39 Plastics and articles thereof
The broadest level of the Harmonized System. Pick the heading below that fits your goods, then the six-digit code under it — that last one is what you declare.
Section VII, Plastics & Rubber — plastics, rubber and articles made of them, from raw polymers to tyres.
- 39 Chapter Plastics and articles thereof
- —— Heading Pick one of the 26 headings below
- —— Subheading Six digits, the level every country shares
Chapter 39 covers plastics and articles thereof: from raw polymer resins and granules through finished plastic goods like packaging, sheets, tubes and molded parts. Whether a product is a primary form (pellets, granules) or a finished article changes both the subheading and often the applicable duty rate. Classification tip: The specific polymer type (PET, PVC, polyethylene, polypropylene) determines the subheading for primary-form plastics, so identify the resin, not just 'plastic', before classifying raw material shipments.
26 headings in chapter 39
Four-digit groups. Pick the one that fits, then the six-digit code inside it.
- 39.01 Polymers of ethylene, in primary forms 5 codes
- 39.02 Polymers of propylene or of other olefins, in primary forms 4 codes
- 39.03 Polymers of styrene, in primary forms 5 codes
- 39.04 Polymers of vinyl chloride or of other halogenated olefins, in primary forms 9 codes
- 39.05 Polymers of vinyl acetate or of other vinyl esters, in primary forms; other vinyl polymers in primary forms 7 codes
- 39.06 Acrylic polymers in primary forms 2 codes
- 39.07 Polyacetals, other polyethers and epoxide resins, in primary forms; polycarbonates, alkyd resins, polyallyl esters and other polyesters, in primary forms 11 codes
- 39.08 Polyamides in primary forms 2 codes
- 39.09 Amino-resins, phenolic resins and polyurethanes, in primary forms 6 codes
- 39.10 Silicones in primary forms 1 code
- 39.11 Petroleum resins, coumarone-indene resins, polyterpenes, polysulphides, polysulphones and similar products of chemical synthesis n.e.c. in chapter 39, in primary forms 3 codes
- 39.12 Cellulose and its chemical derivatives, n.e.c. or included, in primary forms 6 codes
- 39.13 Natural polymers (e.g. alginic acid) and modified natural polymers (e.g. hardened proteins, chemical derivatives of natural rubber), n.e.c. or included, in primary forms 2 codes
- 39.14 Ion-exchangers; based on polymers of heading no. 3901 to 3913, in primary forms 1 code
- 39.15 Waste, parings and scrap, of plastics 4 codes
- 39.16 Monofilament of which any cross-sectional dimension exceeds 1mm, rods, sticks and profile shapes, whether or not surface-worked but not otherwise worked, of plastics 3 codes
- 39.17 Tubes, pipes and hoses and fittings thereof (for example, joints, elbows, flanges), of plastics 10 codes
- 39.18 Floor coverings of plastics, self-adhesive or not, in rolls or tiles; wall or ceiling coverings of plastics, in rolls of a width not less than 45cm 2 codes
- 39.19 Self-adhesive plates, sheets, film, foil, tape, strip and other flat shapes, of plastics, whether or not in rolls 2 codes
- 39.20 Plastics; plates, sheets, film, foil and strip (not self-adhesive); non-cellular and not reinforced, laminated, supported or similarly combined with other materials, n.e.c. in chapter 39 19 codes
- 39.21 Plastic plates, sheets, film, foil and strip n.e.c. in chapter 39 6 codes
- 39.22 Sanitary ware; baths, shower-baths, sinks, wash-basins, bidets, lavatory pans, seats and covers, flushing cisterns and sanitary ware, of plastics 3 codes
- 39.23 Plastic articles for the conveyance or packing of goods; stoppers, lids, caps and other closures of plastics 7 codes
- 39.24 Tableware, kitchenware, other household articles and hygienic or toilet articles, of plastics 2 codes
- 39.25 Plastics; builders' wares n.e.c. or included 4 codes
- 39.26 Articles of plastics and articles of other materials of heading no. 3901 to 3914, n.e.c. in chapter 39 5 codes
Other chapters in Section VII
The wording above is the Harmonized System nomenclature as published by the World Customs Organization, HS 2022 edition. It is a classification reference, not a tariff: it carries no duty rates, and it stops at six digits — the importing country adds its own beyond that.
Classification is decided by the General Rules of Interpretation and the section and chapter notes, and it is the importing country’s customs authority that makes it binding.
Shipping goods from chapter 39? A customs hold shows up as a milestone that stops moving — follow the container or the air waybill from departure to delivery.
Track a shipmentChapter 39 FAQ
Chapter 39 covers plastics and articles thereof: from raw polymer resins and granules through finished plastic goods like packaging, sheets, tubes and molded parts. Whether a product is a primary form (pellets, granules) or a finished article changes both the subheading and often the applicable duty rate. Classification tip: The specific polymer type (PET, PVC, polyethylene, polypropylene) determines the subheading for primary-form plastics, so identify the resin, not just 'plastic', before classifying raw material shipments.
Pick the heading below that describes the goods, then the six-digit subheading under it. Six digits is the level the Harmonized System defines and the level customs everywhere recognises; anything beyond that is added by the importing country.
The General Rules of Interpretation, read together with the notes to Section VII and to chapter 39. A description that reads right is not enough on its own — the notes routinely pull goods out of the chapter they obviously belong to and put them somewhere else. Where duty or licensing turns on the answer, ask the importing country’s customs authority for a binding ruling.
A wrong or missing code is one of the common reasons customs holds a container, and a hold shows up as a milestone that stops moving. Watch for it in the container tracking app, on the air waybill in the air cargo tracker, or through the tracking API.