Subheading · Chapter 34 · Heading 3402
3402.41: Other organic surface-active agents, whether: cationic
Official description Cationic
Subheading 3402.41 belongs to heading 3402 (organic surface-active agents) in chapter 34.
What you pay
Importing into UK
Rates by national line · UK Global Tariff
UK lines →- 3402 41 00 00 Cationic 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 2
- Additional dutyAdditional duties 35%
- Applies to goods from
- Belarus, Russia
- Legal act
- 2022 No. 598
- Documents
- 9014
- 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 2
- Import controlRestriction on entry into free circulation
- Applies to goods from
- Russia, Ukraine
- Legal act
- 2023 No. 440, S.I. 2022/395
- Documents
- 9011
- 9022
- 9038
- 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 |
| 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
Main suppliers, last 12 months
| Country | Value | Share | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
 Germany | £3.2m | 32% | +21.5% |
 Spain | £2.3m | 23.3% | -26.8% |
 United States | £1m | 10.2% | +8.4% |
 France | £987k | 9.8% | -22% |
 Sweden | £574k | 5.7% | +20.4% |
 South Korea | £299k | 3% | +31.1% |
 Ireland | £297k | 3% | +21.6% |
 China | £276k | 2.7% | +165.2% |
Same subheading in other tariffs
EU 4% Third-country duty 1 tariff line 
Türkiye 4% Third-country duty 1 tariff line USA 4% General (MFN) 2 tariff lines 
Canada 6.5% Third-country duty 1 tariff line 
Mexico Free – 5% Third-country duty 3 tariff lines · average 3.3% 
Brazil Free – 12.6% Third-country duty 2 tariff lines · average 6.3% 
Argentina Free – 12.6% Third-country duty 2 tariff lines · average 6.3% 
Peru 6% Third-country duty 2 tariff lines 
New Zealand 5% Third-country duty 1 tariff line 
Japan Free Third-country duty 1 tariff line 
Taiwan 4% Third-country duty 1 tariff line 
GCC 5% Third-country duty 1 tariff line 
Switzerland Free Third-country duty 1 tariff line 
Norway Free Third-country duty 1 tariff line 
North Macedonia Free Third-country duty 1 tariff line 
Nigeria 20% – 35% Third-country duty 2 tariff lines · average 27.5% World trade in 2024
Trade value (US$) no reported trade < US$298kUS$298k+US$4m+US$12m+> US$82m
Exports: 95
- China: US$179m
- United States: US$95m
- South Korea: US$82m
- Germany: US$54m
- Spain: US$37m
- Thailand: US$26m
- Sweden: US$21m
- Mexico: US$20m
- France: US$17m
- Singapore: US$12m
- Indonesia: US$11m
- Brazil: US$10m
- Italy: US$10m
- Japan: US$10m
- Belgium: US$10m
- Canada: US$10m
- Netherlands: US$9m
- United Kingdom: US$8m
- India: US$7m
- Ireland: US$7m
- Poland: US$5m
- Taiwan: US$5m
- Argentina: US$4m
- Philippines: US$4m
- Switzerland: US$3m
- Denmark: US$2m
- Türkiye: US$2m
- South Africa: US$2m
- Colombia: US$2m
- Vietnam: US$1m
- Saudi Arabia: US$1m
- Norway: US$1m
- Hungary: US$975k
- Estonia: US$971k
- Croatia: US$797k
- Ghana: US$763k
- Czechia: US$699k
- Russia: US$617k
- Malaysia: US$598k
- Egypt: US$557k
- Australia: US$527k
- United Arab Emirates: US$454k
- Slovakia: US$340k
- El Salvador: US$317k
- Kazakhstan: US$311k
- Austria: US$308k
- Iran: US$298k
- Bulgaria: US$254k
- Portugal: US$216k
- Qatar: US$212k
- Romania: US$175k
- Greece: US$165k
- Chile: US$154k
- Lithuania: US$150k
- Guatemala: US$104k
- Dominican Republic: US$99k
- Ukraine: US$97k
- Uruguay: US$90k
- Slovenia: US$76k
- Latvia: US$76k
Trade value (US$) no reported trade < US$506kUS$506k+US$3m+US$13m+> US$26m
Imports: 182
- United States: US$55m
- Canada: US$47m
- Vietnam: US$35m
- Italy: US$33m
- Brazil: US$27m
- India: US$26m
- Bangladesh: US$25m
- China: US$22m
- Japan: US$21m
- Indonesia: US$20m
- Philippines: US$18m
- Germany: US$17m
- Poland: US$17m
- Thailand: US$16m
- Australia: US$16m
- Russia: US$16m
- United Kingdom: US$15m
- Türkiye: US$13m
- Netherlands: US$13m
- Mexico: US$12m
- France: US$11m
- Belgium: US$10m
- Hungary: US$9m
- Saudi Arabia: US$9m
- South Korea: US$8m
- Spain: US$8m
- Pakistan: US$7m
- Argentina: US$7m
- Malaysia: US$7m
- Zimbabwe: US$7m
- Egypt: US$7m
- Colombia: US$6m
- United Arab Emirates: US$6m
- Peru: US$5m
- Chile: US$5m
- Israel: US$4m
- Austria: US$4m
- Taiwan: US$4m
- Paraguay: US$4m
- Portugal: US$4m
- South Africa: US$4m
- Iraq: US$3m
- Czechia: US$3m
- Denmark: US$3m
- Guatemala: US$3m
- Greece: US$3m
- Singapore: US$3m
- Congo - Kinshasa: US$3m
- New Zealand: US$3m
- Laos: US$3m
- Nigeria: US$2m
- Morocco: US$2m
- Bulgaria: US$2m
- Kuwait: US$2m
- Dominican Republic: US$2m
- Hong Kong SAR China: US$2m
- Norway: US$2m
- Romania: US$2m
- Ecuador: US$2m
- Ukraine: US$2m
Top exporters
| Rank | Country | Value | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | China | US$179m | 26.3% |
| 2 | United States | US$95m | 14% |
| 3 | South Korea | US$82m | 12% |
| 4 | Germany | US$54m | 8% |
| 5 | Spain | US$37m | 5.4% |
| 6 |  Thailand | US$26m | 3.8% |
| 7 | Sweden | US$21m | 3.2% |
| 8 | Mexico | US$20m | 2.9% |
| 9 | France | US$17m | 2.5% |
| 10 |  Singapore | US$12m | 1.8% |
Top importers
| Rank | Country | Value | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | United States | US$55m | 8.1% |
| 2 | Canada | US$47m | 6.9% |
| 3 |  Vietnam | US$35m | 5.2% |
| 4 |  Italy | US$33m | 4.9% |
| 5 | Brazil | US$27m | 4% |
| 6 |  India | US$26m | 3.7% |
| 7 |  Bangladesh | US$25m | 3.6% |
| 8 | China | US$22m | 3.3% |
| 9 | Japan | US$21m | 3.1% |
| 10 |  Indonesia | US$20m | 3% |
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.
- 6.5%median duty
- 23number of duty-free countries (MFN)
- 45%highest: Bahamas, Algeria, Nepal
93
| Importing country | MFN duty | lines from – to | data year |
|---|---|---|---|
 Albania | 0% | 2023 | |
 Algeria | 30% | 2023 | |
 Armenia | 6.5% | 2023 | |
 Australia | 5% | 2023 | |
 Bahamas | 45% | 2022 | |
 Bahrain | 5% | 2023 | |
 Belize | 13% | 5% – 20% | 2023 |
 Benin | 28% | 20% – 35% | 2023 |
 Bermuda | 13% | 2023 | |
 Bhutan | 10% | 2022 | |
 Bosnia & Herzegovina | 5% | 2022 | |
 Botswana | 20% | 2023 | |
 Burkina Faso | 28% | 20% – 35% | 2023 |
 Burundi | 10% | 2023 | |
 Cameroon | 20% | 2023 | |
| Canada | 6.5% | 2023 | |
 Central African Republic | 20% | 2023 | |
 Chad | 20% | 2023 | |
| China | 6.5% | 2023 | |
 Congo - Brazzaville | 20% | 2023 | |
 Costa Rica | 0% | 2023 | |
 Dominican Republic | 0% | 2023 | |
 El Salvador | 0% | 2022 | |
 Equatorial Guinea | 20% | 2023 | |
 Eswatini | 20% | 2023 | |
| European Union (27 countries) | 4% | 2023 | |
 Fiji | 5% | 2023 | |
 French Polynesia | 13% | 2023 | |
 Gabon | 20% | 2023 | |
 Gambia | 28% | 20% – 35% | 2023 |
 Ghana | 28% | 20% – 35% | 2023 |
 Guatemala | 0% | 2023 | |
 Guinea | 28% | 20% – 35% | 2023 |
 Guinea-Bissau | 28% | 20% – 35% | 2023 |
 Honduras | 0% | 2023 | |
 Hong Kong SAR China | 0% | 2023 | |
 Iceland | 0% | 2023 | |
| India | 10% | 2023 | |
| Indonesia | 5% | 2023 | |
 Jamaica | 13% | 5% – 20% | 2023 |
| Japan | 0% | 2023 | |
 Jordan | 0% | 2023 | |
 Kazakhstan | 6.5% | 2023 | |
 Kenya | 10% | 2023 | |
 Kuwait | 5% | 2023 | |
 Lesotho | 20% | 2023 | |
 Liberia | 28% | 20% – 35% | 2023 |
 Macao SAR China | 0% | 2023 | |
 Madagascar | 20% | 2023 | |
 Malaysia | 0% | 2023 | |
 Maldives | 0% | 2023 | |
 Mali | 28% | 20% – 35% | 2023 |
 Mauritius | 0% | 2023 | |
 Mongolia | 5% | 2023 | |
 Morocco | 2.5% | 2023 | |
 Mozambique | 20% | 2023 | |
 Namibia | 20% | 2023 | |
 Nepal | 30% | 2023 | |
| New Zealand | 5% | 2023 | |
 Nicaragua | 0% | 2023 | |
 Niger | 28% | 20% – 35% | 2023 |
| Nigeria | 28% | 20% – 35% | 2023 |
| North Macedonia | 0% | 2023 | |
| Norway | 0% | 2023 | |
 Oman | 5% | 2023 | |
 Pakistan | 17% | 11% – 20% | 2023 |
 Panama | 7.5% | 0% – 15% | 2023 |
 Papua New Guinea | 0% | 2023 | |
 Philippines | 1% | 2023 | |
 Qatar | 5% | 2023 | |
 Rwanda | 10% | 2023 | |
 Saudi Arabia | 6.5% | 2023 | |
 Senegal | 28% | 20% – 35% | 2023 |
 Seychelles | 0% | 2023 | |
 Sierra Leone | 28% | 20% – 35% | 2023 |
 South Africa | 20% | 2023 | |
| South Korea | 8% | 2023 | |
 Sri Lanka | 0% | 2023 | |
 St Kitts & Nevis | 0% | 2023 | |
 St Vincent & the Grenadines | 13% | 5% – 20% | 2023 |
| Switzerland | 0% | 2023 | |
 Tanzania | 10% | 2023 | |
| Thailand | 5% | 2023 | |
 Togo | 28% | 20% – 35% | 2023 |
| Türkiye | 4% | 2023 | |
 Uganda | 10% | 2023 | |
 United Arab Emirates | 5% | 2023 | |
| United Kingdom | 0% | 2023 | |
| United States | 4% | 2023 | |
 Vanuatu | 30% | 2023 | |
| Vietnam | 8% | 2023 | |
 Zambia | 5% | 2023 | |
 Zimbabwe | 0.1% | 2023 |
Tariff data years 2022–2023; rates may have changed since. · 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
- 55421 Organic surface-active agents (other than soap), whether/not put up for retail sale
- End use (BEC Rev. 5)
- Intermediate goods · BEC 711220
- CPC 2.1 product
- 35310 Organic surface active agents, except soap
- ISIC Rev. 4 activity
- 2023 Manufacture of soap and detergents, cleaning and polishing preparations, perfumes and toilet preparations
Earlier HS editions
| HS | Code | |
|---|---|---|
| 2017 | 3402.12 | changed |
| 2012 | 3402.12 | changed |
| 2007 | 3402.12 | changed |
| 2002 | 3402.12 | changed |
| 1996 | 3402.12 | changed |
| 1992 | 3402.12 | changed |
Correspondence tables of the United Nations Statistics Division (UNSD)
Code history
Since 2022; before, these goods were classified under 3402.12.
The UK Global Tariff has one tariff line for subheading 3402.41; the duty is duty-free.
Subheading 3402.41 is a single line in the EU Combined Nomenclature, where the duty is 4%.
174 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 £10.1m between September 2025 and August 2026 (up 2% on the year before); Germany supplied 32%, followed by Spain.
In 2024, countries exported these goods worth US$681m (+3.5% year on year).
The largest exporter was China (US$179m), followed by the United States.
Questions and answers
What is the HS code for other organic surface-active agents, whether: cationic?
Other organic surface-active agents, whether: cationic fall under HS subheading 3402.41, part of heading 3402, in section VI of the Harmonized System.
What is the import duty on other organic surface-active agents in the UK?
Under the UK Global Tariff, imports under 3402.41 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 other organic surface-active agents in the EU?
Under the EU Combined Nomenclature, imports under 3402.41 from countries without a preferential agreement are charged at 4%. Preferential rates, anti-dumping duties and VAT are not included.
Which country exports the most other organic surface-active agents?
China, with US$179m in 2024 (26.3% of world exports).
Which countries can export these goods 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 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 Germany (32%), Spain (23%) and United States (10%), out of total imports of £10.1m.