Subheading · Chapter 32 · Heading 3204
3204.18: Carotenoid colouring matters and preparations based thereon
Subheading 3204.18 belongs to heading 3204 (synthetic organic colouring matter) in chapter 32.
What you pay
Importing into UK
Rates by national line · UK Global Tariff
UK lines →- 3204 18 00 00 Carotenoid colouring matters and preparations based thereon 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 3
- Additional dutyAdditional duties 35%
- Applies to goods from
- Belarus, Russia
- Legal act
- 2023 No. 1203
- Documents
- 9062
- 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 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 |
| 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
Main suppliers, last 12 months
| Country | Value | Share | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
 Italy | £3.9m | 47.8% | +58.9% |
 Germany | £1.9m | 23.5% | -18.4% |
 France | £1.1m | 14.1% | -26% |
 China | £581k | 7.2% | +473.4% |
 Taiwan | £217k | 2.7% | -13.1% |
 Switzerland | £118k | 1.5% | +1.2% |
 India | £94k | 1.2% | -7.3% |
 Ireland | £67k | 0.8% | +22.3% |
Same subheading in other tariffs
EU 6.5% Third-country duty 1 tariff line 
Türkiye 6.5% Third-country duty 1 tariff line 
USA 3.1% General (MFN) 1 tariff line 
Canada Free General (MFN) 1 tariff line 
Mexico Free General (MFN) 2 tariff lines 
Brazil Free – 12.6% General (MFN) 4 tariff lines · average 5.8% 
Argentina Free – 12.6% General (MFN) 5 tariff lines · average 4.7% 
Peru Free General (MFN) 1 tariff line 
New Zealand Free General (MFN) 1 tariff line 
Japan 4.4% General (MFN) 1 tariff line Taiwan 5% General (MFN) 3 tariff lines 
GCC 5% General (MFN) 1 tariff line Switzerland Free General (MFN) 1 tariff line 
Norway Free General (MFN) 1 tariff line 
North Macedonia Free General (MFN) 1 tariff line 
Nigeria 10% General (MFN) 1 tariff line World trade in 2024
Trade value (US$) no reported trade < US$187kUS$187k+US$2m+US$26m+> US$83m
Exports: 70
- France: US$229m
- Netherlands: US$169m
- Germany: US$83m
- China: US$58m
- United States: US$47m
- Switzerland: US$28m
- India: US$26m
- Taiwan: US$13m
- Denmark: US$5m
- Japan: US$4m
- Ireland: US$4m
- Poland: US$4m
- Singapore: US$4m
- Italy: US$3m
- Spain: US$3m
- Sweden: US$3m
- Belgium: US$3m
- United Kingdom: US$2m
- Thailand: US$2m
- Eswatini: US$1m
- Austria: US$1m
- Armenia: US$691k
- Iceland: US$679k
- Mexico: US$626k
- Peru: US$583k
- Brazil: US$538k
- Latvia: US$515k
- Türkiye: US$509k
- Czechia: US$419k
- Slovenia: US$354k
- Finland: US$317k
- Norway: US$290k
- Estonia: US$226k
- Colombia: US$211k
- Malaysia: US$187k
- Hong Kong SAR China: US$138k
- Argentina: US$133k
- Portugal: US$98k
- Chile: US$94k
- Indonesia: US$70k
- Serbia: US$66k
- Lithuania: US$65k
- Egypt: US$58k
- Canada: US$52k
- United Arab Emirates: US$46k
- Russia: US$34k
- Greece: US$31k
- Ecuador: US$30k
- Luxembourg: US$28k
- Ukraine: US$27k
- Hungary: US$20k
- New Zealand: US$19k
- Slovakia: US$19k
- Saudi Arabia: US$19k
- Uruguay: US$18k
- Israel: US$14k
- North Macedonia: US$12k
- South Africa: US$12k
- Croatia: US$11k
- Romania: US$11k
Trade value (US$) no reported trade < US$383kUS$383k+US$3m+US$11m+> US$32m
Imports: 145
- Netherlands: US$174m
- France: US$62m
- Türkiye: US$41m
- China: US$38m
- Germany: US$32m
- United States: US$30m
- Chile: US$27m
- Japan: US$27m
- Brazil: US$20m
- Belgium: US$17m
- Mexico: US$14m
- Switzerland: US$13m
- Peru: US$13m
- Spain: US$11m
- Colombia: US$11m
- United Kingdom: US$10m
- Denmark: US$9m
- Australia: US$9m
- Russia: US$8m
- Norway: US$8m
- Vietnam: US$8m
- Thailand: US$8m
- Ireland: US$7m
- Canada: US$7m
- Poland: US$6m
- Indonesia: US$6m
- India: US$5m
- Italy: US$5m
- Philippines: US$5m
- Singapore: US$4m
- Israel: US$4m
- Iran: US$4m
- Taiwan: US$4m
- Austria: US$4m
- Armenia: US$3m
- South Africa: US$3m
- Malaysia: US$2m
- Argentina: US$2m
- Hungary: US$2m
- Bangladesh: US$2m
- South Korea: US$2m
- Portugal: US$2m
- Ukraine: US$2m
- Sweden: US$1m
- Nigeria: US$1m
- Saudi Arabia: US$1m
- Serbia: US$1m
- New Zealand: US$1m
- Greece: US$1m
- United Arab Emirates: US$1m
- Croatia: US$1m
- Egypt: US$1m
- Czechia: US$1m
- Ecuador: US$1m
- Morocco: US$991k
- Uruguay: US$928k
- Tunisia: US$914k
- Pakistan: US$899k
- Guatemala: US$879k
- Slovenia: US$868k
Top exporters
| Rank | Country | Value | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | France | US$229m | 32.8% |
| 2 |  Netherlands | US$169m | 24.2% |
| 3 | Germany | US$83m | 11.9% |
| 4 | China | US$58m | 8.3% |
| 5 | United States | US$47m | 6.7% |
| 6 | Switzerland | US$28m | 3.9% |
| 7 | India | US$26m | 3.8% |
| 8 | Taiwan | US$13m | 1.8% |
| 9 |  Denmark | US$5m | 0.7% |
| 10 | Japan | US$4m | 0.6% |
Top importers
| Rank | Country | Value | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Netherlands | US$174m | 24.9% |
| 2 | France | US$62m | 8.9% |
| 3 | Türkiye | US$41m | 5.8% |
| 4 | China | US$38m | 5.5% |
| 5 | Germany | US$32m | 4.5% |
| 6 | United States | US$30m | 4.3% |
| 7 |  Chile | US$27m | 3.9% |
| 8 | Japan | US$27m | 3.8% |
| 9 | Brazil | US$20m | 2.9% |
| 10 |  Belgium | US$17m | 2.4% |
Import duty on this product around the world 93
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
- 37number of duty-free countries (MFN)
- 45%highest: Bahamas, Bermuda, Pakistan
93
| Importing country | MFN duty | lines from – to | data year |
|---|---|---|---|
 Albania | 0% | 2023 | |
 Algeria | 5% | 2023 | |
 Armenia | 5% | 2023 | |
 Australia | 5% | 2023 | |
 Bahamas | 45% | 2022 | |
 Bahrain | 5% | 2023 | |
 Belize | 5% | 2023 | |
 Benin | 10% | 2023 | |
 Bermuda | 25% | 2023 | |
 Bhutan | 10% | 2022 | |
 Bosnia & Herzegovina | 0% | 2022 | |
 Botswana | 0% | 2023 | |
 Burkina Faso | 10% | 2023 | |
 Burundi | 0% | 2023 | |
 Cameroon | 10% | 2023 | |
| Canada | 0% | 2023 | |
 Central African Republic | 10% | 2023 | |
 Chad | 10% | 2023 | |
| China | 6.5% | 2023 | |
 Congo - Brazzaville | 10% | 2023 | |
 Costa Rica | 0% | 2023 | |
 Dominican Republic | 0% | 2023 | |
 El Salvador | 0% | 2022 | |
 Equatorial Guinea | 10% | 2023 | |
 Eswatini | 0% | 2023 | |
| European Union (27 countries) | 6.5% | 2023 | |
 Fiji | 5% | 2023 | |
 French Polynesia | 8% | 2023 | |
 Gabon | 10% | 2023 | |
 Gambia | 10% | 2023 | |
 Ghana | 10% | 2023 | |
 Guatemala | 0% | 2023 | |
 Guinea | 10% | 2023 | |
 Guinea-Bissau | 10% | 2023 | |
 Honduras | 0% | 2023 | |
 Hong Kong SAR China | 0% | 2023 | |
 Iceland | 0% | 2023 | |
| India | 7.5% | 2023 | |
 Indonesia | 5% | 2023 | |
 Jamaica | 0% | 2023 | |
| Japan | 4.4% | 2023 | |
 Jordan | 0% | 2023 | |
 Kazakhstan | 5% | 2023 | |
 Kenya | 0% | 2023 | |
 Kuwait | 5% | 2023 | |
 Lesotho | 0% | 2023 | |
 Liberia | 10% | 2023 | |
 Macao SAR China | 0% | 2023 | |
 Madagascar | 10% | 2023 | |
 Malaysia | 0% | 2023 | |
 Maldives | 0% | 2023 | |
 Mali | 10% | 2023 | |
 Mauritius | 0% | 2023 | |
 Mongolia | 5% | 2023 | |
 Morocco | 2.5% | 2023 | |
 Mozambique | 7.5% | 2023 | |
 Namibia | 0% | 2023 | |
 Nepal | 10% | 2023 | |
| New Zealand | 0% | 2023 | |
 Nicaragua | 0% | 2023 | |
 Niger | 10% | 2023 | |
| Nigeria | 10% | 2023 | |
| North Macedonia | 0% | 2023 | |
| Norway | 0% | 2023 | |
 Oman | 5% | 2023 | |
 Pakistan | 11% | 2023 | |
 Panama | 0% | 2023 | |
 Papua New Guinea | 0% | 2023 | |
 Philippines | 1% | 2023 | |
 Qatar | 5% | 2023 | |
 Rwanda | 0% | 2023 | |
 Saudi Arabia | 5% | 2023 | |
 Senegal | 10% | 2023 | |
 Seychelles | 0% | 2023 | |
 Sierra Leone | 10% | 2023 | |
 South Africa | 0% | 2023 | |
 South Korea | 8% | 2023 | |
 Sri Lanka | 0% | 2023 | |
 St Kitts & Nevis | 5% | 2023 | |
 St Vincent & the Grenadines | 5% | 2023 | |
| Switzerland | 0.2%* | 2023 | |
 Tanzania | 0% | 2023 | |
 Thailand | 0% | 2023 | |
 Togo | 10% | 2023 | |
| Türkiye | 6.5% | 2023 | |
 Uganda | 0% | 2023 | |
 United Arab Emirates | 5% | 2023 | |
| United Kingdom | 6% | 2023 | |
| United States | 3.1% | 2023 | |
 Vanuatu | 10% | 2023 | |
 Vietnam | 0% | 2023 | |
 Zambia | 0% | 2023 | |
 Zimbabwe | 0.1% | 2023 |
Tariff data years 2022–2023; 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
- 53119 Other synthetic organic colouring matter (including mixtures of colouring matter falling within two/more of the headings of subgroup 531.1)
- 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
| HS | Code | |
|---|---|---|
| 2017 | 3204.19 | changed |
| 2012 | 3204.19 | changed |
| 2007 | 3204.19 | changed |
| 2002 | 3204.19 | changed |
| 1996 | 3204.19 | changed |
| 1992 | 3204.19 | changed |
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.
- Import and export controls
FR Doc. 2026-14542 · 91 FR 45516 · Source: federalregister.gov
- Tariff change · Applies from:
CELEX 32026R1395 · Source: eur-lex.europa.eu
- Tariff change
FR Doc. 2026-11158 · 91 FR 33854 · Source: federalregister.gov
- Sanctions · Applies from:
The Russia (Sanctions) (EU Exit) (Amendment) Regulations 2026
S.I. 2026/543 · Source: legislation.gov.uk
Code history
Since 2022; before, these goods were classified under 3204.17, 3204.19.
The UK Global Tariff has one tariff line for subheading 3204.18; the duty is duty-free.
Subheading 3204.18 is a single line in the EU Combined Nomenclature, where the duty is 6.5%.
173 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 £8.1m between September 2025 and August 2026 (up 11% on the year before); Italy supplied 48%, followed by Germany.
In 2024, countries exported these goods worth US$699m (+8.8% year on year).
The largest exporter was France (US$229m), followed by the Netherlands.
Questions and answers
What is the HS code for carotenoid colouring matters and preparations based thereon?
Carotenoid colouring matters and preparations based thereon fall under HS subheading 3204.18, part of heading 3204, in section VI of the Harmonized System.
What is the import duty on carotenoid colouring matters and preparations… in the UK?
Under the UK Global Tariff, imports under 3204.18 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 carotenoid colouring matters and preparations… in the EU?
Under the EU Combined Nomenclature, imports under 3204.18 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 carotenoid colouring matters and preparations…?
France, with US$229m in 2024 (32.8% 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 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 Italy (48%), Germany (24%) and France (14%), out of total imports of £8.1m.