4%
10 Italy US$439.3m 3.4%

Legal notes

Notes

1. This chapter does not cover:

  1. (a) separate chemically defined elements or compounds (except those of heading 3203 or 3204, inorganic products of a kind used as luminophores (heading 3206), glass obtained from fused quartz or other fused silica in the forms provided for in heading 3207, and also dyes and other colouring matter put up in forms or packings for retail sale of heading 3212);

  2. (b) tannates or other tannin derivatives of products of headings 2936 to 2939, 2941 or 3501 to 3504; or

  3. (c) mastics of asphalt or other bituminous mastics (heading 2715).

2. Heading 3204 includes mixtures of stabilised diazonium salts and couplers for the production of azo dyes.

3. Headings 3203, 3204, 3205 and 3206 apply also to preparations based on colouring matter (including, in the case of heading 3206, colouring pigments of heading 2530 or Chapter 28, metal flakes and metal powders), of a kind used for colouring any material or used as ingredients in the manufacture of colouring preparations. The headings do not apply, however, to pigments dispersed in non-aqueous media, in liquid or paste form, of a kind used in the manufacture of paints, including enamels (heading 3212), or to other preparations of headings 3207, 3208, 3209, 3210, 3212, 3213 or 3215.

4. Heading 3208 includes solutions (other than collodions) consisting of any of the products specified in headings 3901 to 3913 in volatile organic solvents when the weight of the solvent exceeds 50 % of the weight of the solution.

5. The expression ‘colouring matter’ in this chapter does not include products of a kind used as extenders in oil paints, whether or not they are also suitable for colouring distempers.

6. The expression ‘stamping foils’ in heading 3212 applies only to thin sheets of a kind used for printing, for example, book covers or hat bands, and consisting of:

  1. (a) metallic powder (including powder of precious metal) or pigment, agglomerated with glue, gelatin or other binder; or

  2. (b) metal (including precious metal) or pigment, deposited on a supporting sheet of any material.

Products classified here

Questions and answers

What is the HS code for synthetic organic colouring matter, whether or not chemically defined; preparations as specified in note 3 to this chapter based on synthetic organic colouring matter; synthetic organic products of a kind used as fluorescent brightening agents or as luminophores, whether or not chemically defined?

Synthetic organic colouring matter, whether or not chemically defined; preparations as specified in note 3 to this chapter based on synthetic organic colouring matter; synthetic organic products of a kind used as fluorescent brightening agents or as luminophores, whether or not chemically defined fall under HS heading 3204, part of chapter 32, in section VI of the Harmonized System.

What is the import duty on synthetic organic colouring matter in the UK?

Under the UK Global Tariff, imports under 3204 from countries without a preferential agreement are charged at 0% to 6%, depending on the line. Preferential rates, anti-dumping duties and VAT are not included.

What is the import duty on synthetic organic colouring matter in the EU?

Under the EU Combined Nomenclature, imports under 3204 from countries without a preferential agreement are charged at 6% to 6.5%, depending on the line. Preferential rates, anti-dumping duties and VAT are not included.

Which country exports the most synthetic organic colouring matter?

China, with US$2.7bn in 2024 (20.8% of world exports).