HS Code 3212Pigments (metallic powders and flakes) dispersed in non-aqueous media in liquid or paste form, as used in manufacture of paints (including enamels); stamping foils, dyes etc in forms, packing for retail sale
2 six-digit codes · Heading 12 of 15 in Chapter 32 · World Customs Organization Harmonized System
HS code 3212 is the heading for pigment pastes used to make paints, plus stamping foils and dyes packed for retail sale. This page shows what fits, how to pick between its two codes, and where nearby headings take over.
Heading 3212 splits exactly two ways. Goods answering to “Pigments (metallic powders and flakes) dispersed in non-aqueous media in liquid or paste form, as used in manufacture of paints (including enamels); stamping foils, dyes etc in forms, packing for retail sale” classify either at 321210 or at 321290, and the wording in the table below is the whole of what separates them. The heading is number 12 of 15 in Chapter 32, Tanning or dyeing extracts; tannins and their derivatives; dyes, pigments and other colouring matter; paints, varnishes; putty, other mastics; inks, which runs to 45 six-digit codes in all.
What HS code 3212 covers
Heading 3212 is about colour that is ready to go into a paint. It covers metallic powders and flakes mixed into a non-aqueous liquid or paste. Paint and enamel makers use these pigment pastes in manufacture.
The heading also takes stamping foils. It takes dyes and other colouring matter put up in forms or packed for retail sale as well. You may also see it called HSN code 3212. It sits in Chapter 32 of the Harmonized System, the group for dyes, pigments and paints.
HS 321210 vs 321290: which code to use
Both codes are for pigments of a kind used to make paints. The only split is stamping foils.
Ask one question first: is the product a stamping foil? If yes, use 321210. If no, and the goods still fit heading 3212, use 321290. If you are not sure, try the HS code classifier.
- Pick this for stamping foils.
- Pick this for the rest of the 3212 goods, such as pigment pastes.
Is it 3212 or a nearby Chapter 32 heading?
Many Chapter 32 goods look alike. The rule of thumb is simple. A pigment sold to make paint stays in 3212. Once the product is a finished paint, a different heading applies.
Check these neighbours before you file:
- 3208 and 3209: finished paints and varnishes based on polymers. 3208 is for non-aqueous media. 3209 is for water-based products.
- 3207: prepared pigments, opacifiers, glazes and enamels used in the ceramic or glass industry.
- 3213: colours for artists, students and signboard painters, in tablets, tubes or jars.
Who imports and exports goods under HS 3212
This page prints no trade figures. The live records hold the detail. Here is what you can do with them.
EximDataX shows shipment-level import and export records from official customs sources. 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. You can search by HS code to see who imports and exports a product, and book a free demo.
Nearby headings in Chapter 32
- 3203Colouring matter of vegetable or animal origin (including dyeing extracts…1 code
- 3204Synthetic organic colouring matter and preparations based thereon; synthetic…11 codes
- 3205Colour lakes; preparations based on colour lakes as specified in note 3 to…1 code
- 3206Colouring matter and preparations thereof n.e.c. in heading no. 3203, 3204…7 codes
- 3207Pigments, prepared; opacifiers, colours, vitrifiable enamels, glazes, engobes…4 codes
- 3208Paints, varnishes; (enamels and lacquers) based on synthetic polymers or…3 codes
- 3209Paints and varnishes (including enamels and lacquers) based on synthetic or…2 codes
- 3210Paints and varnishes (including enamels, lacquers and distempers), excluding…1 code
- 3211Driers; prepared1 code
- 3213Colours; artists, students, or signboard painters, modifying tints, amusement…2 codes
- 3214Glaziers' putty, grafting putty, resin cements, caulking compounds and other…2 codes
- 3215Ink; printing, writing or drawing ink and other inks; whether or not…3 codes
Who ships under 3212?
EximDataX tracks the live import–export records filed under this heading and the 2 codes beneath it: named buyers, suppliers, quantities and values from official customs feeds.
Section VI: Products of the Chemical or Allied Industries, chapters 28–38.
HS Code 3212: common questions
What is HS code 3212?
It covers pigments dispersed in non-aqueous media for paint making, stamping foils, and dyes in forms or retail packs.
What is the HS code for stamping foils?
Stamping foils go under 321210.
What is the difference between HS 321210 and 321290?
321210 is for stamping foils.
What is the difference between HS 3212 and 3208?
3208 is for finished paints and varnishes in a non-aqueous medium, and 3209 is for the water-based kind.
Do pigments in linseed oil or white spirit go under 3212?
A pigment dispersed in a non-aqueous liquid for paint making matches the 3212 wording. A ready-to-use paint belongs in 3208 instead. Confirm with the HS code classifier.
Who imports HS code 3212 pigments?
Open the live records for 3212 on EximDataX to see the companies behind each shipment. The buyer data and supplier data pages explain how those records are organised.
See what your buyers are buying.Then decide.
Everything we show you comes from official customs filings — records, not claims. 30 minutes. Your shipment. Your HS code. Real platform. If you don’t see something new about your market by the end of the call, we walk away. No follow-ups.