Subheading · Chapter 32 · Heading 3215

3215.11

3215.11: Printing ink, writing or drawing ink and other inks: printing ink, black

Black printing ink

Official description Black

3215.11 is the HS subheading for black printing ink, under heading 3215 in chapter 32.

What you pay

Importing into UK

Customs duty 6% standard rate depends on the country of origin
Additional duties and charges 3 additional measures Import requirements: 2
VAT 20.00 % import VAT
Duty calculatorCalculate duty and taxes →

Rates by national line · UK Global Tariff

UK lines →
  1. 3215 11 00 00 Black 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 3

  • Additional dutyAdditional duties 35%
    Applies to goods from
    Belarus, Russia
    Legal act
    2022 No. 598
    Documents
    • 9014
  • Duty suspensionAutonomous tariff suspension Free
    Applies to goods from
    all countries
    In force
    until 31 December 2028
    Legal act
    2020 No. 1435
    Documents
    • 9Y12
  • 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 2

  • 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
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

last 12 months£29.4m+1.7% · previous 12 months
Average import price£4.69 per kg
Jan 2024: £2.8mFeb 2024: £2.4mMar 2024: £2.1mApr 2024: £2.2mMay 2024: £2mJun 2024: £2.8mJul 2024: £2.6mAug 2024: £2.3mSept 2024: £2.1mOct 2024: £2.9mNov 2024: £2.4mDec 2024: £2.5mJan 2025: £1.9mFeb 2025: £2.2mMar 2025: £2.5mApr 2025: £2.6mMay 2025: £2.6mJun 2025: £2.2mJul 2025: £2.5mAug 2025: £2.3mSept 2025: £2.4mOct 2025: £2.5mNov 2025: £2.7mDec 2025: £2.4mJan 2026: £2.2mFeb 2026: £2.2mMar 2026: £2.4mApr 2026: £2.4mMay 2026: £2.6mJun 2026: £2.8mJul 2026: £2.6mAug 2026: £2.4m 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
Germany £5.8m 19.6% -2.6%
Japan £3.8m 13% -15.6%
Netherlands £3.6m 12.4% -8.9%
United States £3.4m 11.4% +22%
France £2.7m 9.1% +7.4%
India £1.6m 5.6% +31.4%
Israel £1.3m 4.4% -15.7%
Belgium £1.3m 4.3% -11.1%

Same subheading in other tariffs

World trade in 2024

3215.11 · US$1bn

Trade value (US$) no reported trade < US$294kUS$294k+US$3m+US$38m+> US$86m

Exports: 135
  1. United States: US$211m
  2. Japan: US$202m
  3. Germany: US$164m
  4. China: US$86m
  5. Netherlands: US$80m
  6. United Kingdom: US$72m
  7. France: US$61m
  8. Singapore: US$59m
  9. India: US$49m
  10. Switzerland: US$46m
  11. Philippines: US$45m
  12. Spain: US$39m
  13. Indonesia: US$38m
  14. Malaysia: US$38m
  15. Belgium: US$35m
  16. South Korea: US$30m
  17. Italy: US$29m
  18. Costa Rica: US$21m
  19. Israel: US$20m
  20. Austria: US$20m
  21. Türkiye: US$13m
  22. Taiwan: US$12m
  23. Sweden: US$11m
  24. Poland: US$7m
  25. South Africa: US$7m
  26. Luxembourg: US$4m
  27. Canada: US$4m
  28. Hungary: US$4m
  29. Thailand: US$3m
  30. Czechia: US$3m
  31. Brazil: US$3m
  32. Denmark: US$3m
  33. El Salvador: US$3m
  34. Hong Kong SAR China: US$3m
  35. Greece: US$2m
  36. Vietnam: US$2m
  37. Australia: US$2m
  38. Ireland: US$2m
  39. Lithuania: US$2m
  40. Mexico: US$2m
  41. Colombia: US$2m
  42. United Arab Emirates: US$1m
  43. Serbia: US$1m
  44. Romania: US$1m
  45. Honduras: US$948k
  46. Slovenia: US$945k
  47. Portugal: US$940k
  48. Finland: US$849k
  49. Latvia: US$811k
  50. Slovakia: US$796k
  51. Chile: US$784k
  52. Bulgaria: US$709k
  53. New Zealand: US$698k
  54. Guatemala: US$655k
  55. Croatia: US$645k
  56. Russia: US$600k
  57. Kyrgyzstan: US$565k
  58. Peru: US$528k
  59. Kazakhstan: US$469k
  60. Zambia: US$440k

Top exporters

RankCountryValueShare
1 United States US$211m 14.5%
2 Japan US$202m 13.9%
3 Germany US$164m 11.2%
4 China US$86m 5.9%
5 Netherlands US$80m 5.5%
6 United Kingdom US$72m 4.9%
7 France US$61m 4.2%
8 Singapore US$59m 4.1%
9 India US$49m 3.3%
10 Switzerland US$46m 3.1%

Top importers

RankCountryValueShare
1 United States US$123m 8.4%
2 Malaysia US$65m 4.4%
3 Germany US$64m 4.4%
4 China US$63m 4.3%
5 Mexico US$56m 3.8%
6 France US$55m 3.7%
7 Australia US$52m 3.6%
8 India US$47m 3.2%
9 Netherlands US$45m 3.1%
10 Singapore US$44m 3%

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
  • 38number of duty-free countries (MFN)
  • 25%highest: Bangladesh, Malaysia, Cayman Islands

165

Importing countryMFN dutylines from – todata year
Afghanistan 1% 2018 · HS 2012
Albania 0% 2023
Algeria 15% 2023
Angola 2% 2023 · HS 2017
Anguilla 15% 2021 · HS 2017
Antigua & Barbuda 0% 2021 · HS 2007
Argentina 14% 2023 · HS 2017
Armenia 5% 2023
Aruba 12% 2021 · HS 2012
Australia 0% 2023
Azerbaijan 15% 2023 · HS 2017
Bahamas 5% 2022
Bahrain 5% 2023
Bangladesh 25% 2023 · HS 2017
Barbados 15% 2022 · HS 2017
Belarus 5% 2021 · HS 2017
Belize 15% 2023
Benin 10% 2023
Bermuda 0% 2023
Bhutan 10% 2022
Bolivia 10% 2023 · HS 2017
Bosnia & Herzegovina 5% 2022
Botswana 0% 2023
Brazil 14% 2023 · HS 2017
Brunei 0% 2023 · HS 2017
Burkina Faso 10% 2023
Burundi 10% 2023
Cambodia 7% 2023 · HS 2017
Cameroon 5% 2023
Canada 0% 2023
Cape Verde 5% 2023 · HS 2017
Cayman Islands 22% 2021 · HS 2002
Central African Republic 5% 2023
Chad 5% 2023
Chile 6% 2023 · HS 2017
China 3.3% 0% – 6.5% 2023
Colombia 0% 2023 · HS 2017
Comoros 20% 2021 · HS 2017
Congo - Brazzaville 5% 2023
Cook Islands 0% 2022 · HS 2017
Costa Rica 4.5% 0% – 9% 2023
Côte d’Ivoire 10% 2023 · HS 2017
Cuba 10% 2023 · HS 2017
Dominica 15% 2023 · HS 2017
Dominican Republic 0% 2023
Ecuador 0% 2023 · HS 2017
Egypt 10% 2019 · HS 2017
El Salvador 5% 0% – 10% 2022
Equatorial Guinea 5% 2023
Eswatini 0% 2023
Ethiopia 5% 2021 · HS 2017
European Union (27 countries) 6.5% 2023
Fiji 5% 2023
French Polynesia 8% 2023
Gabon 5% 2023
Gambia 10% 2023
Georgia 0% 2022 · HS 2017
Ghana 10% 2023
Gibraltar 6% 2023 · HS 2017
Grenada 15% 2023 · HS 2012
Guatemala 0% 2023
Guinea 10% 2023
Guinea-Bissau 10% 2023
Guyana 15% 2023 · HS 2017
Haiti 0% 2020 · HS 2017
Honduras 5% 0% – 10% 2023
Hong Kong SAR China 0% 2023
Iceland 0% 2023
India 10% 2023
Indonesia 1.7% 0% – 5% 2023
Iran 10% 2020 · HS 2017
Israel 0% 2022 · HS 2017
Jamaica 15% 2023
Japan 3.9% 2023
Jordan 0% 2023
Kazakhstan 5% 2023
Kenya 10% 2023
Kiribati 0% 2023 · HS 2002
Kuwait 5% 2023
Kyrgyzstan 5% 2021 · HS 2017
Laos 5% 2023 · HS 2017
Lebanon 5% 2020 · HS 2017
Lesotho 0% 2023
Liberia 10% 2023
Libya 5% 2021 · HS 2017
Liechtenstein 1.9%* 2021 · HS 2017
Macao SAR China 0% 2023
Madagascar 5% 2023
Malawi 10% 2021 · HS 2017
Malaysia 25% 2023
Maldives 0% 2023
Mali 10% 2023
Mauritania 10% 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 21% 2.5% – 40% 2023
Mozambique 2.5% 2023
Myanmar (Burma) 1.5% 2023 · HS 2017
Namibia 0% 2023
Nauru 10% 2021 · HS 2017
Nepal 10% 2023
New Zealand 5% 2023
Nicaragua 5% 0% – 10% 2023
Niger 10% 2023
Nigeria 10% 2023
North Macedonia 0% 2023
Norway 0% 2023
Oman 5% 2023
Pakistan 19% 16% – 20% 2023
Palau 3% 2023 · HS 2012
Palestinian Territories 0% 2017 · HS 2017
Panama 3% 0% – 6% 2023
Papua New Guinea 0% 2023
Paraguay 11% 2023 · HS 2017
Peru 6% 2023 · HS 2017
Philippines 2.7% 0% – 7% 2023
Qatar 5% 2023
Russia 5% 2021 · HS 2017
Rwanda 10% 2023
Samoa 8% 2020 · HS 2017
São Tomé & Príncipe 5% 2019 · HS 2017
Saudi Arabia 6.5% 2023
Senegal 10% 2023
Seychelles 0% 2023
Sierra Leone 10% 2023
Singapore 0% 2023 · HS 2017
Solomon Islands 10% 2023 · HS 2017
Somalia 15% 2023 · HS 2017
South Africa 0% 2023
South Korea 0% 2023
Sri Lanka 20% 2023
St Kitts & Nevis 15% 2023
St Lucia 15% 2023 · HS 2012
St Pierre & Miquelon 6% 2021 · HS 2017
St Vincent & the Grenadines 15% 2023
Sudan 3% 2021 · HS 2017
Suriname 15% 2023 · HS 2007
Switzerland 1.8%* 2023
Syria 10% 2020 · HS 2012
Tajikistan 6.5% 2021 · HS 2012
Tanzania 10% 2023
Thailand 0% 2023
Togo 10% 2023
Tonga 3% 2023 · HS 2017
Trinidad & Tobago 15% 2023 · HS 2012
Türkiye 6.5% 2023
Tuvalu 0% 2017 · HS 2017
Uganda 10% 2023
Ukraine 0% 2023 · HS 2017
United Arab Emirates 5% 2023
United Kingdom 6% 2023
United States 1.2% 0% – 1.8% 2023
Uruguay 14% 2023 · HS 2017
Uzbekistan 10%* 2021 · HS 2017
Vanuatu 10% 2023
Venezuela 14% 2023 · HS 2017
Vietnam 5% 2023
Wallis & Futuna 6% 2021 · HS 2012
Yemen 5% 2017 · HS 2017
Zambia 15% 2023
Zimbabwe 21%* 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
53321 Printing ink, black
End use (BEC Rev. 5)
Intermediate goods · BEC 311210
CPC 2.1 product
35130 Printing ink
ISIC Rev. 4 activity
2022 Manufacture of paints, varnishes and similar coatings, printing ink and mastics

Earlier HS editions

HSCode
20173215.11unchanged
20123215.11unchanged
20073215.11unchanged
20023215.11unchanged
19963215.11unchanged
19923215.11unchanged

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.

  • N332054 U.S. CBP 28 April 2023 · 3215.11.90.50

    The tariff classification of Black CRSmax and NewV printing ink, and Color and White CRSmax and NewV printing ink from Germany and India

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. TR Classification

    İstatistik Pozisyonlarına Bölünmüş Türk Gümrük Tarife Cetvelinde Değişiklik Yapılmasına İlişkin Karar (Karar Sayısı: 11507)

    RG 11.07.2026 sayı 33307 · Karar 11507 · Source: resmigazete.gov.tr

  2. GB Sanctions · Applies from:

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

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

Rule changes →

Subheading 3215.11 is a single line in the UK Global Tariff, where the duty is 6%.

The EU Combined Nomenclature has one tariff line for subheading 3215.11; the duty is 6.5%.

Goods from 174 countries can enter the UK at a preferential rate instead of the standard 6%; 174 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 black printing ink worth £29.4m (up 2% on the year before), at an average of £4.69 per kg; Germany supplied 20%, followed by Japan.

World trade in black printing ink reached US$1bn in 2024, up 4.5% on 2023.

The United States was the largest exporter with 14.5% of the total, ahead of Japan.

Questions and answers

What is the HS code for printing ink, writing or drawing ink and other inks: printing ink, black?

Printing ink, writing or drawing ink and other inks: printing ink, black fall under HS subheading 3215.11, part of heading 3215, in section VI of the Harmonized System.

What is the import duty on printing ink, writing or drawing ink and other… in the UK?

Under the UK Global Tariff, imports under 3215.11 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 printing ink, writing or drawing ink and other… in the EU?

Under the EU Combined Nomenclature, imports under 3215.11 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 printing ink, writing or drawing ink and other…?

The United States, with US$211m in 2024 (14.5% of world exports).

Which countries can export black printing ink 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 6% applies. Pick a country above to see its rate.

Is there anti-dumping duty on black printing ink?

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 black printing ink from?

In the 12 months to August 2026, the largest suppliers were Germany (20%), Japan (13%) and Netherlands (12%), out of total imports of £29.4m.

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