Heading · Chapter 34
3401: Soap; organic surface-active products and preparations for use as soap, in the form of bars, cakes, moulded pieces or shapes, whether or not containing soap; organic surface-active products and preparations for washing the skin, in the form of liquid or cream and put up for retail sale, whether or not containing soap; paper, wadding, felt and nonwovens, impregnated, coated or covered with soap or detergent
Heading 3401 is divided into 4 six-digit subheadings and sits in chapter 34, soap, organic surface-active agents, washing preparations, lubricating….
Duty rates compared
UK Free – 4% Third-country duty 5 tariff lines · average 0.8% 
EU Free – 4% Third-country duty 5 tariff lines · average 0.8% 
Türkiye Free – 4% Third-country duty 13 tariff lines · average 0.3% 
USA Free – 4% General (MFN) 6 tariff lines · average 0.7% 
Canada Free – 6.5% Third-country duty 10 tariff lines · average 4.2% 
Mexico 15% – 25% Third-country duty 4 tariff lines · average 22.5% 
Brazil 16.2% Third-country duty 6 tariff lines 
Argentina 18% – 35% Third-country duty 9 tariff lines · average 19.9% 
Peru 6% Third-country duty 5 tariff lines 
New Zealand 5% Third-country duty 8 tariff lines 
Japan Free Third-country duty 6 tariff lines 
Taiwan Free – 4% Third-country duty 7 tariff lines · average 0.6% 
GCC 5% Third-country duty 15 tariff lines 
Switzerland Free Third-country duty 4 tariff lines 
Norway Free Third-country duty 8 tariff lines 
North Macedonia 6.5% Third-country duty 5 tariff lines 
Nigeria 10% – 35% Third-country duty 7 tariff lines · average 31.4% Subheadings 4
- 3401.11For toilet use (including medicated products)Toilet soap bars
- 3401.19Soap and organic surface-active products and preparations: otherOther bar soaps and soap products
- 3401.20Soap in other formsSoap in other forms (liquid, flakes)
- 3401.30Organic surface-active products and preparations for washing the skin, in the form of liquid or cream and put up for retail sale, whether or not containing soapLiquid soap and body wash (retail)
EU: imports by month
World trade in 2024
Trade value (US$) no reported trade < US$2mUS$2m+US$27m+US$174m+> US$900m
Exports: 206
- China: US$1bn
- Germany: US$1bn
- United States: US$1bn
- Indonesia: US$1bn
- France: US$1bn
- Poland: US$900m
- Italy: US$826m
- Türkiye: US$558m
- Malaysia: US$540m
- South Korea: US$502m
- Netherlands: US$486m
- United Kingdom: US$452m
- Japan: US$431m
- Canada: US$430m
- Thailand: US$382m
- Mexico: US$363m
- Spain: US$359m
- Belgium: US$217m
- Czechia: US$186m
- India: US$174m
- South Africa: US$174m
- Guatemala: US$154m
- Colombia: US$148m
- Singapore: US$136m
- Israel: US$127m
- Sweden: US$125m
- Côte d’Ivoire: US$118m
- Brazil: US$117m
- Vietnam: US$108m
- United Arab Emirates: US$105m
- Greece: US$104m
- Saudi Arabia: US$102m
- Kenya: US$100m
- Honduras: US$93m
- Switzerland: US$89m
- Australia: US$84m
- Egypt: US$75m
- Denmark: US$75m
- Austria: US$56m
- Russia: US$52m
- Slovakia: US$49m
- Bahrain: US$44m
- Philippines: US$43m
- Hungary: US$41m
- Portugal: US$36m
- Pakistan: US$32m
- Serbia: US$31m
- Taiwan: US$30m
- Bulgaria: US$29m
- Uganda: US$27m
- Jordan: US$25m
- Romania: US$23m
- Tanzania: US$23m
- Zambia: US$23m
- Ireland: US$23m
- Luxembourg: US$22m
- Dominican Republic: US$22m
- New Zealand: US$19m
- Croatia: US$19m
- Ukraine: US$16m
Trade value (US$) no reported trade < US$19mUS$19m+US$61m+US$188m+> US$500m
Imports: 223
- United States: US$2bn
- Germany: US$910m
- China: US$752m
- Canada: US$728m
- France: US$620m
- United Kingdom: US$601m
- Netherlands: US$500m
- Australia: US$366m
- United Arab Emirates: US$342m
- Poland: US$341m
- India: US$285m
- Japan: US$278m
- Belgium: US$259m
- Italy: US$246m
- Singapore: US$241m
- Mexico: US$238m
- Spain: US$227m
- Czechia: US$222m
- Philippines: US$218m
- Russia: US$198m
- Saudi Arabia: US$195m
- Malaysia: US$193m
- Austria: US$188m
- Romania: US$182m
- Taiwan: US$178m
- South Korea: US$161m
- Switzerland: US$147m
- Vietnam: US$144m
- Iraq: US$144m
- Hungary: US$143m
- Türkiye: US$138m
- Sweden: US$131m
- Portugal: US$128m
- Peru: US$117m
- Ireland: US$111m
- Thailand: US$111m
- Denmark: US$110m
- Slovakia: US$106m
- Hong Kong SAR China: US$102m
- Norway: US$100m
- South Africa: US$99m
- El Salvador: US$90m
- Indonesia: US$89m
- Chile: US$89m
- Greece: US$88m
- Kazakhstan: US$83m
- Kuwait: US$81m
- Ukraine: US$78m
- Tanzania: US$76m
- New Zealand: US$71m
- Ghana: US$65m
- Venezuela: US$64m
- Costa Rica: US$63m
- Guatemala: US$63m
- Serbia: US$62m
- Croatia: US$61m
- Nicaragua: US$61m
- Malawi: US$60m
- Finland: US$51m
- Qatar: US$49m
Top exporters
| Rank | Country | Value | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |  China | US$1bn | 8.7% |
| 2 |  Germany | US$1bn | 8.1% |
| 3 | United States | US$1bn | 7.6% |
| 4 |  Indonesia | US$1bn | 7.1% |
| 5 |  France | US$1bn | 6.7% |
| 6 |  Poland | US$900m | 5.7% |
| 7 |  Italy | US$826m | 5.2% |
| 8 | Türkiye | US$558m | 3.5% |
| 9 |  Malaysia | US$540m | 3.4% |
| 10 |  South Korea | US$502m | 3.2% |
Top importers
| Rank | Country | Value | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | United States | US$2bn | 10.9% |
| 2 | Germany | US$910m | 5.8% |
| 3 | China | US$752m | 4.8% |
| 4 | Canada | US$728m | 4.6% |
| 5 | France | US$620m | 3.9% |
| 6 | United Kingdom | US$601m | 3.8% |
| 7 |  Netherlands | US$500m | 3.2% |
| 8 |  Australia | US$366m | 2.3% |
| 9 |  United Arab Emirates | US$342m | 2.2% |
| 10 | Poland | US$341m | 2.2% |
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.
- Sanctions · Applies from:
The Russia (Sanctions) (EU Exit) (Amendment) Regulations 2026
S.I. 2026/543 · Source: legislation.gov.uk
The UK Global Tariff divides heading 3401 into 5 tariff lines; the duty is between 0% and 4% (average 0.8%). 4 of them are duty-free.
In the EU Combined Nomenclature, heading 3401 covers 5 tariff lines and the duty is between 0% and 4%. 4 of them are duty-free.
The Turkish Customs Tariff Schedule divides heading 3401 into 13 tariff lines; the duty is between 0% and 4% (average 0.3%). 12 of them are duty-free.
In the Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States, heading 3401 covers 6 tariff lines and the duty is between 0% and 4%. 5 of them are duty-free.
The Customs Tariff of Canada divides heading 3401 into 10 tariff lines; the duty is between 0% and 6.5% (average 4.2%). 3 of them are duty-free.
In the Mexican Tariff (TIGIE), heading 3401 covers 4 tariff lines and the duty is between 15% and 25%.
The Brazilian Tariff (NCM/TEC) divides heading 3401 into 6 tariff lines; the duty is 16.2%.
In the Argentine Tariff (NCM-SIM), heading 3401 covers 9 tariff lines and the duty is between 18% and 35%.
The Customs Tariff of Peru divides heading 3401 into 5 tariff lines; the duty is 6%.
In the Working Tariff Document of New Zealand, heading 3401 covers 8 tariff lines and the duty is 5%.
The Customs Tariff Schedules of Japan divides heading 3401 into 6 tariff lines; the duty is duty-free.
In the Customs Import Tariff of Taiwan, heading 3401 covers 7 tariff lines and the duty is between 0% and 4%. 6 of them are duty-free.
The GCC Common Customs Tariff divides heading 3401 into 15 tariff lines; the duty is 5%.
In the Swiss Customs Tariff (Tares), heading 3401 covers 4 tariff lines and the duty is duty-free.
The Customs Tariff of Norway divides heading 3401 into 8 tariff lines; the duty is duty-free.
In the Customs Tariff of North Macedonia, heading 3401 covers 5 tariff lines and the duty is 6.5%.
The ECOWAS Common External Tariff (Nigeria) divides heading 3401 into 7 tariff lines; the duty is between 10% and 35% (average 31.4%).
In 2024, countries exported heading 3401 goods worth US$16bn (+1.1% year on year).
The largest exporter was China (US$1bn), followed by Germany.
The biggest buyer was the United States, with imports of US$2bn.
The United Kingdom ranked 12th among 206 exporters with US$452m.
The United Kingdom imported US$601m.
Legal notes
Notes
1. This chapter does not cover:
(a) edible mixtures or preparations of animal, vegetable or microbial fats or oils of a kind used as mould release preparations (heading 1517);
(b) separate chemically defined compounds; or
(c) shampoos, dentifrices, shaving creams and foams, or bath preparations, containing soap or other organic surface-active agents (heading 3305, 3306 or 3307).
2. For the purposes of heading 3401, the expression ‘soap’ applies only to soap soluble in water. Soap and the other products of heading 3401 may contain added substances (for example, disinfectants, abrasive powders, fillers or medicaments). Products containing abrasive powders remain classified in heading 3401 only if in the form of bars, cakes or moulded pieces or shapes. In other forms, they are to be classified in heading 3405 as ‘scouring powders and similar preparations’.
3. For the purposes of heading 3402, ‘organic surface-active agents’ are products which, when mixed with water at a concentration of 0,5 % at 20 °C and left to stand for one hour at the same temperature:
(a) give a transparent or translucent liquid or stable emulsion without separation of insoluble matter; and
(b) reduce the surface tension of water to 4,5 × 10–2 N/m (45 dyn/cm) or less.
4. In heading 3403, the expression ‘petroleum oils and oils obtained from bituminous minerals’ applies to the products defined in note 2 to Chapter 27.
5. In heading 3404, subject to the exclusions provided below, the expression ‘artificial waxes and prepared waxes’ applies only to:
(a) chemically produced organic products of a waxy character, whether or not water-soluble;
(b) products obtained by mixing different waxes;
(c) products of a waxy character with a basis of one or more waxes and containing fats, resins, mineral substances or other materials.
The heading does not apply to:
(a) products of heading 1516, 3402 or 3823, even if having a waxy character;
(b) unmixed animal waxes or unmixed vegetable waxes, whether or not refined or coloured, of heading 1521;
(c) mineral waxes or similar products of heading 2712, whether or not intermixed or merely coloured; or
(d) waxes mixed with, dispersed in or dissolved in a liquid medium (headings 3405, 3809, etc.).
Products classified here
Questions and answers
What is the HS code for soap; organic surface-active products and preparations for use as soap, in the form of bars, cakes, moulded pieces or shapes, whether or not containing soap; organic surface-active products and preparations for washing the skin, in the form of liquid or cream and put up for retail sale, whether or not containing soap; paper, wadding, felt and nonwovens, impregnated, coated or covered with soap or detergent?
Soap; organic surface-active products and preparations for use as soap, in the form of bars, cakes, moulded pieces or shapes, whether or not containing soap; organic surface-active products and preparations for washing the skin, in the form of liquid or cream and put up for retail sale, whether or not containing soap; paper, wadding, felt and nonwovens, impregnated, coated or covered with soap or detergent fall under HS heading 3401, part of chapter 34, in section VI of the Harmonized System.
What is the import duty on soap; organic surface-active products and… in the UK?
Under the UK Global Tariff, imports under 3401 from countries without a preferential agreement are charged at 0% to 4%, depending on the line. Preferential rates, anti-dumping duties and VAT are not included.
What is the import duty on soap; organic surface-active products and… in the EU?
Under the EU Combined Nomenclature, imports under 3401 from countries without a preferential agreement are charged at 0% to 4%, depending on the line. Preferential rates, anti-dumping duties and VAT are not included.
Which country exports the most soap; organic surface-active products and…?
China, with US$1bn in 2024 (8.7% of world exports).