Subheading · Chapter 32 · Heading 3204

3204.15

3204.15: Vat dyes (including those usable in that state as pigments) and preparations based thereon

3204.15 is a six-digit subheading of heading 3204, synthetic organic colouring matter, chapter 32.

What you pay

Importing into UK

Customs duty 6% standard rate · across 4 national lines depends on the country of origin
Additional duties and charges 4 additional measures Import requirements: 3
VAT 20.00 % import VAT
Duty calculatorCalculate duty and taxes →

Rates by national line · UK Global Tariff

UK lines →
  1. 3204 15 00 00 Vat dyes (including those usable in that state as pigments) and preparations based thereon 6%
  2. 3204 15 00 15 Colourant c.i. vat blue 1 (cas rn 482-89-3) and preparations based thereon with a colourant c.i. vat blue 1 content of 94% or more by weight 6%
  3. 3204 15 00 25 Mixture in a 3:2 ratio of colourants c.i. vat blue 1 potassium salt (cas rn 835912-68-0) and c.i. vat blue 1 sodium salt (cas rn 894-86-0) and preparations based thereon with a combined content of colourants c.i. vat blue 1 salts of 40% or more by weight 6%
  4. 3204 15 00 70 Colourant c.i. vat red 1 (cas rn 2379-74-0) 6%
  5. 3204 15 00 90 Other 6%

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 4

  • Additional dutyAdditional duties 35%
    Applies to goods from
    Belarus, Russia
    Legal act
    2023 No. 1203
    Documents
    • 9062
  • Duty suspensionAutonomous tariff suspension Free
    Applies to goods from
    all countries
    In force
    until 31 December 2028
    Legal act
    2020 No. 1435
    Documents
    • 9Y12
    Tariff lines
    on 3 of 4 lines
  • 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)
  • Duty suspensionAirworthiness tariff suspension Free
    Applies to goods from
    all countries
    Legal act
    S.I. 2018/1249
    Documents
    • C119 Authorised Release Certificate — EASA Form 1 (Appendix I to Annex I to Regulation (EU) No 748/2012), or equivalent certificate

Import requirements 3

  • Import controlVeterinary control
    Applies to goods from
    Afghanistan, Albania, Algeria, American Samoa, Andorra, Angola, Anguilla, Antarctica and 232 more
    Legal act
    S.I. 2019/782
    Documents
    • C084 Exemption by virtue of Articles 3 and 4 of regulation 2019/2122 (animals intended for scientific purposes, research and diagnostic samples, and samples for product analysis and quality testing).
    • N853 Common Health Entry Document for Products (CHED-P) (as set out in Part 2, Section B of Annex II to Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2019/1715 (OJ L 261))
    • Y058 Exemption by virtue of Article 7 of Commission Delegated Regulation 2019/2122 (Goods which form part of passengers' personal luggage and are intended for personal consumption or use) or Article 10 (small consignments of goods sent to natural persons which are not intended to be placed on the market) of Commission Delegated Regulation 2019/2122
    • Y930 The declared goods are not concerned by Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2021/632
  • 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 - 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)—6%
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
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
DCTS Standard Indonesia 2.2%

UK: imports by month

last 12 months£2.3m-29.7% · previous 12 months
Average import price£43.22 per kg
Jan 2024: £133kFeb 2024: £935kMar 2024: £162kApr 2024: £254kMay 2024: £664kJun 2024: £217kJul 2024: £213kAug 2024: £366kSept 2024: £264kOct 2024: £176kNov 2024: £229kDec 2024: £54kJan 2025: £548kFeb 2025: £589kMar 2025: £138kApr 2025: £126kMay 2025: £278kJun 2025: £158kJul 2025: £662kAug 2025: £105kSept 2025: £88kOct 2025: £163kNov 2025: £209kDec 2025: £450kJan 2026: £276kFeb 2026: £37kMar 2026: £459kApr 2026: £4kMay 2026: £111kJun 2026: £149kJul 2026: £229kAug 2026: £164k 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
India £1.6m 68.6% -29.8%
China £522k 22.3% -11.2%
Germany £55k 2.3% -74.4%
Portugal £45k 1.9% -60.8%
France £37k 1.6% +60.2%
Türkiye £37k 1.6% +25.8%
Netherlands £23k 1% -33%
Indonesia £8k 0.4% —

Same subheading in other tariffs

World trade in 2024

3204.15 · US$489m

Trade value (US$) no reported trade < US$190kUS$190k+US$2m+US$13m+> US$57m

Exports: 68
  1. China: US$261m
  2. India: US$57m
  3. Singapore: US$46m
  4. Germany: US$24m
  5. Switzerland: US$21m
  6. Pakistan: US$17m
  7. Indonesia: US$13m
  8. Japan: US$9m
  9. Brazil: US$5m
  10. United States: US$4m
  11. Mexico: US$3m
  12. Austria: US$3m
  13. Belgium: US$3m
  14. United Kingdom: US$3m
  15. Türkiye: US$2m
  16. Netherlands: US$2m
  17. Hong Kong SAR China: US$2m
  18. Italy: US$2m
  19. France: US$2m
  20. Portugal: US$2m
  21. Spain: US$1m
  22. Czechia: US$689k
  23. Taiwan: US$671k
  24. Uzbekistan: US$664k
  25. United Arab Emirates: US$653k
  26. Honduras: US$614k
  27. Canada: US$583k
  28. Thailand: US$431k
  29. South Korea: US$413k
  30. Greece: US$371k
  31. Malaysia: US$261k
  32. Colombia: US$190k
  33. Saudi Arabia: US$52k
  34. Vietnam: US$50k
  35. Israel: US$48k
  36. Costa Rica: US$47k
  37. Egypt: US$40k
  38. South Africa: US$32k
  39. Kuwait: US$32k
  40. Kenya: US$29k
  41. Poland: US$21k
  42. Slovenia: US$20k
  43. Peru: US$17k
  44. Slovakia: US$15k
  45. Australia: US$14k
  46. Sweden: US$13k
  47. Luxembourg: US$12k
  48. Lithuania: US$11k
  49. Dominican Republic: US$9k
  50. Denmark: US$8k
  51. Guatemala: US$6k
  52. Russia: US$5k
  53. Serbia: US$5k
  54. Ghana: US$5k
  55. Argentina: US$5k
  56. Hungary: US$4k
  57. Chile: US$2k
  58. Ukraine: US$2k
  59. Romania: US$2k
  60. Latvia: US$1k

Top exporters

RankCountryValueShare
1 China US$261m 53.5%
2 India US$57m 11.7%
3 Singapore US$46m 9.4%
4 Germany US$24m 4.9%
5 Switzerland US$21m 4.3%
6 Pakistan US$17m 3.5%
7 Indonesia US$13m 2.6%
8 Japan US$9m 1.9%
9 Brazil US$5m 0.9%
10 United States US$4m 0.9%

Top importers

RankCountryValueShare
1 Pakistan US$64m 13.1%
2 India US$60m 12.3%
3 Türkiye US$38m 7.8%
4 Bangladesh US$37m 7.6%
5 Singapore US$37m 7.5%
6 Brazil US$31m 6.4%
7 Vietnam US$20m 4%
8 Mexico US$16m 3.3%
9 China US$14m 2.9%
10 Indonesia US$13m 2.7%

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
  • 55number of duty-free countries (MFN)
  • 45%highest: Bahamas, Bermuda, Cayman Islands

165

Importing countryMFN dutylines from – todata year
Afghanistan 0% 2018 · HS 2012
Albania 6% 2023
Algeria 5% 2023
Angola 0% 2023 · HS 2017
Anguilla 0% 2021 · HS 2017
Antigua & Barbuda 5% 2021 · HS 2007
Argentina 8% 2% – 14% 2023 · HS 2017
Armenia 5% 2023
Aruba 12% 2021 · HS 2012
Australia 0% 2023
Azerbaijan 15% 2023 · HS 2017
Bahamas 45% 2022
Bahrain 5% 2023
Bangladesh 5% 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 0% 2022
Botswana 0% 2023
Brazil 8% 2% – 14% 2023 · HS 2017
Brunei 0% 2023 · HS 2017
Burkina Faso 5% 2023
Burundi 0% 2023
Cambodia 7% 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 6.5% 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 5% 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 5% 2021 · HS 2017
European Union (27 countries) 6.5% 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
Grenada 5% 2023 · HS 2012
Guatemala 0% 2023
Guinea 5% 2023
Guinea-Bissau 5% 2023
Guyana 5% 2023 · HS 2017
Haiti 5% 2020 · HS 2017
Honduras 0% 2023
Hong Kong SAR China 0% 2023
Iceland 0% 2023
India 7.5% 2023
Indonesia 5% 2023
Iran 16% 5% – 26% 2020 · HS 2017
Israel 0% 2022 · HS 2017
Jamaica 0% 2023
Japan 4.4% 2023
Jordan 0% 2023
Kazakhstan 5% 2023
Kenya 0% 2023
Kiribati 10% 2023 · HS 2002
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%* 2021 · HS 2017
Macao SAR China 0% 2023
Madagascar 5% 2023
Malawi 0% 2021 · HS 2017
Malaysia 0% 2023
Maldives 0% 2023
Mali 5% 2023
Mauritania 5% 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 15% 2023 · HS 2017
Morocco 2.5% 2023
Mozambique 7.5% 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 9.5% 3% – 16% 2023
Palau 3% 2023 · HS 2012
Palestinian Territories 0% 2017 · HS 2017
Panama 4.2% 0% – 15% 2023
Papua New Guinea 0% 2023
Paraguay 4.5% 0% – 14% 2023 · HS 2017
Peru 0% 2023 · HS 2017
Philippines 1% 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 0% 2023 · HS 2012
St Pierre & Miquelon 5% 2021 · HS 2017
St Vincent & the Grenadines 5% 2023
Sudan 3% 2021 · HS 2017
Suriname 5% 2023 · HS 2007
Switzerland 1%* 2023
Syria 1% 2020 · HS 2012
Tajikistan 6.5% 2021 · HS 2012
Tanzania 0% 2023
Thailand 0% 2023
Togo 5% 2023
Tonga 15% 2023 · HS 2017
Trinidad & Tobago 0% 2023 · HS 2012
Türkiye 6.5% 2023
Tuvalu 0% 2017 · HS 2017
Uganda 0% 2023
Ukraine 5% 2023 · HS 2017
United Arab Emirates 5% 2023
United Kingdom 6% 2023
United States 5.6% 0% – 6.5% 2023
Uruguay 8% 2% – 14% 2023 · HS 2017
Uzbekistan 5% 2021 · HS 2017
Vanuatu 10% 2023
Venezuela 8% 2% – 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. * 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
53115 Vat dyes (including those usable in that state as pigments) & preparations based thereon
End use (BEC Rev. 5)
Intermediate goods · BEC 311210
CPC 2.1 product
34310 Synthetic organic colouring matter and preparations based thereon; synthetic organic products of a kind used as fluorescent brightening agents or as luminophores; colour lakes and preparations based thereon
ISIC Rev. 4 activity
2011 Manufacture of basic chemicals

Earlier HS editions

HSCode
20173204.15unchanged
20123204.15unchanged
20073204.15unchanged
20023204.15unchanged
19963204.15unchanged
19923204.15unchanged

Correspondence tables of the United Nations Statistics Division (UNSD)

Binding rulings for similar goods 1

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.

  • H200498 U.S. CBP 11 February 2021 · 3204.15.40

    Protest and Application for Further Review; Protest No. 1601-11-100298; Classification of Preparations Based on Mixtures of Disperse, Reactive, Acid and Vat Dyes; Temporary Duty Suspensions under heading 9902, HTSUS

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. 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

  2. GB Sanctions · Applies from:

    The Russia (Sanctions) (EU Exit) (Amendment) Regulations 2026

    S.I. 2026/543 · Source: legislation.gov.uk

Rule changes →

In the UK Global Tariff, subheading 3204.15 covers 4 tariff lines and the duty is 6%.

The EU Combined Nomenclature has one tariff line for subheading 3204.15; the duty is 6.5%.

Goods from 174 countries can enter the UK at a preferential rate instead of the standard 6%; 173 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 £2.3m (down 30% on the year before), at an average of £43.22 per kg; India supplied 69%, followed by China.

World trade in these goods reached US$489m in 2024, down 0.1% on 2023.

China was the largest exporter with 53.5% of the total, ahead of India.

Questions and answers

What is the HS code for vat dyes (including those usable in that state as pigments) and preparations based thereon?

Vat dyes (including those usable in that state as pigments) and preparations based thereon fall under HS subheading 3204.15, part of heading 3204, in section VI of the Harmonized System.

What is the import duty on vat dyes (including those usable in that state as… in the UK?

Under the UK Global Tariff, imports under 3204.15 from countries without a preferential agreement are charged at 6%. Preferential rates, anti-dumping duties and VAT are not included.

What is the import duty on vat dyes (including those usable in that state as… in the EU?

Under the EU Combined Nomenclature, imports under 3204.15 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 vat dyes (including those usable in that state as…?

China, with US$261m in 2024 (53.5% of world exports).

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

173 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 6% 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 India (69%), China (22%) and Germany (2%), out of total imports of £2.3m.

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