Subheading · Chapter 90 · Heading 9001
9001.20: Sheets and plates of polarising material
Polarising sheets and plates
9001.20 is the HS subheading for polarising sheets and plates, under heading 9001 in chapter 90.
What you pay
Importing into UK
Rates by national line · UK Global Tariff
UK lines →- 9001 20 00 00 Sheets and plates of polarising material 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. 598
- Documents
- 9014
- 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 3
- 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
- Iraq, Russia, Syria, Ukraine
- Legal act
- S.I. 2020/707, 2023 No. 440, S.I. 2019/792, S.I. 2022/395
- Documents
- 9011
- 9022
- 9038
- 9009
- 9010
- 9017
- Import controlImport control on restricted goods and technologies
- Applies to goods from
- Iran, Libya, Russia
- Legal act
- S.I. 2019/461, 2020 No. 1665, S.I. 2019/855
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
 China | £1.9m | 42.9% | +64.6% |
 United States | £1.2m | 26.1% | +92.7% |
 Japan | £894k | 20.2% | +102.2% |
 Germany | £309k | 7% | +11.1% |
 South Korea | £45k | 1% | — |
 India | £31k | 0.7% | -72.2% |
 Canada | £25k | 0.6% | +200.5% |
 Switzerland | £18k | 0.4% | — |
Same subheading in other tariffs
EU Free Third-country duty 1 tariff line 
Türkiye 2.9% Third-country duty 1 tariff line USA Free General (MFN) 1 tariff line Canada Free General (MFN) 1 tariff line 
Mexico Free General (MFN) 1 tariff line 
Brazil 16.2% General (MFN) 1 tariff line 
Argentina 18% General (MFN) 1 tariff line 
Peru Free General (MFN) 1 tariff line 
New Zealand Free General (MFN) 1 tariff line Japan Free General (MFN) 1 tariff line 
Taiwan Free General (MFN) 1 tariff line 
GCC 5% General (MFN) 1 tariff line Switzerland Free General (MFN) 1 tariff line 
Norway Free General (MFN) 1 tariff line 
North Macedonia Free General (MFN) 1 tariff line 
Nigeria 10% General (MFN) 1 tariff line World trade in 2024
Trade value (US$) no reported trade < US$54kUS$54k+US$821k+US$13m+> US$2bn
Exports: 68
- South Korea: US$2bn
- Japan: US$2bn
- Taiwan: US$779m
- China: US$359m
- United States: US$212m
- Vietnam: US$14m
- Germany: US$13m
- Hong Kong SAR China: US$12m
- Netherlands: US$3m
- Egypt: US$2m
- Malaysia: US$2m
- United Kingdom: US$2m
- Singapore: US$2m
- India: US$1m
- Italy: US$899k
- Mexico: US$821k
- Poland: US$808k
- Switzerland: US$288k
- South Africa: US$280k
- Belgium: US$257k
- Czechia: US$256k
- Sweden: US$237k
- Denmark: US$225k
- France: US$199k
- Austria: US$187k
- Hungary: US$167k
- Israel: US$131k
- Thailand: US$112k
- Australia: US$87k
- Portugal: US$72k
- Luxembourg: US$61k
- Slovakia: US$54k
- Canada: US$44k
- Colombia: US$33k
- Lithuania: US$32k
- Indonesia: US$27k
- Norway: US$24k
- Saudi Arabia: US$22k
- Finland: US$18k
- Russia: US$17k
- Spain: US$17k
- Chile: US$16k
- Slovenia: US$13k
- Guatemala: US$11k
- Brazil: US$9k
- Romania: US$8k
- Philippines: US$7k
- Pakistan: US$7k
- Ireland: US$7k
- Jordan: US$7k
- Türkiye: US$4k
- Greece: US$4k
- Panama: US$3k
- Argentina: US$1k
- Morocco: US$1k
- Latvia: US$1k
- Ukraine: US$1k
- Costa Rica: US$500
- Estonia: US$500
- United Arab Emirates: US$300
Trade value (US$) no reported trade < US$31kUS$31k+US$747k+US$5m+> US$369m
Imports: 136
- China: US$3bn
- Taiwan: US$401m
- Hong Kong SAR China: US$370m
- Vietnam: US$369m
- South Korea: US$356m
- Japan: US$174m
- Mexico: US$42m
- United States: US$39m
- Germany: US$21m
- India: US$20m
- Italy: US$9m
- Malaysia: US$8m
- Thailand: US$6m
- Egypt: US$5m
- Slovenia: US$5m
- Slovakia: US$5m
- Philippines: US$4m
- United Kingdom: US$4m
- Netherlands: US$3m
- Colombia: US$3m
- France: US$3m
- Poland: US$3m
- Singapore: US$3m
- Czechia: US$3m
- Canada: US$2m
- Peru: US$2m
- Belgium: US$1m
- Croatia: US$1m
- Brazil: US$1m
- Hungary: US$1m
- Israel: US$877k
- Romania: US$844k
- Denmark: US$760k
- Switzerland: US$747k
- Türkiye: US$665k
- Sweden: US$531k
- Australia: US$436k
- Austria: US$433k
- Spain: US$406k
- Chile: US$377k
- Indonesia: US$329k
- Norway: US$262k
- Eswatini: US$246k
- Finland: US$236k
- Guatemala: US$221k
- Mauritius: US$175k
- United Arab Emirates: US$157k
- Dominican Republic: US$111k
- Argentina: US$83k
- Ecuador: US$74k
- Algeria: US$71k
- Ireland: US$64k
- New Zealand: US$55k
- El Salvador: US$51k
- Russia: US$50k
- Bolivia: US$48k
- South Africa: US$45k
- Nicaragua: US$42k
- Uruguay: US$42k
- Serbia: US$41k
Top exporters
| Rank | Country | Value | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | South Korea | US$2bn | 35.4% |
| 2 | Japan | US$2bn | 35.1% |
| 3 | Taiwan | US$779m | 16.4% |
| 4 | China | US$359m | 7.5% |
| 5 | United States | US$212m | 4.5% |
| 6 |  Vietnam | US$14m | 0.3% |
| 7 | Germany | US$13m | 0.3% |
| 8 |  Hong Kong SAR China | US$12m | 0.2% |
| 9 |  Netherlands | US$3m | 0.1% |
| 10 |  Egypt | US$2m | 0% |
Top importers
| Rank | Country | Value | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | China | US$3bn | 60.5% |
| 2 | Taiwan | US$401m | 8.4% |
| 3 | Hong Kong SAR China | US$370m | 7.8% |
| 4 | Vietnam | US$369m | 7.8% |
| 5 | South Korea | US$356m | 7.5% |
| 6 | Japan | US$174m | 3.7% |
| 7 | Mexico | US$42m | 0.9% |
| 8 | United States | US$39m | 0.8% |
| 9 | Germany | US$21m | 0.4% |
| 10 | India | US$20m | 0.4% |
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
- 65number of duty-free countries (MFN)
- 45%highest: Bahamas, Ethiopia, Bermuda
165
| Importing country | MFN duty | lines from – to | data year |
|---|---|---|---|
 Afghanistan | 10% | 2018 · HS 2012 | |
 Albania | 0% | 2023 | |
 Algeria | 5% | 2023 | |
 Angola | 2% | 2023 · HS 2017 | |
 Anguilla | 0% | 2021 · HS 2017 | |
 Antigua & Barbuda | 5% | 2021 · HS 2007 | |
| Argentina | 18% | 2023 · HS 2017 | |
 Armenia | 10% | 2023 | |
 Aruba | 12% | 2021 · HS 2012 | |
 Australia | 0% | 2023 | |
 Azerbaijan | 0% | 2023 · HS 2017 | |
 Bahamas | 45% | 2022 | |
 Bahrain | 5% | 2023 | |
 Bangladesh | 10% | 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 | 5% | 2023 · HS 2017 | |
 Bosnia & Herzegovina | 5% | 2022 | |
 Botswana | 0% | 2023 | |
| Brazil | 18% | 2023 · HS 2017 | |
 Brunei | 0% | 2023 · HS 2017 | |
 Burkina Faso | 10% | 2023 | |
 Burundi | 0% | 2023 | |
 Cambodia | 15% | 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 | 0% | 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 | 10% | 2023 · HS 2017 | |
 Cuba | 15% | 2023 · HS 2017 | |
 Dominica | 5% | 2023 · HS 2017 | |
 Dominican Republic | 3% | 2023 | |
 Ecuador | 0% | 2023 · HS 2017 | |
| Egypt | 10% | 2019 · HS 2017 | |
 El Salvador | 0% | 2022 | |
 Equatorial Guinea | 10% | 2023 | |
 Eswatini | 0% | 2023 | |
 Ethiopia | 30% | 2021 · HS 2017 | |
| European Union (27 countries) | 0% | 2023 | |
 Fiji | 0% | 2023 | |
 French Polynesia | 13% | 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 | 0% | 2020 · HS 2017 | |
 Honduras | 0% | 2023 | |
| Hong Kong SAR China | 0% | 2023 | |
 Iceland | 0% | 2023 | |
| India | 10% | 2023 | |
 Indonesia | 5% | 2023 | |
 Iran | 5% | 2020 · HS 2017 | |
 Israel | 0% | 2022 · HS 2017 | |
 Jamaica | 0% | 2023 | |
| Japan | 0% | 2023 | |
 Jordan | 5% | 2023 | |
 Kazakhstan | 10% | 2023 | |
 Kenya | 0% | 2023 | |
 Kiribati | 0% | 2023 · HS 2002 | |
 Kuwait | 5% | 2023 | |
 Kyrgyzstan | 10% | 2021 · HS 2017 | |
 Laos | 5% | 2023 · HS 2017 | |
 Lebanon | 0% | 2020 · HS 2017 | |
 Lesotho | 0% | 2023 | |
 Liberia | 10% | 2023 | |
 Libya | 5% | 2021 · HS 2017 | |
 Liechtenstein | 0% | 2021 · HS 2017 | |
 Macao SAR China | 0% | 2023 | |
 Madagascar | 10% | 2023 | |
 Malawi | 0% | 2021 · HS 2017 | |
 Malaysia | 0% | 2023 | |
 Maldives | 20% | 2023 | |
 Mali | 10% | 2023 | |
 Mauritania | 10% | 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 | 5% | 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 | 5% | 2023 | |
| New Zealand | 0% | 2023 | |
 Nicaragua | 0% | 2023 | |
 Niger | 10% | 2023 | |
| Nigeria | 10% | 2023 | |
| North Macedonia | 0% | 2023 | |
| Norway | 0% | 2023 | |
 Oman | 5% | 2023 | |
 Pakistan | 20% | 2023 | |
 Palau | 3% | 2023 · HS 2012 | |
 Palestinian Territories | 0% | 2017 · HS 2017 | |
 Panama | 0% | 2023 | |
 Papua New Guinea | 0% | 2023 | |
 Paraguay | 18% | 2023 · HS 2017 | |
| Peru | 0% | 2023 · HS 2017 | |
 Philippines | 0% | 2023 | |
 Qatar | 5% | 2023 | |
 Russia | 10% | 2021 · HS 2017 | |
 Rwanda | 0% | 2023 | |
 Samoa | 20% | 2020 · HS 2017 | |
 São Tomé & Príncipe | 20% | 2019 · HS 2017 | |
 Saudi Arabia | 5% | 2023 | |
 Senegal | 10% | 2023 | |
 Seychelles | 0% | 2023 | |
 Sierra Leone | 10% | 2023 | |
 Singapore | 0% | 2023 · HS 2017 | |
 Solomon Islands | 5% | 2023 · HS 2017 | |
 Somalia | 5% | 2023 · HS 2017 | |
 South Africa | 0% | 2023 | |
| South Korea | 0% | 2023 | |
 Sri Lanka | 0% | 2023 | |
 St Kitts & Nevis | 0% | 2023 | |
 St Lucia | 0% | 2023 · HS 2012 | |
 St Pierre & Miquelon | 6% | 2021 · HS 2017 | |
 St Vincent & the Grenadines | 5% | 2023 | |
 Sudan | 10% | 2021 · HS 2017 | |
 Suriname | 5% | 2023 · HS 2007 | |
| Switzerland | 0% | 2023 | |
 Syria | 5% | 2020 · HS 2012 | |
 Tajikistan | 5% | 2021 · HS 2012 | |
 Tanzania | 0% | 2023 | |
 Thailand | 3% | 2023 | |
 Togo | 10% | 2023 | |
 Tonga | 0% | 2023 · HS 2017 | |
 Trinidad & Tobago | 0% | 2023 · HS 2012 | |
| Türkiye | 2.9% | 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 | 0% | 2023 | |
 Uruguay | 18% | 2023 · HS 2017 | |
 Uzbekistan | 5% | 2021 · HS 2017 | |
 Vanuatu | 0% | 2023 | |
 Venezuela | 18% | 2023 · HS 2017 | |
| Vietnam | 0% | 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. · 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
- 88419 Optical fibres & optical fibre bundles & cables; sheets & plates of polarizing material; unmounted optical elements, n.e.s.
- End use (BEC Rev. 5)
- Intermediate goods · BEC 711220
- CPC 2.1 product
- 48311 Optical fibres and optical fibre bundles; optical fibre cables (except those made up of individually sheathed fibres); sheets and plates of polarizing material; lenses, prisms, mirrors and other optical elements (except of glass not optically worked), whether or not mounted, other than for cameras, projectors or photographic enlargers or reducers
- ISIC Rev. 4 activity
- 2670 Manufacture of optical instruments and photographic equipment2731 Manufacture of fibre optic cables
Earlier HS editions
| HS | Code | |
|---|---|---|
| 2017 | 9001.20 | changed |
| 2012 | 9001.20 | changed |
| 2007 | 9001.20 | changed |
| 2002 | 9001.20 | changed |
| 1996 | 9001.20 | changed |
| 1992 | 9001.20 | changed |
Correspondence tables of the United Nations Statistics Division (UNSD)
The UK Global Tariff has one tariff line for subheading 9001.20; the duty is duty-free.
Subheading 9001.20 is a single line in the EU Combined Nomenclature, where the duty 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.
In the UK, additional duty of 35% applies on top of the customs duty to goods from Belarus and Russia.
Imports of polarising sheets and plates into the UK came to £4.4m between September 2025 and August 2026 (up 68% on the year before); China supplied 43%, followed by United States.
In 2024, countries exported polarising sheets and plates worth US$5bn (−0.2% year on year).
The largest exporter was South Korea (US$2bn), followed by Japan.
Questions and answers
What is the HS code for sheets and plates of polarising material?
Sheets and plates of polarising material fall under HS subheading 9001.20, part of heading 9001, in section XVIII of the Harmonized System.
What is the import duty on sheets and plates of polarising material in the UK?
Under the UK Global Tariff, imports under 9001.20 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 sheets and plates of polarising material in the EU?
Under the EU Combined Nomenclature, imports under 9001.20 from countries without a preferential agreement are free of duty. Preferential rates, anti-dumping duties and VAT are not included.
Which country exports the most sheets and plates of polarising material?
South Korea, with US$2bn in 2024 (35.4% of world exports).
Which countries can export polarising sheets and plates 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 polarising sheets and plates?
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 polarising sheets and plates from?
In the 12 months to August 2026, the largest suppliers were China (43%), United States (26%) and Japan (20%), out of total imports of £4.4m.