Heading · Chapter 39
3903: Polymers of styrene, in primary forms
5 subheadings make up heading 3903 in chapter 39 (plastics and articles thereof).
Duty rates compared
UK Free – 6% Third-country duty 15 tariff lines · average 5.2% 
EU Free – 6.5% Third-country duty 7 tariff lines · average 4.6% 
Türkiye Free – 6.5% Third-country duty 8 tariff lines · average 4.9% 
USA 6.5% General (MFN) 6 tariff lines 
Canada Free General (MFN) 8 tariff lines 
Mexico 5% – 35% General (MFN) 11 tariff lines · average 13.7% 
Brazil Free – 20% General (MFN) 9 tariff lines · average 10.6% 
Argentina Free – 14% General (MFN) 17 tariff lines · average 10.2% 
Peru Free General (MFN) 5 tariff lines 
New Zealand Free – 5% General (MFN) 9 tariff lines · average 1.1% 
Japan 2.8% – 6.5% General (MFN) 10 tariff lines · average 3.6% 
Taiwan 1% – 2.5% General (MFN) 7 tariff lines · average 2.3% 
GCC 5% General (MFN) 6 tariff lines 
Switzerland Free General (MFN) 5 tariff lines 
Norway Free General (MFN) 6 tariff lines 
North Macedonia Free General (MFN) 7 tariff lines 
Nigeria 5% General (MFN) 5 tariff lines Subheadings 5
- 3903.11Polymers of styrene, in primary forms: polystyrene, expansibleExpandable polystyrene (EPS)
- 3903.19Polymers of styrene, in primary forms: polystyrene, otherOther polystyrene (not expansible)
- 3903.20Polymers of styrene, in primary forms: styrene-acrylonitrile (SAN) copolymers
- 3903.30Polymers of styrene, in primary forms: acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene (ABS) copolymersABS resin, primary
- 3903.90Polymers of styrene, in primary forms: otherOther styrene polymers, primary
EU: imports by month
World trade in 2024
Trade value (US$) no reported trade < US$619kUS$619k+US$50m+US$294m+> US$1bn
Exports: 154
- South Korea: US$3bn
- Taiwan: US$2bn
- China: US$2bn
- Germany: US$1bn
- Belgium: US$1bn
- United States: US$1bn
- Netherlands: US$1bn
- Malaysia: US$840m
- Japan: US$662m
- France: US$613m
- Mexico: US$532m
- Thailand: US$413m
- Italy: US$406m
- Singapore: US$348m
- Austria: US$330m
- Türkiye: US$294m
- Spain: US$284m
- Saudi Arabia: US$271m
- Iran: US$220m
- Poland: US$216m
- Canada: US$194m
- Hong Kong SAR China: US$189m
- Czechia: US$171m
- Hungary: US$169m
- Vietnam: US$140m
- Greece: US$133m
- India: US$91m
- Indonesia: US$84m
- Colombia: US$83m
- Pakistan: US$83m
- Sweden: US$82m
- Finland: US$73m
- Brazil: US$73m
- United Kingdom: US$66m
- Bahamas: US$57m
- Russia: US$55m
- Egypt: US$52m
- Norway: US$50m
- United Arab Emirates: US$35m
- Portugal: US$34m
- Israel: US$32m
- Bulgaria: US$29m
- Romania: US$24m
- Lithuania: US$23m
- Tunisia: US$18m
- Argentina: US$15m
- Denmark: US$14m
- Slovenia: US$13m
- Philippines: US$13m
- Slovakia: US$13m
- Switzerland: US$12m
- Croatia: US$10m
- Ireland: US$9m
- Chile: US$9m
- South Africa: US$8m
- Australia: US$7m
- Estonia: US$6m
- Malta: US$5m
- Guatemala: US$5m
- Uruguay: US$4m
Trade value (US$) no reported trade < US$5mUS$5m+US$76m+US$256m+> US$714m
Imports: 210
- China: US$3bn
- United States: US$1bn
- Germany: US$1bn
- Mexico: US$996m
- Vietnam: US$996m
- Poland: US$873m
- Italy: US$714m
- Türkiye: US$702m
- Malaysia: US$507m
- Thailand: US$495m
- India: US$480m
- France: US$437m
- Brazil: US$429m
- Canada: US$407m
- Spain: US$404m
- Indonesia: US$395m
- United Kingdom: US$354m
- Hong Kong SAR China: US$343m
- Hungary: US$319m
- Belgium: US$272m
- Egypt: US$256m
- Romania: US$255m
- Japan: US$251m
- Netherlands: US$250m
- Portugal: US$237m
- Czechia: US$232m
- Austria: US$220m
- Philippines: US$215m
- South Korea: US$169m
- Russia: US$159m
- Sweden: US$137m
- Switzerland: US$134m
- South Africa: US$122m
- Denmark: US$120m
- Slovenia: US$112m
- Bangladesh: US$111m
- Serbia: US$108m
- Norway: US$106m
- Ukraine: US$106m
- Algeria: US$105m
- United Arab Emirates: US$103m
- Dominican Republic: US$102m
- Australia: US$98m
- Israel: US$98m
- Slovakia: US$95m
- Greece: US$92m
- Morocco: US$88m
- Bulgaria: US$86m
- Saudi Arabia: US$85m
- Lithuania: US$82m
- Ireland: US$80m
- Jordan: US$77m
- Taiwan: US$76m
- Finland: US$73m
- Colombia: US$71m
- Chile: US$62m
- Singapore: US$56m
- Pakistan: US$49m
- Uzbekistan: US$49m
- Kazakhstan: US$47m
Top exporters
| Rank | Country | Value | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |  South Korea | US$3bn | 16.8% |
| 2 | Taiwan | US$2bn | 12.1% |
| 3 |  China | US$2bn | 7.8% |
| 4 |  Germany | US$1bn | 7.1% |
| 5 |  Belgium | US$1bn | 6.8% |
| 6 | United States | US$1bn | 6.6% |
| 7 |  Netherlands | US$1bn | 5.1% |
| 8 |  Malaysia | US$840m | 4.1% |
| 9 | Japan | US$662m | 3.3% |
| 10 |  France | US$613m | 3% |
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.
- Tariff change · Applies from:
CELEX 32026R1395 · Source: eur-lex.europa.eu
In the UK Global Tariff, heading 3903 covers 15 tariff lines and the duty is between 0% and 6%. 2 of them are duty-free.
The EU Combined Nomenclature divides heading 3903 into 7 tariff lines; the duty is between 0% and 6.5% (average 4.6%). 2 of them are duty-free.
In the Turkish Customs Tariff Schedule, heading 3903 covers 8 tariff lines and the duty is between 0% and 6.5%. 2 of them are duty-free.
The Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States divides heading 3903 into 6 tariff lines; the duty is 6.5%.
In the Customs Tariff of Canada, heading 3903 covers 8 tariff lines and the duty is duty-free.
The Mexican Tariff (TIGIE) divides heading 3903 into 11 tariff lines; the duty is between 5% and 35% (average 13.7%).
In the Brazilian Tariff (NCM/TEC), heading 3903 covers 9 tariff lines and the duty is between 0% and 20%. 3 of them are duty-free.
The Argentine Tariff (NCM-SIM) divides heading 3903 into 17 tariff lines; the duty is between 0% and 14% (average 10.2%). 1 of them is duty-free.
In the Customs Tariff of Peru, heading 3903 covers 5 tariff lines and the duty is duty-free.
The Working Tariff Document of New Zealand divides heading 3903 into 9 tariff lines; the duty is between 0% and 5% (average 1.1%). 7 of them are duty-free.
In the Customs Tariff Schedules of Japan, heading 3903 covers 10 tariff lines and the duty is between 2.8% and 6.5%.
The Customs Import Tariff of Taiwan divides heading 3903 into 7 tariff lines; the duty is between 1% and 2.5% (average 2.3%).
In the GCC Common Customs Tariff, heading 3903 covers 6 tariff lines and the duty is 5%.
The Swiss Customs Tariff (Tares) divides heading 3903 into 5 tariff lines; the duty is duty-free.
In the Customs Tariff of Norway, heading 3903 covers 6 tariff lines and the duty is duty-free.
The Customs Tariff of North Macedonia divides heading 3903 into 7 tariff lines; the duty is duty-free.
In the ECOWAS Common External Tariff (Nigeria), heading 3903 covers 5 tariff lines and the duty is 5%.
World trade in heading 3903 goods reached US$20bn in 2024, up 2.1% on 2023.
South Korea was the largest exporter with 16.8% of the total, ahead of Taiwan.
China imported the most (US$3bn).
The United Kingdom ranked 34th among 154 exporters with US$66m.
The United Kingdom imported US$354m.
Legal notes
Subheading notes
1. Within any one heading of this chapter, polymers (including copolymers) and chemically modified polymers are to be classified according to the following provisions:
(a) where there is a subheading named ‘Other’ in the same series:
(1) the designation in a subheading of a polymer by the prefix ‘poly’ (for example, polyethylene and polyamide-6,6) means that the constituent monomer unit or monomer units of the named polymer taken together must contribute 95 % or more by weight of the total polymer content;
(2) the copolymers named in subheadings 390130, 390140, 390320, 390330 and 390430 are to be classified in those subheadings, provided that the comonomer units of the named copolymers contribute 95 % or more by weight of the total polymer content;
(3) chemically modified polymers are to be classified in the subheading named ‘Other’, provided that the chemically modified polymers are not more specifically covered by another subheading;
(4) polymers not meeting (1), (2) or (3) above, are to be classified in the subheading, among the remaining subheadings in the series, covering polymers of that monomer unit which predominates by weight over every other single comonomer unit. For this purpose, constituent monomer units of polymers falling in the same subheading shall be taken together. Only the constituent comonomer units of the polymers in the series of subheadings under consideration are to be compared;
(b) where there is no subheading named ‘Other’ in the same series:
(1) polymers are to be classified in the subheading covering polymers of that monomer unit which predominates by weight over every other single comonomer unit. For this purpose, constituent monomer units of polymers falling in the same subheading shall be taken together. Only the constituent comonomer units of the polymers in the series under consideration are to be compared;
(2) chemically modified polymers are to be classified in the subheading appropriate to the unmodified polymer.
Polymer blends are to be classified in the same subheading as polymers of the same monomer units in the same proportions.
2. For the purposes of subheading 392043, the term ‘plasticisers’ includes secondary plasticisers.
Questions and answers
What is the HS code for polymers of styrene, in primary forms?
Polymers of styrene, in primary forms fall under HS heading 3903, part of chapter 39, in section VII of the Harmonized System.
What is the import duty on polymers of styrene, in primary forms in the UK?
Under the UK Global Tariff, imports under 3903 from countries without a preferential agreement are charged at 0% to 6%, depending on the line. Preferential rates, anti-dumping duties and VAT are not included.
What is the import duty on polymers of styrene, in primary forms in the EU?
Under the EU Combined Nomenclature, imports under 3903 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 polymers of styrene, in primary forms?
South Korea, with US$3bn in 2024 (16.8% of world exports).