Subheading · Chapter 38 · Heading 3809

3809.91

3809.91: Of a kind used in the textile or like industries

Textile finishing agents

3809.91 is the HS subheading for textile finishing agents, under heading 3809 in chapter 38.

What you pay

Importing into UK

Customs duty 6% standard rate · across 2 national lines depends on the country of origin
Additional duties and charges 3 additional measures Import requirements: 1
VAT 20.00 % import VAT
Duty calculatorCalculate duty and taxes →

Rates by national line · UK Global Tariff

UK lines →
  1. 3809 91 00 00 Of a kind used in the textile or like industries 6%
  2. 3809 91 00 30 Aqueous antimony pentoxide mixture containing by weight: -46% or more but not more than 55% of antimony pentoxide (cas rn 1314-60-9), and -1% or more but not more than 10% of triethanolamine (cas rn 102-71-6), or -1% or more but not more than 10% of triethanolamine phosphate (cas rn 10017-56-8) 6%
  3. 3809 91 00 90 Other 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

  • 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)
  • 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 1

  • Import controlRestriction on entry into free circulation
    Applies to goods from
    Ukraine
    Legal act
    S.I. 2022/395
    Documents
    • 9009
    • 9010
    • 9017

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£146.2m-4.4% · previous 12 months
Average import price£1.00 per kg
Jan 2024: £13.9mFeb 2024: £12.2mMar 2024: £12.5mApr 2024: £12.5mMay 2024: £11mJun 2024: £12.8mJul 2024: £14mAug 2024: £13.1mSept 2024: £10.8mOct 2024: £12.8mNov 2024: £12.7mDec 2024: £12mJan 2025: £13.5mFeb 2025: £13.3mMar 2025: £12.5mApr 2025: £14.3mMay 2025: £13.2mJun 2025: £13.4mJul 2025: £12.7mAug 2025: £11.9mSept 2025: £11mOct 2025: £10.1mNov 2025: £11.6mDec 2025: £13.7mJan 2026: £14mFeb 2026: £10mMar 2026: £12.7mApr 2026: £16.1mMay 2026: £11.9mJun 2026: £10.8mJul 2026: £12.2mAug 2026: £12.1m 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
France £120.3m 82.3% +4.9%
Germany £4.1m 2.8% -0.4%
Italy £4.1m 2.8% -65.7%
United States £3.6m 2.5% -15.6%
Hungary £3.1m 2.1% +20%
Belgium £3m 2.1% -38.6%
Japan £1.7m 1.1% -9%
China £1.6m 1.1% +79.9%

Same subheading in other tariffs

World trade in 2024

3809.91 · US$4bn

Trade value (US$) no reported trade < US$788kUS$788k+US$20m+US$97m+> US$264m

Exports: 124
  1. Germany: US$392m
  2. Czechia: US$311m
  3. France: US$297m
  4. Vietnam: US$264m
  5. United States: US$258m
  6. China: US$203m
  7. Mexico: US$151m
  8. Türkiye: US$126m
  9. South Korea: US$122m
  10. Japan: US$117m
  11. Belgium: US$104m
  12. Taiwan: US$97m
  13. Italy: US$95m
  14. Spain: US$94m
  15. Thailand: US$89m
  16. United Kingdom: US$83m
  17. Saudi Arabia: US$67m
  18. India: US$63m
  19. Netherlands: US$60m
  20. Austria: US$59m
  21. Hungary: US$40m
  22. Switzerland: US$40m
  23. Indonesia: US$39m
  24. Singapore: US$32m
  25. Brazil: US$29m
  26. Honduras: US$27m
  27. Poland: US$22m
  28. Israel: US$21m
  29. Malaysia: US$21m
  30. Colombia: US$20m
  31. Guatemala: US$19m
  32. Egypt: US$17m
  33. Croatia: US$15m
  34. Bosnia & Herzegovina: US$12m
  35. Canada: US$12m
  36. Sri Lanka: US$11m
  37. Romania: US$8m
  38. Denmark: US$6m
  39. Portugal: US$5m
  40. Greece: US$5m
  41. South Africa: US$5m
  42. Hong Kong SAR China: US$4m
  43. Argentina: US$3m
  44. Sweden: US$3m
  45. Serbia: US$3m
  46. Slovakia: US$3m
  47. Australia: US$2m
  48. Lithuania: US$2m
  49. Jordan: US$2m
  50. Kuwait: US$2m
  51. El Salvador: US$1m
  52. Peru: US$1m
  53. Kazakhstan: US$1m
  54. Slovenia: US$1m
  55. Finland: US$1m
  56. Russia: US$1m
  57. United Arab Emirates: US$1m
  58. Ireland: US$1m
  59. Pakistan: US$948k
  60. Uruguay: US$788k

Top exporters

RankCountryValueShare
1 Germany US$392m 11.2%
2 Czechia US$311m 8.9%
3 France US$297m 8.5%
4 Vietnam US$264m 7.5%
5 United States US$258m 7.4%
6 China US$203m 5.8%
7 Mexico US$151m 4.3%
8 Türkiye US$126m 3.6%
9 South Korea US$122m 3.5%
10 Japan US$117m 3.3%

Top importers

RankCountryValueShare
1 Germany US$244m 7%
2 China US$204m 5.8%
3 United Kingdom US$190m 5.4%
4 Bangladesh US$161m 4.6%
5 Thailand US$137m 3.9%
6 France US$127m 3.6%
7 Vietnam US$127m 3.6%
8 South Korea US$124m 3.5%
9 United States US$121m 3.4%
10 Canada US$116m 3.3%

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
  • 40number of duty-free countries (MFN)
  • 25%highest: Bahamas, Bermuda, Cuba

165

Importing countryMFN dutylines from – todata year
Afghanistan 5% 2018 · HS 2012
Albania 2% 2023
Algeria 5% 2023
Angola 0% 2023 · HS 2017
Anguilla 10% 2021 · HS 2017
Antigua & Barbuda 5% 2021 · HS 2007
Argentina 14% 2023 · HS 2017
Armenia 5% 2023
Aruba 12% 2021 · HS 2012
Australia 0% 2023
Azerbaijan 5% 2023 · HS 2017
Bahamas 25% 2022
Bahrain 5% 2023
Bangladesh 5% 2023 · HS 2017
Barbados 5% 2022 · HS 2017
Belarus 5% 2021 · HS 2017
Belize 5% 2023
Benin 5% 2023
Bermuda 25% 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 5% 2023
Burundi 0% 2023
Cambodia 7% 2023 · HS 2017
Cameroon 10% 2023
Canada 0% 2023
Cape Verde 5% 2023 · HS 2017
Cayman Islands 22% 2021 · HS 2002
Central African Republic 10% 2023
Chad 10% 2023
Chile 6% 2023 · HS 2017
China 6.5% 2023
Colombia 5% 2023 · HS 2017
Comoros 20% 2021 · HS 2017
Congo - Brazzaville 10% 2023
Cook Islands 0% 2022 · HS 2017
Costa Rica 5% 2023
Côte d’Ivoire 5% 2023 · HS 2017
Cuba 25% 2023 · HS 2017
Dominica 5% 2023 · HS 2017
Dominican Republic 0% 2023
Ecuador 0% 2023 · HS 2017
Egypt 0% 2019 · HS 2017
El Salvador 5% 2022
Equatorial Guinea 10% 2023
Eswatini 0% 2023
Ethiopia 5% 2021 · HS 2017
European Union (27 countries) 6.3% 2023
Fiji 5% 2023
French Polynesia 8% 2023
Gabon 10% 2023
Gambia 5% 2023
Georgia 0% 2022 · HS 2017
Ghana 5% 2023
Gibraltar 12% 2023 · HS 2017
Grenada 5% 2023 · HS 2012
Guatemala 5% 2023
Guinea 5% 2023
Guinea-Bissau 5% 2023
Guyana 5% 2023 · HS 2017
Haiti 0% 2020 · HS 2017
Honduras 5% 2023
Hong Kong SAR China 0% 2023
Iceland 0% 2023
India 7.5% 2023
Indonesia 5% 2023
Iran 10% 2020 · HS 2017
Israel 0% 2022 · HS 2017
Jamaica 3.3% 0% – 5% 2023
Japan 3.2% 2023
Jordan 0% 2023
Kazakhstan 5% 2023
Kenya 0% 2023
Kiribati 0% 2023 · HS 2002
Kuwait 5% 2023
Kyrgyzstan 5% 2021 · HS 2017
Laos 5% 2023 · HS 2017
Lebanon 10% 0% – 20% 2020 · HS 2017
Lesotho 0% 2023
Liberia 5% 2023
Libya 5% 2021 · HS 2017
Liechtenstein 3.6%* 2021 · HS 2017
Macao SAR China 0% 2023
Madagascar 5% 2023
Malawi 0% 2021 · HS 2017
Malaysia 0% 2023
Maldives 15% 2023
Mali 5% 2023
Mauritania 5% 2023 · HS 2017
Mauritius 0% 2023
Mexico 6% 2023 · HS 2017
Micronesia 4% 2021 · HS 2017
Moldova 5% 2023 · HS 2017
Mongolia 5% 2023
Montserrat 15% 2023 · HS 2017
Morocco 2.5% 2023
Mozambique 7.5% 2023
Myanmar (Burma) 3% 2023 · HS 2017
Namibia 0% 2023
Nauru 10% 2021 · HS 2017
Nepal 10% 2023
New Zealand 0% 2023
Nicaragua 5% 2023
Niger 5% 2023
Nigeria 5% 2023
North Macedonia 0% 2023
Norway 0% 2023
Oman 5% 2023
Pakistan 8% 0% – 16% 2023
Palau 3% 2023 · HS 2012
Palestinian Territories 0% 2017 · HS 2017
Panama 5% 2023
Papua New Guinea 0% 2023
Paraguay 14% 11% – 14% 2023 · HS 2017
Peru 6% 2023 · HS 2017
Philippines 3% 2023
Qatar 5% 2023
Russia 5% 2021 · HS 2017
Rwanda 0% 2023
Samoa 8% 2020 · HS 2017
São Tomé & Príncipe 10% 2019 · HS 2017
Saudi Arabia 5% 2023
Senegal 5% 2023
Seychelles 0% 2023
Sierra Leone 5% 2023
Singapore 0% 2023 · HS 2017
Solomon Islands 10% 2023 · HS 2017
Somalia 5% 2023 · HS 2017
South Africa 0% 2023
South Korea 6.5% 2023
Sri Lanka 0% 2023
St Kitts & Nevis 5% 2023
St Lucia 5% 2023 · HS 2012
St Pierre & Miquelon 5% 2021 · HS 2017
St Vincent & the Grenadines 5% 2023
Sudan 3% 2021 · HS 2017
Suriname 5% 2023 · HS 2007
Switzerland 2.8%* 2023
Syria 5% 2020 · HS 2012
Tajikistan 6.5% 2021 · HS 2012
Tanzania 0% 2023
Thailand 3% 2023
Togo 5% 2023
Tonga 15% 2023 · HS 2017
Trinidad & Tobago 0% 2023 · HS 2012
Türkiye 6.3% 2023
Tuvalu 0% 2017 · HS 2017
Uganda 0% 2023
Ukraine 0% 2023 · HS 2017
United Arab Emirates 5% 2023
United Kingdom 6% 2023
United States 6% 2023
Uruguay 12% 0% – 14% 2023 · HS 2017
Uzbekistan 5% 2021 · HS 2017
Vanuatu 5% 2023
Venezuela 14% 2023 · HS 2017
Vietnam 2.5% 0% – 5% 2023
Wallis & Futuna 6% 2021 · HS 2012
Yemen 5% 2017 · HS 2017
Zambia 5% 2023
Zimbabwe 0.1% 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
59891 Finishing agents, dye carriers to accelerate the dyeing/fixing of dyestruffs & other products & preparations (e.g., dressings & mordants) of a kind used in the textile, paper, leather/like industries, n.e.s.
End use (BEC Rev. 5)
Intermediate goods · BEC 411210
CPC 2.1 product
35499 Other chemical products n.e.c.
ISIC Rev. 4 activity
2029 Manufacture of other chemical products n.e.c.

Earlier HS editions

HSCode
20173809.91unchanged
20123809.91unchanged
20073809.91unchanged
20023809.91unchanged
19963809.91unchanged
19923809.91unchanged

Correspondence tables of the United Nations Statistics Division (UNSD)

Binding rulings for similar goods 3

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.

  • N338503 U.S. CBP 11 March 2024 · 3809.91.00.00

    The tariff classification of MEIKANATE TP-11 from Japan

  • N292333 U.S. CBP 15 December 2017 · 3809.91.00.00

    The tariff classification of a flame retardant from China

  • 600012478 HMRC 11 March 2025 – 10 March 2028 · 3809 91 00 00

    The product is a fabric conditioner used alongside laundry detergent when washing clothes which helps clothes feel soft. It contains the following ingredients: Cationic Surfactants, Non-ionic surfactants, Perfume, Amyl Cinnamal, Cinnamyl Alcohol, Citronellol, Geraniol, Hexyl Cinnamal, Linalool,…

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 Tariff change

    İthalat Rejimi Kararında Değişiklik Yapılmasına İlişkin Karar (Karar Sayısı: 11506)

    RG 11.07.2026 sayı 33307 · Karar 11506 · Source: resmigazete.gov.tr

  2. TR Tariff change

    İthalat Rejimi Kararında Değişiklik Yapılmasına İlişkin Karar (Karar Sayısı: 11485)

    RG 01.07.2026 sayı 33297 · Karar 11485 · Source: resmigazete.gov.tr

  3. EU Suspension · Applies from:

    Council Regulation (EU) 2026/1463 of 25 June 2026 amending Regulation (EU) 2021/2278 suspending the Common Customs Tariff duties referred to in Article 56(2), point (c), of Regulation (EU) No 952/2013 of the European Parliament and of the Council on certain agricultural and industrial products

    CELEX 32026R1463 · Source: eur-lex.europa.eu

  4. GB Other

    Update to Commodity Code structure to maintain dynamic alignment with the EU – 30 June 2026

    Trade Tariff news 6995 · Source: trade-tariff.service.gov.uk

  5. GB Other

    Update to Commodity Code structure to maintain dynamic alignment with the EU – 24 June 2026

    Trade Tariff news 6929 · Source: trade-tariff.service.gov.uk

  6. GB Sanctions · Applies from:

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

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

  7. EU Anti-dumping · Applies from:

    Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2026/734 of 26 March 2026 imposing a provisional anti-dumping duty on imports of yarns of polyamide originating in the People’s Republic of China

    CELEX 32026R0734 · Source: eur-lex.europa.eu

Rule changes →

The UK Global Tariff divides subheading 3809.91 into 2 tariff lines; the duty is 6%.

Subheading 3809.91 is a single line in the EU Combined Nomenclature, where the duty is 6.3%.

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 6%.

Imports of textile finishing agents into the UK came to £146.2m between September 2025 and August 2026 (down 4% on the year before); France supplied 82%, followed by Germany.

In 2024, countries exported textile finishing agents worth US$4bn (+7.5% year on year).

The largest exporter was Germany (US$392m), followed by the Czechia.

Questions and answers

What is the HS code for of a kind used in the textile or like industries?

Of a kind used in the textile or like industries fall under HS subheading 3809.91, part of heading 3809, in section VI of the Harmonized System.

What is the import duty on of a kind used in the textile or like industries in the UK?

Under the UK Global Tariff, imports under 3809.91 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 of a kind used in the textile or like industries in the EU?

Under the EU Combined Nomenclature, imports under 3809.91 from countries without a preferential agreement are charged at 6.3%. Preferential rates, anti-dumping duties and VAT are not included.

Which country exports the most of a kind used in the textile or like industries?

Germany, with US$392m in 2024 (11.2% of world exports).

Which countries can export textile finishing agents 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.

Where does the UK import textile finishing agents from?

In the 12 months to August 2026, the largest suppliers were France (82%), Germany (3%) and Italy (3%), out of total imports of £146.2m.

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