Subheading · Chapter 85 · Heading 8546

8546.20

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

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

Rates by national line · UK Global Tariff

UK lines →
  1. 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 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£10.6m-0.8% · previous 12 months
Average import price£4.54 per kg
Jan 2024: £428kFeb 2024: £808kMar 2024: £480kApr 2024: £553kMay 2024: £719kJun 2024: £1mJul 2024: £654kAug 2024: £1.4mSept 2024: £1mOct 2024: £770kNov 2024: £906kDec 2024: £377kJan 2025: £1.3mFeb 2025: £731kMar 2025: £1.4mApr 2025: £331kMay 2025: £1.1mJun 2025: £839kJul 2025: £864kAug 2025: £996kSept 2025: £800kOct 2025: £845kNov 2025: £1.5mDec 2025: £428kJan 2026: £1.6mFeb 2026: £1.1mMar 2026: £608kApr 2026: £904kMay 2026: £645kJun 2026: £562kJul 2026: £814kAug 2026: £809k 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
China £3.3m 31.4% -9.7%
France £1.5m 13.8% +25.6%
Romania £1.2m 11% +52.3%
Germany £767k 7.3% -6.9%
Slovakia £534k 5.1% +96.9%
India £498k 4.7% +8.9%
United States £440k 4.2% +66.6%
Italy £418k 4% -37.5%

Same subheading in other tariffs

World trade in 2024

8546.20 · US$880m

Trade value (US$) no reported trade < US$387kUS$387k+US$5m+US$17m+> US$68m

Exports: 89
  1. China: US$303m
  2. Italy: US$96m
  3. India: US$68m
  4. Japan: US$64m
  5. Germany: US$60m
  6. United States: US$43m
  7. Slovakia: US$29m
  8. Portugal: US$25m
  9. Poland: US$17m
  10. Romania: US$16m
  11. France: US$15m
  12. Brazil: US$14m
  13. Sweden: US$14m
  14. Türkiye: US$10m
  15. Russia: US$10m
  16. Hungary: US$9m
  17. Colombia: US$9m
  18. Vietnam: US$8m
  19. Thailand: US$8m
  20. United Kingdom: US$7m
  21. Malaysia: US$7m
  22. Spain: US$5m
  23. Switzerland: US$4m
  24. Mexico: US$4m
  25. Singapore: US$4m
  26. Czechia: US$3m
  27. Austria: US$3m
  28. Slovenia: US$3m
  29. Norway: US$3m
  30. Canada: US$3m
  31. South Korea: US$2m
  32. Netherlands: US$2m
  33. South Africa: US$2m
  34. Hong Kong SAR China: US$2m
  35. New Zealand: US$1m
  36. Taiwan: US$1m
  37. Denmark: US$1m
  38. Belgium: US$887k
  39. Pakistan: US$882k
  40. Uzbekistan: US$631k
  41. Finland: US$556k
  42. Bulgaria: US$522k
  43. Croatia: US$505k
  44. Argentina: US$387k
  45. Estonia: US$370k
  46. Australia: US$260k
  47. Ukraine: US$253k
  48. Kazakhstan: US$246k
  49. Indonesia: US$220k
  50. United Arab Emirates: US$163k
  51. Israel: US$142k
  52. Sri Lanka: US$132k
  53. Saudi Arabia: US$90k
  54. Greece: US$87k
  55. Lithuania: US$68k
  56. St Vincent & the Grenadines: US$68k
  57. Luxembourg: US$57k
  58. Iran: US$56k
  59. Serbia: US$53k
  60. Ireland: US$49k

Top exporters

RankCountryValueShare
1 China US$303m 34.5%
2 Italy US$96m 10.9%
3 India US$68m 7.7%
4 Japan US$64m 7.2%
5 Germany US$60m 6.8%
6 United States US$43m 4.9%
7 Slovakia US$29m 3.2%
8 Portugal US$25m 2.9%
9 Poland US$17m 1.9%
10 Romania US$16m 1.8%

Top importers

RankCountryValueShare
1 United States US$138m 15.7%
2 Germany US$67m 7.7%
3 Italy US$47m 5.4%
4 Saudi Arabia US$41m 4.7%
5 Taiwan US$27m 3%
6 Austria US$25m 2.9%
7 Mexico US$23m 2.6%
8 Canada US$22m 2.5%
9 Vietnam US$22m 2.5%
10 France 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 countryMFN dutylines from – todata year
Afghanistan 10% 2018 · HS 2012
Albania 2% 2023
Algeria 15% 2023
Angola 0% 2023 · HS 2017
Anguilla 20% 2021 · HS 2017
Antigua & Barbuda 5% 2021 · HS 2007
Argentina 16% 2023 · HS 2017
Armenia 10% 2023
Aruba 6% 2021 · HS 2012
Australia 5% 2023
Azerbaijan 5% 2023 · HS 2017
Bahamas 45% 2022
Bahrain 5% 2023
Bangladesh 25% 2023 · HS 2017
Barbados 5% 2022 · HS 2017
Belarus 10% 2021 · HS 2017
Belize 5% 2023
Benin 10% 2023
Bermuda 25% 2023
Bhutan 10% 2022
Bolivia 10% 2023 · HS 2017
Bosnia & Herzegovina 5% 2022
Botswana 0% 2023
Brazil 16% 2023 · HS 2017
Brunei 0% 2023 · HS 2017
Burkina Faso 10% 2023
Burundi 10% 2023
Cambodia 15% 2023 · HS 2017
Cameroon 10% 2023
Canada 0% 2023
Cape Verde 10% 2023 · HS 2017
Cayman Islands 22% 2021 · HS 2002
Central African Republic 10% 2023
Chad 10% 2023
Chile 6% 2023 · HS 2017
China 10% 6% – 12% 2023
Colombia 10% 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 10% 2023 · HS 2017
Cuba 2% 2023 · HS 2017
Dominica 5% 2023 · HS 2017
Dominican Republic 0% 2023
Ecuador 0% 2023 · HS 2017
Egypt 16% 2% – 30% 2019 · HS 2017
El Salvador 0% 2022
Equatorial Guinea 10% 2023
Eswatini 0% 2023
Ethiopia 30% 2021 · HS 2017
European Union (27 countries) 4.7% 2023
Fiji 5% 2023
French Polynesia 6% 2023
Gabon 10% 2023
Gambia 10% 2023
Georgia 0% 2022 · HS 2017
Ghana 10% 2023
Gibraltar 12% 2023 · HS 2017
Grenada 5% 2023 · HS 2012
Guatemala 0% 2023
Guinea 10% 2023
Guinea-Bissau 10% 2023
Guyana 5% 2023 · HS 2017
Haiti 5% 2020 · HS 2017
Honduras 0% 2023
Hong Kong SAR China 0% 2023
Iceland 0% 2023
India 7.5% 2023
Indonesia 5% 2023
Iran 10% 5% – 20% 2020 · HS 2017
Israel 5% 0% – 10% 2022 · HS 2017
Jamaica 0% 2023
Japan 0% 2023
Jordan 0% 2023
Kazakhstan 10% 2023
Kenya 10% 2023
Kiribati 0% 2023 · HS 2002
Kuwait 5% 2023
Kyrgyzstan 10% 2021 · HS 2017
Laos 5% 2023 · HS 2017
Lebanon 2.5% 0% – 5% 2020 · HS 2017
Lesotho 0% 2023
Liberia 10% 2023
Libya 5% 2021 · HS 2017
Liechtenstein 2.3%* 2021 · HS 2017
Macao SAR China 0% 2023
Madagascar 10% 2023
Malawi 10% 2021 · HS 2017
Malaysia 0% 2023
Maldives 20% 2023
Mali 10% 2023
Mauritania 10% 2023 · HS 2017
Mauritius 0% 2023
Mexico 0.8% 0% – 5% 2023 · HS 2017
Micronesia 4% 2021 · HS 2017
Moldova 10% 2023 · HS 2017
Mongolia 5% 2023
Montserrat 25% 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 15% 2023
New Zealand 2.5% 0% – 5% 2023
Nicaragua 0% 2023
Niger 10% 2023
Nigeria 10% 2023
North Macedonia 5% 2023
Norway 0% 2023
Oman 5% 2023
Pakistan 20% 2023
Palau 3% 2023 · HS 2012
Palestinian Territories 5% 0% – 10% 2017 · HS 2017
Panama 0% 2023
Papua New Guinea 0% 2023
Paraguay 16% 2023 · HS 2017
Peru 0% 2023 · HS 2017
Philippines 10% 2023
Qatar 5% 2023
Russia 10% 2021 · HS 2017
Rwanda 10% 2023
Samoa 8% 2020 · HS 2017
São Tomé & Príncipe 10% 2019 · HS 2017
Saudi Arabia 5% 2023
Senegal 10% 2023
Seychelles 0% 2023
Sierra Leone 10% 2023
Singapore 0% 2023 · HS 2017
Solomon Islands 10% 2023 · HS 2017
Somalia 15% 2023 · HS 2017
South Africa 0% 2023
South Korea 8% 2023
Sri Lanka 20% 2023
St Kitts & Nevis 5% 2023
St Lucia 0% 2023 · HS 2012
St Pierre & Miquelon 5% 2021 · HS 2017
St Vincent & the Grenadines 5% 2023
Sudan 10% 2021 · HS 2017
Suriname 5% 2023 · HS 2007
Switzerland 1.8%* 2023
Syria 5% 2020 · HS 2012
Tajikistan 10% 2021 · HS 2012
Tanzania 10% 2023
Thailand 10% 2023
Togo 10% 2023
Tonga 15% 2023 · HS 2017
Trinidad & Tobago 0% 2023 · HS 2012
Türkiye 15% 2023
Tuvalu 0% 2017 · HS 2017
Uganda 10% 2023
Ukraine 3% 1% – 5% 2023 · HS 2017
United Arab Emirates 5% 2023
United Kingdom 0% 2023
United States 3% 2023
Uruguay 16% 2023 · HS 2017
Uzbekistan 5% 2021 · HS 2017
Vanuatu 5% 2023
Venezuela 16% 2023 · HS 2017
Vietnam 10% 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
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

HSCode
20178546.20changed
20128546.20changed
20078546.20changed
20028546.20changed
19968546.20changed
19928546.20changed

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.

  1. GB Sanctions · Applies from:

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

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

Rule changes →

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.

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