Subheading · Chapter 90 · Heading 9018

9018.32

9018.32: Tubular metal needles and needles for sutures

Metal needles and suture needles

9018.32 is the HS subheading for metal needles and suture needles, under heading 9018 in chapter 90.

What you pay

Importing into UK

Customs duty Free standard rate · across 2 national lines depends on the country of origin
Additional duties and charges 2 additional measures Import requirements: 3
VAT 0.00 % import VAT
Duty calculatorCalculate duty and taxes →

Rates by national line · UK Global Tariff

UK lines →
  1. 9018 32 00 00 Tubular metal needles and needles for sutures
  2. 9018 32 10 00 Tubular metal needles Free
  3. 9018 32 90 00 Needles for sutures 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 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)

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, Syria, Ukraine
    Legal act
    S.I. 2020/707, S.I. 2019/792, S.I. 2022/395
    Documents
    • 9009
    • 9010
    • 9017
  • Import controlImport control on restricted goods and technologies
    Applies to goods from
    Iran, Libya
    Legal act
    S.I. 2019/461, 2020 No. 1665
    Documents
    • Y966 Goods other than those described in the MG footnotes linked to the measure (Missile Technology Control Regime list - Annex III of Reg. (EU) 267/2012)
    • Y920 Goods other than those described in the footnotes linked to the measure

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£73.8m-0.1% · previous 12 months
Average import price£29.86 per kg
Jan 2024: £4.4mFeb 2024: £4.6mMar 2024: £4mApr 2024: £6.2mMay 2024: £6.2mJun 2024: £6.4mJul 2024: £5mAug 2024: £4.7mSept 2024: £4.3mOct 2024: £5.9mNov 2024: £6.9mDec 2024: £6.1mJan 2025: £5.3mFeb 2025: £5.9mMar 2025: £6.2mApr 2025: £5.9mMay 2025: £6.8mJun 2025: £6.8mJul 2025: £8.2mAug 2025: £5.7mSept 2025: £6.3mOct 2025: £6.5mNov 2025: £6.2mDec 2025: £6.1mJan 2026: £5.8mFeb 2026: £5.8mMar 2026: £7.3mApr 2026: £5.6mMay 2026: £6.1mJun 2026: £6.6mJul 2026: £6.7mAug 2026: £4.8m 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
United States £19.5m 26.5% +13.6%
China £13m 17.6% -22.9%
Germany £5.6m 7.5% +35.3%
Singapore £5.4m 7.3% -1.4%
Israel £4m 5.5% -0.2%
Ireland £3.7m 5% -36%
Japan £3m 4.1% +2.5%
Italy £2.6m 3.6% +35.4%

Same subheading in other tariffs

World trade in 2024

9018.32 · US$4bn

Trade value (US$) no reported trade < US$323kUS$323k+US$16m+US$85m+> US$308m

Exports: 125
  1. United States: US$579m
  2. Ireland: US$376m
  3. China: US$375m
  4. Mexico: US$308m
  5. Japan: US$279m
  6. Germany: US$271m
  7. Thailand: US$127m
  8. South Korea: US$116m
  9. Belgium: US$111m
  10. Poland: US$111m
  11. Netherlands: US$97m
  12. United Kingdom: US$85m
  13. Vietnam: US$83m
  14. Singapore: US$79m
  15. Costa Rica: US$68m
  16. Dominican Republic: US$67m
  17. India: US$67m
  18. Switzerland: US$66m
  19. France: US$65m
  20. Brazil: US$54m
  21. Denmark: US$45m
  22. Italy: US$38m
  23. Malaysia: US$37m
  24. Israel: US$37m
  25. Spain: US$32m
  26. Philippines: US$32m
  27. Australia: US$23m
  28. Czechia: US$22m
  29. Slovakia: US$17m
  30. Canada: US$16m
  31. Türkiye: US$14m
  32. Colombia: US$13m
  33. Sweden: US$13m
  34. Austria: US$12m
  35. Taiwan: US$8m
  36. Hong Kong SAR China: US$5m
  37. Hungary: US$3m
  38. Lithuania: US$2m
  39. Finland: US$2m
  40. Romania: US$2m
  41. Indonesia: US$2m
  42. South Africa: US$2m
  43. Portugal: US$1m
  44. Bulgaria: US$826k
  45. Tunisia: US$824k
  46. Slovenia: US$757k
  47. Croatia: US$730k
  48. Argentina: US$676k
  49. Mauritius: US$642k
  50. Kazakhstan: US$530k
  51. Eswatini: US$513k
  52. Peru: US$489k
  53. Nicaragua: US$489k
  54. United Arab Emirates: US$485k
  55. Kenya: US$483k
  56. Pakistan: US$450k
  57. Luxembourg: US$438k
  58. Greece: US$398k
  59. Estonia: US$388k
  60. Paraguay: US$323k

Top exporters

RankCountryValueShare
1 United States US$579m 15.3%
2 Ireland US$376m 10%
3 China US$375m 9.9%
4 Mexico US$308m 8.2%
5 Japan US$279m 7.4%
6 Germany US$271m 7.2%
7 Thailand US$127m 3.4%
8 South Korea US$116m 3.1%
9 Belgium US$111m 2.9%
10 Poland US$111m 2.9%

Top importers

RankCountryValueShare
1 United States US$669m 17.7%
2 China US$446m 11.8%
3 Germany US$268m 7.1%
4 Mexico US$257m 6.8%
5 Netherlands US$196m 5.2%
6 Belgium US$132m 3.5%
7 Spain US$117m 3.1%
8 Japan US$111m 2.9%
9 France US$98m 2.6%
10 Canada US$88m 2.3%

Import duty on this product around the world 164

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
  • 67number of duty-free countries (MFN)
  • 25%highest: Bermuda, Cayman Islands, Anguilla

164

Importing countryMFN dutylines from – todata year
Afghanistan 2.5% 2018 · HS 2012
Albania 0% 2023
Algeria 5% 2023
Angola 0% 2023 · HS 2017
Anguilla 15% 2021 · HS 2017
Antigua & Barbuda 10% 2021 · HS 2007
Argentina 7.6% 2% – 16% 2023 · HS 2017
Armenia 5% 2023
Aruba 12% 2021 · HS 2012
Australia 0% 2023
Azerbaijan 0% 2023 · HS 2017
Bahamas 0% 2022
Bahrain 5% 2023
Bangladesh 10% 2023 · HS 2017
Barbados 10% 2022 · HS 2017
Belarus 5% 2021 · HS 2017
Belize 10% 2023
Benin 5% 2023
Bermuda 25% 2023
Bhutan 0% 2022
Bolivia 5% 2023 · HS 2017
Bosnia & Herzegovina 0% 2022
Botswana 7.5% 0% – 15% 2023
Brazil 7.6% 2% – 16% 2023 · HS 2017
Brunei 0% 2023 · HS 2017
Burkina Faso 5% 2023
Burundi 0% 2023
Cambodia 0% 2023 · HS 2017
Cameroon 5% 2023
Canada 0% 2023
Cape Verde 0% 2023 · HS 2017
Cayman Islands 22% 2021 · HS 2002
Central African Republic 5% 2023
Chad 5% 2023
Chile 6% 2023 · HS 2017
China 6% 4% – 8% 2023
Colombia 5% 2023 · HS 2017
Comoros 0% 2021 · HS 2017
Congo - Brazzaville 5% 2023
Cook Islands 0% 2022 · HS 2017
Costa Rica 0% 2023
Côte d’Ivoire 5% 2023 · HS 2017
Cuba 10% 2023 · HS 2017
Dominica 10% 2023 · HS 2017
Dominican Republic 3% 2023
Ecuador 0% 2023 · HS 2017
Egypt 2% 2019 · HS 2017
El Salvador 0% 2022
Equatorial Guinea 5% 2023
Eswatini 7.5% 0% – 15% 2023
Ethiopia 5% 2021 · HS 2017
European Union (27 countries) 0% 2023
Fiji 0% 2023
French Polynesia 4% 2023
Gabon 5% 2023
Gambia 5% 2023
Georgia 0% 2022 · HS 2017
Ghana 5% 2023
Gibraltar 0% 2023 · HS 2017
Grenada 10% 2023 · HS 2012
Guatemala 0% 2023
Guinea 5% 2023
Guinea-Bissau 5% 2023
Guyana 10% 2023 · HS 2017
Haiti 3.5% 2020 · HS 2017
Honduras 0% 2023
Hong Kong SAR China 0% 2023
Iceland 0% 2023
Indonesia 0% 2023
Iran 8% 5% – 15% 2020 · HS 2017
Israel 0% 2022 · HS 2017
Jamaica 10% 2023
Japan 0% 2023
Jordan 0% 2023
Kazakhstan 5% 2023
Kenya 0% 2023
Kiribati 0% 2023 · HS 2002
Kuwait 5% 2023
Kyrgyzstan 5% 2021 · HS 2017
Laos 5% 2023 · HS 2017
Lebanon 5% 2020 · HS 2017
Lesotho 7.5% 0% – 15% 2023
Liberia 5% 2023
Libya 0% 2021 · HS 2017
Liechtenstein 0% 2021 · HS 2017
Macao SAR China 0% 2023
Madagascar 0% 2023
Malawi 0% 2021 · HS 2017
Malaysia 0% 2023
Maldives 0% 2023
Mali 5% 2023
Mauritania 5% 2023 · HS 2017
Mauritius 0% 2023
Mexico 3.8% 0% – 10% 2023 · HS 2017
Micronesia 4% 2021 · HS 2017
Moldova 0% 2023 · HS 2017
Mongolia 0% 2023
Montserrat 0% 2023 · HS 2017
Morocco 2.5% 2023
Mozambique 5% 2023
Myanmar (Burma) 1.5% 2023 · HS 2017
Namibia 7.5% 0% – 15% 2023
Nauru 10% 2021 · HS 2017
Nepal 5% 2023
New Zealand 0% 2023
Nicaragua 0% 2023
Niger 5% 2023
Nigeria 5% 2023
North Macedonia 0% 2023
Norway 0% 2023
Oman 5% 2023
Pakistan 11% 2023
Palau 3% 2023 · HS 2012
Palestinian Territories 0% 2017 · HS 2017
Panama 0% 2023
Papua New Guinea 0% 2023
Paraguay 9% 2% – 16% 2023 · HS 2017
Peru 6% 2023 · HS 2017
Philippines 1% 2023
Qatar 5% 2023
Russia 5% 2021 · HS 2017
Rwanda 0% 2023
Samoa 8% 2020 · HS 2017
São Tomé & Príncipe 5% 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 7.5% 0% – 15% 2023
South Korea 8% 2023
Sri Lanka 0% 2023
St Kitts & Nevis 10% 2023
St Lucia 10% 2023 · HS 2012
St Pierre & Miquelon 6% 2021 · HS 2017
St Vincent & the Grenadines 10% 2023
Sudan 0% 2021 · HS 2017
Suriname 10% 2023 · HS 2007
Switzerland 0% 2023
Syria 5% 2020 · HS 2012
Tajikistan 5% 2021 · HS 2012
Tanzania 0% 2023
Thailand 5% 2023
Togo 5% 2023
Tonga 0% 2023 · HS 2017
Trinidad & Tobago 5% 2023 · HS 2012
Türkiye 0% 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 9% 2% – 16% 2023 · HS 2017
Uzbekistan 0% 2021 · HS 2017
Vanuatu 0% 2023
Venezuela 9% 2% – 16% 2023 · HS 2017
Vietnam 0% 2023
Wallis & Futuna 6% 2021 · HS 2012
Yemen 5% 2017 · HS 2017
Zambia 0% 2023
Zimbabwe 0% 0% – 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
87221 Syringes, needles, catheters, cannulae & the like
End use (BEC Rev. 5)
Intermediate goods · BEC 711220
CPC 2.1 product
48150 Other instruments and appliances used in medical, surgical or veterinary sciences (including syringes, needles, catheters, cannulae, ophthalmic instruments and appliances n.e.c. and electro-medical apparatus n.e.c.)
ISIC Rev. 4 activity
3250 Manufacture of medical and dental instruments and supplies

Earlier HS editions

HSCode
20179018.32changed
20129018.32changed
20079018.32changed
20029018.32changed
19969018.32changed
19929018.32changed

Correspondence tables of the United Nations Statistics Division (UNSD)

Binding rulings for similar goods 2

Decisions of U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CROSS) and HMRC (Advance Tariff Rulings) on goods classified here. A ruling binds only its holder, but shows how the authorities classify similar goods. The descriptions are the authorities’ own, in English.

  • N362922 U.S. CBP 22 July 2026 · 9018.32.00.00

    The tariff classification of safety needles and pen cartridge holders from China

  • N283068 U.S. CBP 2 March 2017 · 9018.32.00.00

    The tariff classification of two needle sets from Mexico

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. EU Classification · Applies from:

    Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2026/1873 of 23 July 2026 concerning the classification of certain goods in the Combined Nomenclature

    CELEX 32026R1873 · Source: eur-lex.europa.eu

Rule changes →

In the UK Global Tariff, subheading 9018.32 covers 2 tariff lines and the duty is duty-free.

The EU Combined Nomenclature divides subheading 9018.32 into 2 tariff lines; the duty is duty-free.

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 metal needles and suture needles worth £73.8m (down 0% on the year before), at an average of £29.86 per kg; United States supplied 27%, followed by China.

World trade in metal needles and suture needles reached US$4bn in 2024, down 2% on 2023.

The United States was the largest exporter with 15.3% of the total, ahead of Ireland.

Products classified here

Questions and answers

What is the HS code for tubular metal needles and needles for sutures?

Tubular metal needles and needles for sutures fall under HS subheading 9018.32, part of heading 9018, in section XVIII of the Harmonized System.

What is the import duty on tubular metal needles and needles for sutures in the UK?

Under the UK Global Tariff, imports under 9018.32 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 tubular metal needles and needles for sutures in the EU?

Under the EU Combined Nomenclature, imports under 9018.32 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 tubular metal needles and needles for sutures?

The United States, with US$579m in 2024 (15.3% of world exports).

Which countries can export metal needles and suture needles 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 metal needles and suture needles?

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 metal needles and suture needles from?

In the 12 months to August 2026, the largest suppliers were United States (27%), China (18%) and Germany (8%), out of total imports of £73.8m.

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Typical products

Everyday names, not part of the legal text.