Subheading · Chapter 38 · Heading 3812

3812.20

3812.20: Compound plasticisers for rubber or plastics

Subheading 3812.20 belongs to heading 3812 (prepared rubber accelerators) in chapter 38.

What you pay

Importing into UK

Customs duty Free standard rate · across 6 national lines depends on the country of origin
Additional duties and charges 2 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. 3812 20 00 00 Compound plasticisers for rubber or plastics
  2. 3812 20 10 00 Reaction mixture containing benzyl 3-isobutyryloxy-1-isopropyl-2.2-dimethylpropyl phthalate and benzyl 3-isobutyryloxy-2.2,4-trimethylpentyl phthalate Free
  3. 3812 20 90 00 Other Free
  4. 3812 20 90 10 Plasticizer, containing: - bis(2-ethylhexyl)-1.4-benzene dicarboxylate (cas rn 6422-86-2) - more than 10% but not more than 60% by weight of dibutylterephthalate (cas rn 1962-75-0) Free
  5. 3812 20 90 20 1.2-benzenedicarboxylic acid, di-c6-8-branched alkyl esters, c7-rich (cas rn 71888-89-6) (cas rn 71888-89-6) Free
  6. 3812 20 90 30 1.2-benzenedicarboxylic acid, di-c7-11-branched and linear alkyl esters (cas rn 68515-42-4) Free
  7. 3812 20 90 40 N-pentyl-isopentylphthalate (cas rn 776297-69-9) Free
  8. 3812 20 90 90 Other 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

  • 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
    Russia, Ukraine
    Legal act
    2023 No. 440, S.I. 2022/395
    Documents
    • 9011
    • 9022
    • 9038
    • 9009
    • 9010
    • 9017

Preferential rates by country

Agreement or schemeCountriesRate
standard rate (no agreement)—Free
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£10m+13.6% · previous 12 months
Average import price£2.87 per kg
Jan 2024: £891kFeb 2024: £659kMar 2024: £1.1mApr 2024: £791kMay 2024: £645kJun 2024: £987kJul 2024: £562kAug 2024: £818kSept 2024: £573kOct 2024: £720kNov 2024: £478kDec 2024: £439kJan 2025: £960kFeb 2025: £852kMar 2025: £861kApr 2025: £980kMay 2025: £718kJun 2025: £881kJul 2025: £811kAug 2025: £576kSept 2025: £545kOct 2025: £768kNov 2025: £633kDec 2025: £331kJan 2026: £910kFeb 2026: £922kMar 2026: £823kApr 2026: £920kMay 2026: £909kJun 2026: £968kJul 2026: £1.4mAug 2026: £921k 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 £3.7m 37.1% +2.8%
United States £2.5m 24.4% +35.9%
China £1.1m 11.3% +21.8%
Netherlands £1m 10.2% +58.4%
Poland £466k 4.6% +19.2%
Estonia £403k 4% -12.5%
India £316k 3.1% -11.8%
Italy £185k 1.8% +19.8%

Same subheading in other tariffs

World trade in 2024

3812.20 · US$869m

Trade value (US$) no reported trade < US$213kUS$213k+US$7m+US$33m+> US$84m

Exports: 91
  1. Germany: US$152m
  2. China: US$103m
  3. Indonesia: US$84m
  4. United States: US$82m
  5. Netherlands: US$45m
  6. Malaysia: US$44m
  7. Bahrain: US$34m
  8. Japan: US$34m
  9. Estonia: US$33m
  10. Canada: US$31m
  11. India: US$29m
  12. Taiwan: US$27m
  13. Argentina: US$20m
  14. South Korea: US$20m
  15. Italy: US$16m
  16. Belgium: US$15m
  17. United Arab Emirates: US$15m
  18. Thailand: US$14m
  19. Spain: US$12m
  20. United Kingdom: US$11m
  21. Poland: US$9m
  22. Saudi Arabia: US$7m
  23. Brazil: US$4m
  24. Singapore: US$4m
  25. France: US$4m
  26. Türkiye: US$3m
  27. Sweden: US$3m
  28. Qatar: US$2m
  29. Denmark: US$2m
  30. Slovakia: US$1m
  31. Russia: US$1m
  32. Portugal: US$1m
  33. Czechia: US$905k
  34. Vietnam: US$720k
  35. Switzerland: US$676k
  36. Romania: US$610k
  37. Hong Kong SAR China: US$597k
  38. Colombia: US$591k
  39. Lithuania: US$585k
  40. Mexico: US$393k
  41. Austria: US$308k
  42. Ireland: US$283k
  43. Uzbekistan: US$258k
  44. Bulgaria: US$213k
  45. Guatemala: US$204k
  46. Hungary: US$202k
  47. New Zealand: US$201k
  48. Kazakhstan: US$180k
  49. Iran: US$179k
  50. Latvia: US$158k
  51. South Africa: US$148k
  52. Finland: US$137k
  53. Chile: US$103k
  54. Samoa: US$99k
  55. Slovenia: US$97k
  56. Israel: US$87k
  57. Sri Lanka: US$82k
  58. Peru: US$81k
  59. Tanzania: US$64k
  60. Australia: US$58k

Top exporters

RankCountryValueShare
1 Germany US$152m 17.5%
2 China US$103m 11.9%
3 Indonesia US$84m 9.6%
4 United States US$82m 9.4%
5 Netherlands US$45m 5.1%
6 Malaysia US$44m 5.1%
7 Bahrain US$34m 3.9%
8 Japan US$34m 3.9%
9 Estonia US$33m 3.8%
10 Canada US$31m 3.6%

Top importers

RankCountryValueShare
1 United States US$125m 14.3%
2 Saudi Arabia US$73m 8.4%
3 China US$69m 7.9%
4 India US$45m 5.1%
5 Vietnam US$40m 4.6%
6 France US$38m 4.3%
7 Thailand US$30m 3.4%
8 Japan US$28m 3.3%
9 Türkiye US$27m 3.1%
10 Mexico US$27m 3.1%

Import duty on this product around the world 164

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
  • 51number of duty-free countries (MFN)
  • 45%highest: Bahamas, Bermuda, Cayman Islands

164

Importing countryMFN dutylines from – todata year
Afghanistan 5% 2018 · HS 2012
Albania 2% 2023
Algeria 15% 2023
Angola 0% 2023 · HS 2017
Anguilla 10% 2021 · HS 2017
Antigua & Barbuda 5% 2021 · HS 2007
Argentina 14% 2023 · HS 2017
Armenia 0% 2023
Aruba 12% 2021 · HS 2012
Australia 0% 2023
Azerbaijan 5% 2023 · HS 2017
Bahamas 45% 2022
Bahrain 5% 2023
Bangladesh 5% 2023 · HS 2017
Barbados 5% 2022 · HS 2017
Belarus 0% 2021 · HS 2017
Belize 5% 2023
Benin 5% 2023
Bermuda 25% 2023
Bhutan 10% 2022
Bolivia 10% 2023 · HS 2017
Bosnia & Herzegovina 0% 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 0% 2023
Côte d’Ivoire 5% 2023 · HS 2017
Cuba 10% 2023 · HS 2017
Dominica 5% 2023 · HS 2017
Dominican Republic 3% 2023
Ecuador 10% 2023 · HS 2017
Egypt 5% 2019 · HS 2017
El Salvador 5% 2022
Equatorial Guinea 10% 2023
Eswatini 0% 2023
Ethiopia 5% 2021 · HS 2017
European Union (27 countries) 3.3% 0% – 6.5% 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 0% 2023
Guinea 5% 2023
Guinea-Bissau 5% 2023
Guyana 5% 2023 · HS 2017
Haiti 0% 2020 · HS 2017
Honduras 0% 2023
Hong Kong SAR China 0% 2023
Iceland 0% 2023
India 7.5% 2023
Indonesia 5% 2023
Iran 5% 2020 · HS 2017
Israel 0% 2022 · HS 2017
Jamaica 0% 2023
Japan 2.6% 2023
Jordan 0% 2023
Kazakhstan 0% 2023
Kenya 0% 2023
Kiribati 0% 2023 · HS 2002
Kuwait 5% 2023
Kyrgyzstan 0% 2021 · HS 2017
Laos 10% 2023 · HS 2017
Lebanon 0% 2020 · HS 2017
Lesotho 0% 2023
Liberia 5% 2023
Libya 5% 2021 · HS 2017
Liechtenstein 0.7%* 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 5% 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 16% 2023
Palau 3% 2023 · HS 2012
Palestinian Territories 0% 2017 · HS 2017
Panama 5% 2023
Papua New Guinea 0% 2023
Paraguay 14% 2023 · HS 2017
Peru 0% 2023 · HS 2017
Philippines 1% 2023
Qatar 5% 2023
Russia 0% 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 0.6%* 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 3.3% 0% – 6.5% 2023
Tuvalu 0% 2017 · HS 2017
Uganda 0% 2023
Ukraine 0% 2023 · HS 2017
United Arab Emirates 5% 2023
United Kingdom 0% 2023
United States 5.8% 5% – 6.5% 2023
Uruguay 14% 2023 · HS 2017
Uzbekistan 0% 2021 · HS 2017
Vanuatu 5% 2023
Venezuela 14% 2023 · HS 2017
Vietnam 3% 2023
Wallis & Futuna 6% 2021 · HS 2012
Yemen 5% 2017 · HS 2017
Zambia 15% 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
59893 Compound plasticizers for rubber/plastics, n.e.s.; anti-oxidizing preparations & other compound stabilizers for rubber/plastics.
End use (BEC Rev. 5)
Intermediate goods · BEC 211210
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
20173812.20unchanged
20123812.20unchanged
20073812.20unchanged
20023812.20unchanged
19963812.20unchanged
19923812.20unchanged

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.

  • N325595 U.S. CBP 12 May 2022 · 3812.20.50.00

    The tariff classification of a plasticizer from Brazil

  • N324111 U.S. CBP 18 February 2022 · 3812.20.50.00

    The tariff classification of PVC plasticizers from Brazil

  • N278894 U.S. CBP 22 March 2017 · 3812.20.50.00

    The tariff classification of “LGFlex GL 500 (CAS # 1571954-81-8)” from Korea

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. EU Anti-dumping · Applies from:

    Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2026/1540 of 6 July 2026 imposing a definitive anti-dumping duty on imports of new pneumatic tyres, of rubber, of a kind used on motor cars, buses or lorries with a load index not exceeding 121 (tyres) originating in the People’s Republic of China

    CELEX 32026R1540 · Source: eur-lex.europa.eu

Rule changes →

The UK Global Tariff divides subheading 3812.20 into 6 tariff lines; the duty is duty-free.

In the EU Combined Nomenclature, subheading 3812.20 covers 2 tariff lines and the duty is between 0% and 6.5%. 1 of them is duty-free.

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.

Imports of these goods into the UK came to £10m between September 2025 and August 2026 (up 14% on the year before); Germany supplied 37%, followed by United States.

In 2024, countries exported these goods worth US$869m (+1.2% year on year).

The largest exporter was Germany (US$152m), followed by China.

Products classified here

Questions and answers

What is the HS code for compound plasticisers for rubber or plastics?

Compound plasticisers for rubber or plastics fall under HS subheading 3812.20, part of heading 3812, in section VI of the Harmonized System.

What is the import duty on compound plasticisers for rubber or plastics in the UK?

Under the UK Global Tariff, imports under 3812.20 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 compound plasticisers for rubber or plastics in the EU?

Under the EU Combined Nomenclature, imports under 3812.20 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.

Which country exports the most compound plasticisers for rubber or plastics?

Germany, with US$152m in 2024 (17.5% 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.

Where does the UK import these goods from?

In the 12 months to August 2026, the largest suppliers were Germany (37%), United States (24%) and China (11%), out of total imports of £10m.

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Typical products

Everyday names, not part of the legal text.