Chapter
Chapter 36: Explosives; pyrotechnic products; matches; pyrophoric alloys; certain combustible preparations
6 headings make up chapter 36, part of section VI, products of the chemical or allied industries.
Duty rates compared
UK Free – 6.5% Third-country duty 17 tariff lines · average 0.4% 
EU 5.7% – 6.5% Third-country duty 14 tariff lines · average 6.3% 
Türkiye 5.7% – 6.5% Third-country duty 22 tariff lines · average 6.3% 
USA Free – 6.5% General (MFN) 16 tariff lines · average 2.5% 
Canada 6.5% General (MFN) 15 tariff lines 
Mexico Free – 15% General (MFN) 19 tariff lines · average 5% 
Brazil 3.6% – 12.6% General (MFN) 14 tariff lines · average 10.9% 
Argentina 3.6% – 20% General (MFN) 38 tariff lines · average 13.2% 
Peru Free – 6% General (MFN) 18 tariff lines · average 4.3% 
New Zealand Free – 5% General (MFN) 21 tariff lines · average 1% · 1× specific or compound duty 
Japan Free – 6.4% General (MFN) 15 tariff lines · average 5% 
Taiwan Free – 6.5% General (MFN) 31 tariff lines · average 3.7% 
GCC 5% General (MFN) 22 tariff lines 
Switzerland Free General (MFN) 13 tariff lines 
Norway Free General (MFN) 15 tariff lines 
North Macedonia Free – 6.5% General (MFN) 14 tariff lines · average 2.7% 
Nigeria 5% – 20% General (MFN) 14 tariff lines · average 10.4% Headings 6
- 3601Propellent powders
- 3602Prepared explosives, other than propellent powders
- 3603Safety fuses; detonating cords; percussion or detonating caps; igniters; electric detonators
- 3604Fireworks, signalling flares, rain rockets, fog signals and other pyrotechnic articles
- 3605Matches, other than pyrotechnic articles of heading 3604
- 3606Ferro-cerium and other pyrophoric alloys in all forms; articles of combustible materials as specified in note 2 to this chapter
EU: imports by month
World trade in 2024
Trade value (US$) no reported trade < US$4mUS$4m+US$51m+US$119m+> US$419m
Exports: 138
- China: US$1.4bn
- United States: US$1bn
- France: US$431m
- Canada: US$419m
- Czechia: US$398m
- India: US$379m
- Germany: US$355m
- South Africa: US$192m
- Poland: US$176m
- Spain: US$152m
- Sweden: US$149m
- Mexico: US$142m
- United Kingdom: US$120m
- Italy: US$119m
- Netherlands: US$116m
- Russia: US$111m
- Switzerland: US$109m
- Türkiye: US$107m
- Bosnia & Herzegovina: US$105m
- Thailand: US$103m
- Australia: US$102m
- Peru: US$95m
- Slovakia: US$89m
- Austria: US$87m
- Serbia: US$87m
- Philippines: US$82m
- South Korea: US$81m
- Egypt: US$80m
- Chile: US$79m
- Brazil: US$75m
- Norway: US$66m
- Belgium: US$65m
- Finland: US$51m
- Malaysia: US$33m
- Zambia: US$32m
- Bulgaria: US$32m
- Croatia: US$31m
- Ukraine: US$28m
- Romania: US$26m
- Costa Rica: US$25m
- Ireland: US$25m
- Pakistan: US$19m
- Vietnam: US$17m
- Japan: US$16m
- Kenya: US$15m
- Singapore: US$15m
- Montenegro: US$14m
- Hong Kong SAR China: US$13m
- Denmark: US$12m
- Indonesia: US$12m
- Hungary: US$11m
- Argentina: US$11m
- Bolivia: US$10m
- Israel: US$10m
- Greece: US$9m
- Portugal: US$9m
- Guatemala: US$8m
- Albania: US$8m
- Bahrain: US$7m
- Uganda: US$7m
Trade value (US$) no reported trade < US$6mUS$6m+US$30m+US$101m+> US$201m
Imports: 218
- United States: US$1.3bn
- Germany: US$425m
- Türkiye: US$280m
- Canada: US$258m
- Poland: US$224m
- Australia: US$222m
- France: US$201m
- Italy: US$195m
- Czechia: US$189m
- China: US$181m
- United Kingdom: US$166m
- Ukraine: US$161m
- Mexico: US$161m
- Spain: US$157m
- Japan: US$152m
- Indonesia: US$131m
- Bulgaria: US$131m
- Netherlands: US$121m
- Peru: US$117m
- Norway: US$113m
- Sweden: US$102m
- Romania: US$101m
- South Africa: US$95m
- Slovakia: US$93m
- Chile: US$83m
- Saudi Arabia: US$78m
- Brazil: US$67m
- Serbia: US$67m
- South Korea: US$67m
- Belgium: US$64m
- Thailand: US$63m
- Malaysia: US$61m
- Zimbabwe: US$60m
- Switzerland: US$59m
- Hungary: US$58m
- Bosnia & Herzegovina: US$58m
- Israel: US$54m
- Austria: US$49m
- Nigeria: US$48m
- Zambia: US$48m
- Finland: US$46m
- Kazakhstan: US$44m
- Philippines: US$43m
- Uzbekistan: US$42m
- Portugal: US$39m
- Singapore: US$39m
- India: US$39m
- Russia: US$36m
- Taiwan: US$35m
- Congo - Kinshasa: US$34m
- Tanzania: US$34m
- Ghana: US$33m
- Bolivia: US$32m
- Colombia: US$31m
- Egypt: US$30m
- Burkina Faso: US$30m
- Nicaragua: US$30m
- Croatia: US$28m
- Denmark: US$27m
- Ecuador: US$26m
Top exporters
| Rank | Country | Value | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |  China | US$1.4bn | 18.2% |
| 2 | United States | US$1bn | 13.1% |
| 3 |  France | US$431m | 5.6% |
| 4 | Canada | US$419m | 5.5% |
| 5 |  Czechia | US$398m | 5.2% |
| 6 |  India | US$379m | 5% |
| 7 |  Germany | US$355m | 4.6% |
| 8 |  South Africa | US$192m | 2.5% |
| 9 |  Poland | US$176m | 2.3% |
| 10 |  Spain | US$152m | 2% |
In the UK Global Tariff, chapter 36 covers 17 tariff lines and the duty is between 0% and 6.5%. 15 of them are duty-free.
The EU Combined Nomenclature divides chapter 36 into 14 tariff lines; the duty is between 5.7% and 6.5% (average 6.3%).
In the Turkish Customs Tariff Schedule, chapter 36 covers 22 tariff lines and the duty is between 5.7% and 6.5%.
World trade in chapter 36 goods reached US$7.7bn in 2024, up 12.8% on 2023.
China was the largest exporter with 18.2% of the total, ahead of the United States.
The United States imported the most (US$1.3bn).
Chapter notes
Notes
1. This chapter does not cover separate chemically defined compounds other than those described in note 2(a) or (b) below.
2. The expression ‘articles of combustible materials’ in heading 3606 applies only to:
(a) metaldehyde, hexamethylenetetramine and similar substances, put up in forms (for example, tablets, sticks or similar forms) for use as fuels; fuels with a basis of alcohol, and similar prepared fuels, in solid or semi-solid form;
(b) liquid or liquefied-gas fuels in containers of a kind used for filling or refilling cigarette or similar lighters and of a capacity not exceeding 300 cm3; and
(c) resin torches, firelighters and the like.
Products classified here
Questions and answers
What is the HS code for explosives; pyrotechnic products; matches; pyrophoric alloys; certain combustible preparations?
Explosives; pyrotechnic products; matches; pyrophoric alloys; certain combustible preparations make up HS chapter 36, in section VI of the Harmonized System.
What is the import duty on explosives; pyrotechnic products; matches… in the UK?
Under the UK Global Tariff, imports under 36 from countries without a preferential agreement are charged at 0% to 6.5%, depending on the line. Preferential rates, anti-dumping duties and VAT are not included.
What is the import duty on explosives; pyrotechnic products; matches… in the EU?
Under the EU Combined Nomenclature, imports under 36 from countries without a preferential agreement are charged at 5.7% to 6.5%, depending on the line. Preferential rates, anti-dumping duties and VAT are not included.
Which country exports the most explosives; pyrotechnic products; matches…?
China, with US$1.4bn in 2024 (18.2% of world exports).