Subheading · Chapter 85 · Heading 8546
8546.20: Electrical insulators of any material: of ceramics
Official description Of ceramics
8546.20 is a six-digit subheading of heading 8546, electrical insulators of any material, chapter 85.
What you pay
Importing into UK
Rates by national line · UK Global Tariff
UK lines →- 8546 20 00 00 Of ceramics 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 3
- Additional dutyAdditional duties 35%
- Applies to goods from
- Belarus, Russia
- Legal act
- 2022 No. 376
- Documents
- 9008
- 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 2
- Prohibition or restrictionImport prohibition
- Applies to goods from
- North Korea
- Legal act
- S.I. 2019/411
- 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 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
Main suppliers, last 12 months
| Country | Value | Share | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| £3.3m | 31.4% | -9.7% | |
| £1.5m | 13.8% | +25.6% | |
| £1.2m | 11% | +52.3% | |
| £767k | 7.3% | -6.9% | |
| £534k | 5.1% | +96.9% | |
| £498k | 4.7% | +8.9% | |
| £440k | 4.2% | +66.6% | |
| £418k | 4% | -37.5% |
Same subheading in other tariffs
World trade in 2024
Trade value (US$) no reported trade < US$387kUS$387k+US$5m+US$17m+> US$68m
Exports: 89
- China: US$303m
- Italy: US$96m
- India: US$68m
- Japan: US$64m
- Germany: US$60m
- United States: US$43m
- Slovakia: US$29m
- Portugal: US$25m
- Poland: US$17m
- Romania: US$16m
- France: US$15m
- Brazil: US$14m
- Sweden: US$14m
- Türkiye: US$10m
- Russia: US$10m
- Hungary: US$9m
- Colombia: US$9m
- Vietnam: US$8m
- Thailand: US$8m
- United Kingdom: US$7m
- Malaysia: US$7m
- Spain: US$5m
- Switzerland: US$4m
- Mexico: US$4m
- Singapore: US$4m
- Czechia: US$3m
- Austria: US$3m
- Slovenia: US$3m
- Norway: US$3m
- Canada: US$3m
- South Korea: US$2m
- Netherlands: US$2m
- South Africa: US$2m
- Hong Kong SAR China: US$2m
- New Zealand: US$1m
- Taiwan: US$1m
- Denmark: US$1m
- Belgium: US$887k
- Pakistan: US$882k
- Uzbekistan: US$631k
- Finland: US$556k
- Bulgaria: US$522k
- Croatia: US$505k
- Argentina: US$387k
- Estonia: US$370k
- Australia: US$260k
- Ukraine: US$253k
- Kazakhstan: US$246k
- Indonesia: US$220k
- United Arab Emirates: US$163k
- Israel: US$142k
- Sri Lanka: US$132k
- Saudi Arabia: US$90k
- Greece: US$87k
- Lithuania: US$68k
- St Vincent & the Grenadines: US$68k
- Luxembourg: US$57k
- Iran: US$56k
- Serbia: US$53k
- Ireland: US$49k
Trade value (US$) no reported trade < US$634kUS$634k+US$4m+US$14m+> US$25m
Imports: 182
- United States: US$138m
- Germany: US$67m
- Italy: US$47m
- Saudi Arabia: US$41m
- Taiwan: US$27m
- Austria: US$25m
- Mexico: US$23m
- Canada: US$22m
- Vietnam: US$22m
- France: US$21m
- Brazil: US$19m
- China: US$18m
- Philippines: US$17m
- Indonesia: US$15m
- Bangladesh: US$15m
- Netherlands: US$15m
- Iraq: US$14m
- Kuwait: US$14m
- Russia: US$14m
- Czechia: US$13m
- Poland: US$12m
- Türkiye: US$12m
- United Kingdom: US$12m
- South Korea: US$11m
- Switzerland: US$11m
- Thailand: US$10m
- Sweden: US$10m
- Egypt: US$10m
- India: US$10m
- Malaysia: US$9m
- Japan: US$9m
- Australia: US$9m
- Kazakhstan: US$7m
- Hungary: US$7m
- Finland: US$7m
- South Africa: US$6m
- Uzbekistan: US$6m
- Argentina: US$6m
- Spain: US$6m
- Bulgaria: US$5m
- Singapore: US$5m
- Colombia: US$5m
- Nepal: US$5m
- Cambodia: US$4m
- Pakistan: US$4m
- Croatia: US$4m
- Ireland: US$4m
- Chile: US$3m
- United Arab Emirates: US$3m
- Ukraine: US$3m
- Slovakia: US$3m
- Panama: US$3m
- Sri Lanka: US$3m
- Peru: US$3m
- Ghana: US$3m
- Iran: US$2m
- New Zealand: US$2m
- Ecuador: US$2m
- Israel: US$2m
- Uruguay: US$2m
Top exporters
| Rank | Country | Value | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | US$303m | 34.5% | |
| 2 | US$96m | 10.9% | |
| 3 | US$68m | 7.7% | |
| 4 | US$64m | 7.2% | |
| 5 | US$60m | 6.8% | |
| 6 | US$43m | 4.9% | |
| 7 | US$29m | 3.2% | |
| 8 | US$25m | 2.9% | |
| 9 | US$17m | 1.9% | |
| 10 | US$16m | 1.8% |
Top importers
| Rank | Country | Value | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | US$138m | 15.7% | |
| 2 | US$67m | 7.7% | |
| 3 | US$47m | 5.4% | |
| 4 | US$41m | 4.7% | |
| 5 | US$27m | 3% | |
| 6 | US$25m | 2.9% | |
| 7 | US$23m | 2.6% | |
| 8 | US$22m | 2.5% | |
| 9 | US$22m | 2.5% | |
| 10 | US$21m | 2.4% |
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
- 36number of duty-free countries (MFN)
- 45%highest: Bahamas, Ethiopia, Bangladesh
165
| Importing country | MFN duty | lines from – to | data year |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10% | 2018 · HS 2012 | ||
| 2% | 2023 | ||
| 15% | 2023 | ||
| 0% | 2023 · HS 2017 | ||
| 20% | 2021 · HS 2017 | ||
| 5% | 2021 · HS 2007 | ||
| 16% | 2023 · HS 2017 | ||
| 10% | 2023 | ||
| 6% | 2021 · HS 2012 | ||
| 5% | 2023 | ||
| 5% | 2023 · HS 2017 | ||
| 45% | 2022 | ||
| 5% | 2023 | ||
| 25% | 2023 · HS 2017 | ||
| 5% | 2022 · HS 2017 | ||
| 10% | 2021 · HS 2017 | ||
| 5% | 2023 | ||
| 10% | 2023 | ||
| 25% | 2023 | ||
| 10% | 2022 | ||
| 10% | 2023 · HS 2017 | ||
| 5% | 2022 | ||
| 0% | 2023 | ||
| 16% | 2023 · HS 2017 | ||
| 0% | 2023 · HS 2017 | ||
| 10% | 2023 | ||
| 10% | 2023 | ||
| 15% | 2023 · HS 2017 | ||
| 10% | 2023 | ||
| 0% | 2023 | ||
| 10% | 2023 · HS 2017 | ||
| 22% | 2021 · HS 2002 | ||
| 10% | 2023 | ||
| 10% | 2023 | ||
| 6% | 2023 · HS 2017 | ||
| 10% | 6% – 12% | 2023 | |
| 10% | 2023 · HS 2017 | ||
| 20% | 2021 · HS 2017 | ||
| 10% | 2023 | ||
| 0% | 2022 · HS 2017 | ||
| 0% | 2023 | ||
| 10% | 2023 · HS 2017 | ||
| 2% | 2023 · HS 2017 | ||
| 5% | 2023 · HS 2017 | ||
| 0% | 2023 | ||
| 0% | 2023 · HS 2017 | ||
| 16% | 2% – 30% | 2019 · HS 2017 | |
| 0% | 2022 | ||
| 10% | 2023 | ||
| 0% | 2023 | ||
| 30% | 2021 · HS 2017 | ||
| 4.7% | 2023 | ||
| 5% | 2023 | ||
| 6% | 2023 | ||
| 10% | 2023 | ||
| 10% | 2023 | ||
| 0% | 2022 · HS 2017 | ||
| 10% | 2023 | ||
| 12% | 2023 · HS 2017 | ||
| 5% | 2023 · HS 2012 | ||
| 0% | 2023 | ||
| 10% | 2023 | ||
| 10% | 2023 | ||
| 5% | 2023 · HS 2017 | ||
| 5% | 2020 · HS 2017 | ||
| 0% | 2023 | ||
| 0% | 2023 | ||
| 0% | 2023 | ||
| 7.5% | 2023 | ||
| 5% | 2023 | ||
| 10% | 5% – 20% | 2020 · HS 2017 | |
| 5% | 0% – 10% | 2022 · HS 2017 | |
| 0% | 2023 | ||
| 0% | 2023 | ||
| 0% | 2023 | ||
| 10% | 2023 | ||
| 10% | 2023 | ||
| 0% | 2023 · HS 2002 | ||
| 5% | 2023 | ||
| 10% | 2021 · HS 2017 | ||
| 5% | 2023 · HS 2017 | ||
| 2.5% | 0% – 5% | 2020 · HS 2017 | |
| 0% | 2023 | ||
| 10% | 2023 | ||
| 5% | 2021 · HS 2017 | ||
| 2.3%* | 2021 · HS 2017 | ||
| 0% | 2023 | ||
| 10% | 2023 | ||
| 10% | 2021 · HS 2017 | ||
| 0% | 2023 | ||
| 20% | 2023 | ||
| 10% | 2023 | ||
| 10% | 2023 · HS 2017 | ||
| 0% | 2023 | ||
| 0.8% | 0% – 5% | 2023 · HS 2017 | |
| 4% | 2021 · HS 2017 | ||
| 10% | 2023 · HS 2017 | ||
| 5% | 2023 | ||
| 25% | 2023 · HS 2017 | ||
| 2.5% | 2023 | ||
| 7.5% | 2023 | ||
| 3% | 2023 · HS 2017 | ||
| 0% | 2023 | ||
| 10% | 2021 · HS 2017 | ||
| 15% | 2023 | ||
| 2.5% | 0% – 5% | 2023 | |
| 0% | 2023 | ||
| 10% | 2023 | ||
| 10% | 2023 | ||
| 5% | 2023 | ||
| 0% | 2023 | ||
| 5% | 2023 | ||
| 20% | 2023 | ||
| 3% | 2023 · HS 2012 | ||
| 5% | 0% – 10% | 2017 · HS 2017 | |
| 0% | 2023 | ||
| 0% | 2023 | ||
| 16% | 2023 · HS 2017 | ||
| 0% | 2023 · HS 2017 | ||
| 10% | 2023 | ||
| 5% | 2023 | ||
| 10% | 2021 · HS 2017 | ||
| 10% | 2023 | ||
| 8% | 2020 · HS 2017 | ||
| 10% | 2019 · HS 2017 | ||
| 5% | 2023 | ||
| 10% | 2023 | ||
| 0% | 2023 | ||
| 10% | 2023 | ||
| 0% | 2023 · HS 2017 | ||
| 10% | 2023 · HS 2017 | ||
| 15% | 2023 · HS 2017 | ||
| 0% | 2023 | ||
| 8% | 2023 | ||
| 20% | 2023 | ||
| 5% | 2023 | ||
| 0% | 2023 · HS 2012 | ||
| 5% | 2021 · HS 2017 | ||
| 5% | 2023 | ||
| 10% | 2021 · HS 2017 | ||
| 5% | 2023 · HS 2007 | ||
| 1.8%* | 2023 | ||
| 5% | 2020 · HS 2012 | ||
| 10% | 2021 · HS 2012 | ||
| 10% | 2023 | ||
| 10% | 2023 | ||
| 10% | 2023 | ||
| 15% | 2023 · HS 2017 | ||
| 0% | 2023 · HS 2012 | ||
| 15% | 2023 | ||
| 0% | 2017 · HS 2017 | ||
| 10% | 2023 | ||
| 3% | 1% – 5% | 2023 · HS 2017 | |
| 5% | 2023 | ||
| 0% | 2023 | ||
| 3% | 2023 | ||
| 16% | 2023 · HS 2017 | ||
| 5% | 2021 · HS 2017 | ||
| 5% | 2023 | ||
| 16% | 2023 · HS 2017 | ||
| 10% | 2023 | ||
| 6% | 2021 · HS 2012 | ||
| 5% | 2017 · HS 2017 | ||
| 15% | 2023 | ||
| 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
- 77323 Electrical insulators of ceramics
- End use (BEC Rev. 5)
- Intermediate goods · BEC 3112
- CPC 2.1 product
- 37292 Electrical insulators of ceramics; insulating fittings, for electrical machines, appliances or equipment, of ceramics
- ISIC Rev. 4 activity
- 2393 Manufacture of other porcelain and ceramic products
Earlier HS editions
| HS | Code | |
|---|---|---|
| 2017 | 8546.20 | changed |
| 2012 | 8546.20 | changed |
| 2007 | 8546.20 | changed |
| 2002 | 8546.20 | changed |
| 1996 | 8546.20 | changed |
| 1992 | 8546.20 | changed |
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.
-
The Russia (Sanctions) (EU Exit) (Amendment) Regulations 2026
S.I. 2026/543 · Source: legislation.gov.uk
Subheading 8546.20 is a single line in the UK Global Tariff, where the duty is duty-free.
The EU Combined Nomenclature has one tariff line for subheading 8546.20; the duty is 4.7%.
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 £10.6m (down 1% on the year before), at an average of £4.54 per kg; China supplied 31%, followed by France.
World trade in these goods reached US$880m in 2024, up 6.3% on 2023.
China was the largest exporter with 34.5% of the total, ahead of Italy.
Questions and answers
What is the HS code for electrical insulators of any material: of ceramics?
Electrical insulators of any material: of ceramics fall under HS subheading 8546.20, part of heading 8546, in section XVI of the Harmonized System.
What is the import duty on electrical insulators of any material: of ceramics in the UK?
Under the UK Global Tariff, imports under 8546.20 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 electrical insulators of any material: of ceramics in the EU?
Under the EU Combined Nomenclature, imports under 8546.20 from countries without a preferential agreement are charged at 4.7%. Preferential rates, anti-dumping duties and VAT are not included.
Which country exports the most electrical insulators of any material: of ceramics?
China, with US$303m in 2024 (34.5% 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.
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.
Where does the UK import these goods from?
In the 12 months to August 2026, the largest suppliers were China (31%), France (14%) and Romania (11%), out of total imports of £10.6m.