HS Code 3215Ink; printing, writing or drawing ink and other inks; whether or not concentrated or solid

What HS code 3215 covers

The Harmonized System is a global naming scheme for traded goods. Customs offices in many countries use it to label every shipment. Heading 3215 is where ink goes. In some countries, including India, you may see the same number called HSN code 3215.

So a thick ink base or a solid block of ink still sits here. It does not need to be a ready liquid in a bottle or a tin.

The chapter also holds dyes, pigments and paints, so a lot of look-alike goods sit close by. The sections below help you tell them apart.

How to choose between 321511, 321519 and 321590

Ask two simple questions. First: is the ink made for printing? Second: if yes, is it black?

The official wording gives you the answer. Here are the three codes in plain terms, with the dotted format some countries use.

• Choose it when the ink is for printing and the colour is black.
• 321519 (3215.19): coloured printing ink.
• Choose it when the ink is not for printing, such as ink for pens or for drawing.

Difference between 321511 and 321519

The only difference is colour. Both codes are for printing ink, and both allow concentrated or solid forms. Black goes to 321511. Every other colour goes to 321519.

If you sell a set with black and coloured printing inks, each colour may need its own code on the paperwork. Check the exact goods before you file. The HS code classifier can help you test a product description.

Inks vs related Chapter 32 headings

Some goods look like ink but belong elsewhere in Chapter 32. Read the heading names to be sure.

They come in tablets, tubes, jars or bottles. Heading 3212 covers metallic pigments dispersed in liquid or paste for making paints, plus stamping foils and dyes packed for retail sale. Paints and varnishes sit in 3208 when the medium is not water, and in 3209 when it is water. Synthetic organic colouring matter, the raw dye material, is in 3204.

A good rule: if the product is an ink for printing, writing or drawing, look at 3215 first. If it is a paint, a foil or a raw colourant, look at the other headings.

Printing ink import export data, buyers and suppliers

Classification is only half the job. You may also want to know which companies buy and sell ink under this heading, including printing ink manufacturers and their customers.

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. Try it with 3215, or with one of its six-digit codes, to see the customs shipment records for ink.