HS Code 2917Acids; polycarboxylic acids, their anhydrides, halides, peroxides and peroxy-acids; their halogenated, sulphonated, nitrated or nitrosated derivatives

What HS code 2917 covers

Many organic acids have one acid group, called a carboxyl group. A polycarboxylic acid has two or more. This heading gathers those acids and the products made from them: anhydrides, halides, peroxides and peroxy-acids. Versions that are halogenated, sulphonated, nitrated or nitrosated are included too.

You may see the same heading written as HSN code 2917 on invoices from India. It is the same heading.

The shape of the molecule drives the split. Some acids are chains. Some have a ring that is not aromatic. Some have an aromatic, benzene-type ring. Each shape has its own block of six-digit codes.

Acyclic polycarboxylic acids: oxalic, adipic, azelaic and sebacic acid, maleic anhydride

Acyclic means the carbon atoms form a chain with no ring. Five codes cover this group, from 291711 to 291719.

Adipic acid is 291712. Maleic anhydride has its own code, 291714.

The last code, 291719, is a catch-all. Use it only when a chain acid is not named in the codes before it.

Cyclanic and aromatic acids: phthalates, phthalic anhydride, terephthalic acid

Only one code, 291720, serves ring-shaped acids that are not aromatic.

The aromatic block runs from 291732 to 291739. Orthophthalates are esters of orthophthalic acid. Three codes split them by the alcohol part of the ester: dioctyl in 291732, dinonyl or didecyl in 291733, and all other esters in 291734.

Phthalic anhydride is 291735. Terephthalic acid and its salts are 291736. Dimethyl terephthalate, often called DMT, is 291737. The residual aromatic code is 291739, for acids that none of the named codes fit.

How to choose the right 2917 subheading

Start with the structure of the product, then ask three questions in order.

First, does the molecule have a ring? If not, look at the chain block. Second, if there is a ring, is it aromatic? If yes, use the aromatic block. If the ring is not aromatic, 291720 is the match. Third, look for the code that names your exact product. Pick 291719 or 291739 only when nothing named fits.

Then check the neighbours. Heading 2916 is for unsaturated chain acids and ring acids with a single acid group. Heading 2918 is for carboxylic acids that carry an extra oxygen function. An acid with two or more acid groups and none of those extras belongs here.

If a product is hard to place, try the HS code classifier. Read the full wording of the code twice, because the wording settles the answer.

Import and export data for 2917 shipments

EximDataX shows shipment-level import and export records from official customs sources. You can search by HS code to see who imports and exports a product, and book a free demo.

Coverage: 43 direct customs feeds plus 184 mirror-derived countries. Named buyers and named suppliers are available in 38 of the 43 direct markets. Most markets refresh weekly and some refresh daily.

Try a search on 291712, 291735 or 291736 to see live records for the product you trade. Records are shown by country, so you can open the market you care about.