Subheading · Chapter 39 · Heading 3913
3913.10: Alginic acid, its salts and esters
3913.10 is a six-digit subheading of heading 3913, natural polymers, chapter 39.
What you pay
Importing into UK
Rates by national line · UK Global Tariff
UK lines →- 3913 10 00 00 Alginic acid, its salts and esters Free
- 3913 10 00 20 Sodium alginate extracted from brown seaweed, with - a loss on drying of not more than 15% by weight (4h at 105 °c), - a water-insoluble fraction of not more than 2% by weight, calculated on the dry weight Free
- 3913 10 00 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
- Additional dutyAdditional duties 35%
- Applies to goods from
- Belarus, Russia
- Legal act
- 2022 No. 833
- Documents
- 9018
- Duty suspensionAutonomous tariff suspension Free
- Applies to goods from
- all countries
- In force
- until 31 December 2028
- Legal act
- 2020 No. 1435
- Documents
- 9Y12
- Tariff lines
- on 1 of 2 lines
Import requirements 2
- Import controlRestriction on entry into free circulation
- Applies to goods from
- Ukraine
- Legal act
- S.I. 2022/395
- Documents
- 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
Same subheading in other tariffs
EU 5% Third-country duty 1 tariff line 
Türkiye 5% Third-country duty 1 tariff line 
USA 4.2% General (MFN) 1 tariff line 
Canada Free General (MFN) 1 tariff line 
Mexico Free General (MFN) 4 tariff lines 
Brazil Free General (MFN) 1 tariff line 
Argentina Free General (MFN) 5 tariff lines 
Peru Free General (MFN) 1 tariff line 
New Zealand Free General (MFN) 1 tariff line 
Japan 3.3% General (MFN) 1 tariff line 
Taiwan 3.5% General (MFN) 2 tariff lines 
GCC 5% General (MFN) 1 tariff line 
Switzerland Free General (MFN) 1 tariff line 
Norway Free General (MFN) 1 tariff line 
North Macedonia 5% General (MFN) 1 tariff line 
Nigeria 5% General (MFN) 1 tariff line World trade in 2024
Trade value (US$) no reported trade < US$93kUS$93k+US$1m+US$13m+> US$34m
Exports: 80
- China: US$126m
- Norway: US$95m
- Japan: US$34m
- Chile: US$29m
- France: US$27m
- Germany: US$19m
- Netherlands: US$14m
- Poland: US$13m
- Spain: US$9m
- United States: US$9m
- United Kingdom: US$8m
- Denmark: US$7m
- Italy: US$7m
- Thailand: US$5m
- India: US$4m
- Belgium: US$3m
- Ireland: US$3m
- Türkiye: US$2m
- South Africa: US$1m
- Switzerland: US$1m
- Austria: US$1m
- South Korea: US$863k
- Sweden: US$819k
- Egypt: US$681k
- Singapore: US$607k
- Hungary: US$539k
- Peru: US$439k
- Estonia: US$399k
- Portugal: US$370k
- Brazil: US$320k
- Australia: US$317k
- Canada: US$202k
- Saudi Arabia: US$181k
- Taiwan: US$152k
- Malaysia: US$144k
- Lithuania: US$124k
- Mexico: US$121k
- Greece: US$93k
- Argentina: US$90k
- Bulgaria: US$85k
- North Korea: US$83k
- Philippines: US$76k
- Hong Kong SAR China: US$66k
- Croatia: US$66k
- United Arab Emirates: US$62k
- Romania: US$58k
- Czechia: US$48k
- Ukraine: US$47k
- Kenya: US$40k
- Colombia: US$33k
- Russia: US$27k
- Dominican Republic: US$20k
- Guatemala: US$19k
- Honduras: US$16k
- Côte d’Ivoire: US$14k
- Ecuador: US$14k
- French Polynesia: US$12k
- Finland: US$12k
- El Salvador: US$9k
- Serbia: US$9k
Trade value (US$) no reported trade < US$192kUS$192k+US$2m+US$11m+> US$17m
Imports: 148
- United States: US$62m
- Italy: US$24m
- Germany: US$21m
- Thailand: US$20m
- Netherlands: US$17m
- Spain: US$17m
- South Korea: US$17m
- Türkiye: US$16m
- United Kingdom: US$16m
- France: US$14m
- India: US$14m
- Poland: US$12m
- Ireland: US$11m
- Japan: US$11m
- Canada: US$11m
- Pakistan: US$11m
- Brazil: US$10m
- Denmark: US$10m
- Vietnam: US$8m
- Australia: US$7m
- Mexico: US$6m
- Bangladesh: US$5m
- Belgium: US$5m
- South Africa: US$4m
- Sweden: US$4m
- Taiwan: US$4m
- Indonesia: US$4m
- Colombia: US$4m
- Malaysia: US$4m
- Greece: US$4m
- Ukraine: US$3m
- Egypt: US$3m
- Austria: US$3m
- Saudi Arabia: US$3m
- Russia: US$3m
- Algeria: US$3m
- Philippines: US$2m
- Switzerland: US$2m
- Argentina: US$2m
- Portugal: US$2m
- Romania: US$2m
- China: US$2m
- Hungary: US$2m
- Chile: US$1m
- Uzbekistan: US$1m
- Czechia: US$1m
- Congo - Kinshasa: US$1m
- New Zealand: US$1m
- Angola: US$905k
- Dominican Republic: US$905k
- Ecuador: US$836k
- Morocco: US$823k
- Congo - Brazzaville: US$786k
- Israel: US$687k
- Belarus: US$682k
- Bulgaria: US$615k
- Finland: US$611k
- Kazakhstan: US$589k
- Croatia: US$563k
- Peru: US$548k
Top exporters
| Rank | Country | Value | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |  China | US$126m | 29.8% |
| 2 | Norway | US$95m | 22.3% |
| 3 | Japan | US$34m | 8% |
| 4 |  Chile | US$29m | 6.9% |
| 5 |  France | US$27m | 6.5% |
| 6 |  Germany | US$19m | 4.5% |
| 7 |  Netherlands | US$14m | 3.3% |
| 8 |  Poland | US$13m | 3% |
| 9 |  Spain | US$9m | 2.1% |
| 10 | United States | US$9m | 2% |
Top importers
| Rank | Country | Value | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | United States | US$62m | 14.6% |
| 2 |  Italy | US$24m | 5.6% |
| 3 | Germany | US$21m | 4.9% |
| 4 |  Thailand | US$20m | 4.7% |
| 5 | Netherlands | US$17m | 4.1% |
| 6 | Spain | US$17m | 4% |
| 7 |  South Korea | US$17m | 3.9% |
| 8 | Türkiye | US$16m | 3.8% |
| 9 | United Kingdom | US$16m | 3.7% |
| 10 | France | US$14m | 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
- 59number of duty-free countries (MFN)
- 45%highest: Bahamas, Bermuda, Cayman Islands
165
| Importing country | MFN duty | lines from – to | data 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 | 2% | 2023 · HS 2017 | |
 Armenia | 5% | 2023 | |
 Aruba | 12% | 2021 · HS 2012 | |
 Australia | 5% | 2023 | |
 Azerbaijan | 0% | 2023 · HS 2017 | |
 Bahamas | 45% | 2022 | |
 Bahrain | 5% | 2023 | |
 Bangladesh | 5% | 2023 · HS 2017 | |
 Barbados | 5% | 2022 · HS 2017 | |
 Belarus | 5% | 2021 · HS 2017 | |
 Belize | 0% | 2023 | |
 Benin | 5% | 2023 | |
 Bermuda | 25% | 2023 | |
 Bhutan | 10% | 2022 | |
 Bolivia | 5% | 2023 · HS 2017 | |
 Bosnia & Herzegovina | 5% | 2022 | |
 Botswana | 0% | 2023 | |
| Brazil | 2% | 2023 · HS 2017 | |
 Brunei | 0% | 2023 · HS 2017 | |
 Burkina Faso | 5% | 2023 | |
 Burundi | 0% | 2023 | |
 Cambodia | 0% | 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 | 10% | 2023 | |
 Colombia | 0% | 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 | 0% | 2023 · HS 2017 | |
 Dominican Republic | 0% | 2023 | |
 Ecuador | 0% | 2023 · HS 2017 | |
 Egypt | 2% | 2019 · HS 2017 | |
 El Salvador | 0% | 2022 | |
 Equatorial Guinea | 10% | 2023 | |
 Eswatini | 0% | 2023 | |
 Ethiopia | 5% | 2021 · HS 2017 | |
| European Union (27 countries) | 5% | 2023 | |
 Fiji | 5% | 2023 | |
 French Polynesia | 13% | 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 | 3.5% | 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 | 3.3% | 2023 | |
 Jordan | 0% | 2023 | |
 Kazakhstan | 5% | 2023 | |
 Kenya | 0% | 2023 | |
 Kiribati | 20% | 2023 · HS 2002 | |
 Kuwait | 5% | 2023 | |
 Kyrgyzstan | 5% | 2021 · HS 2017 | |
 Laos | 5% | 2023 · HS 2017 | |
 Lebanon | 0% | 2020 · HS 2017 | |
 Lesotho | 0% | 2023 | |
 Liberia | 5% | 2023 | |
 Libya | 5% | 2021 · HS 2017 | |
 Liechtenstein | 0.2%* | 2021 · HS 2017 | |
 Macao SAR China | 0% | 2023 | |
 Madagascar | 5% | 2023 | |
 Malawi | 0% | 2021 · HS 2017 | |
 Malaysia | 0% | 2023 | |
 Maldives | 20% | 2023 | |
 Mali | 5% | 2023 | |
 Mauritania | 5% | 2023 · HS 2017 | |
 Mauritius | 0% | 2023 | |
| Mexico | 0% | 2023 · HS 2017 | |
 Micronesia | 4% | 2021 · HS 2017 | |
 Moldova | 5% | 2023 · HS 2017 | |
 Mongolia | 5% | 2023 | |
 Montserrat | 0% | 2023 · HS 2017 | |
 Morocco | 2.5% | 2023 | |
 Mozambique | 2.5% | 2023 | |
 Myanmar (Burma) | 1.5% | 2023 · HS 2017 | |
 Namibia | 0% | 2023 | |
 Nauru | 10% | 2021 · HS 2017 | |
 Nepal | 10% | 2023 | |
| New Zealand | 0% | 2023 | |
 Nicaragua | 0% | 2023 | |
 Niger | 5% | 2023 | |
| Nigeria | 5% | 2023 | |
| North Macedonia | 5% | 2023 | |
| Norway | 0% | 2023 | |
 Oman | 5% | 2023 | |
 Pakistan | 3% | 2023 | |
 Palau | 3% | 2023 · HS 2012 | |
 Palestinian Territories | 0% | 2017 · HS 2017 | |
 Panama | 0% | 2023 | |
 Papua New Guinea | 0% | 2023 | |
 Paraguay | 2% | 2023 · HS 2017 | |
| Peru | 0% | 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 | 0% | 2023 | |
 St Lucia | 0% | 2023 · HS 2012 | |
 St Pierre & Miquelon | 5% | 2021 · HS 2017 | |
 St Vincent & the Grenadines | 0% | 2023 | |
 Sudan | 3% | 2021 · HS 2017 | |
 Suriname | 5% | 2023 · HS 2007 | |
| Switzerland | 0.2%* | 2023 | |
 Syria | 1% | 2020 · HS 2012 | |
 Tajikistan | 6.5% | 2021 · HS 2012 | |
 Tanzania | 0% | 2023 | |
| Thailand | 0% | 2023 | |
 Togo | 5% | 2023 | |
 Tonga | 15% | 2023 · HS 2017 | |
 Trinidad & Tobago | 0% | 2023 · HS 2012 | |
| Türkiye | 5% | 2023 | |
 Tuvalu | 0% | 2017 · HS 2017 | |
 Uganda | 0% | 2023 | |
 Ukraine | 5% | 2023 · HS 2017 | |
 United Arab Emirates | 5% | 2023 | |
| United Kingdom | 0% | 2023 | |
| United States | 4.2% | 2023 | |
 Uruguay | 2% | 2023 · HS 2017 | |
 Uzbekistan | 0% | 2021 · HS 2017 | |
 Vanuatu | 0% | 2023 | |
 Venezuela | 2% | 2023 · HS 2017 | |
 Vietnam | 0% | 2023 | |
 Wallis & Futuna | 6% | 2021 · HS 2012 | |
 Yemen | 5% | 2017 · HS 2017 | |
 Zambia | 0% | 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
- 57594 Alginic acid, its salts & esters
- End use (BEC Rev. 5)
- Intermediate goods · BEC 211210
- CPC 2.1 product
- 34790 Other plastics in primary forms; ion exchangers
- ISIC Rev. 4 activity
- 2013 Manufacture of plastics and synthetic rubber in primary forms
Earlier HS editions
| HS | Code | |
|---|---|---|
| 2017 | 3913.10 | unchanged |
| 2012 | 3913.10 | unchanged |
| 2007 | 3913.10 | unchanged |
| 2002 | 3913.10 | unchanged |
| 1996 | 3913.10 | unchanged |
| 1992 | 3913.10 | unchanged |
Correspondence tables of the United Nations Statistics Division (UNSD)
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.
- Quota · Applies from:
CELEX 32026R1465 · Source: eur-lex.europa.eu
In the UK Global Tariff, subheading 3913.10 covers 2 tariff lines and the duty is duty-free.
The EU Combined Nomenclature has one tariff line for subheading 3913.10; the duty is 5%.
Goods from 174 countries can enter the UK at a preferential rate instead of the standard Free; 174 of them pay no duty at all, for example under DCTS Comprehensive or European Union.
In the UK, additional duty of 35% applies on top of the customs duty to goods from Belarus and Russia.
In the 12 months to August 2026, the UK imported these goods worth £72m (down 8% on the year before), at an average of £10.63 per kg.
World trade in these goods reached US$424m in 2024, down 6.5% on 2023.
China was the largest exporter with 29.8% of the total, ahead of Norway.
Questions and answers
What is the HS code for alginic acid, its salts and esters?
Alginic acid, its salts and esters fall under HS subheading 3913.10, part of heading 3913, in section VII of the Harmonized System.
What is the import duty on alginic acid, its salts and esters in the UK?
Under the UK Global Tariff, imports under 3913.10 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 alginic acid, its salts and esters in the EU?
Under the EU Combined Nomenclature, imports under 3913.10 from countries without a preferential agreement are charged at 5%. Preferential rates, anti-dumping duties and VAT are not included.
Which country exports the most alginic acid, its salts and esters?
China, with US$126m in 2024 (29.8% 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.