Chapter 34 Soap, organic surface-active agents; washing, lubricating, polishing or scouring preparations; artificial or prepared waxes, candles and similar articles, modelling pastes, dental waxes and dental preparations with a basis of plaster

7 headings · 24 six-digit codes · World Customs Organization Harmonized System

HS code 34 soap and cleaning products share one chapter with lubricants, waxes, polishes, candles and dental wax. This page explains each product group in plain words and helps you pick the right code.

Chapter 34 is a compact chapter: 24 six-digit codes across 7 headings, 3401 to 3407. 5 of those headings subdivide below four digits, so the whole chapter fits on one screen. The chapter sits in Section VI, Products of the Chemical or Allied Industries, alongside 10 other chapters.

Headings in this chapter

3401Soap; organic surface-active preparations used as soap, skin washing, in bars, cakes, moulded pieces, shapes, liquid or cream, containing soap or not; for retail, paper, wadding, felt and nonwovens, impregnated, coated or covered with soap or detergent340111 to 340130e.g. 340111 — Soap and organic surface-active products; in the form of bars, cakes, moulded shapes, and paper, wadding, felt and nonwovens, impregnated, coated or covered with soap or detergent, for toilet use (including medicated products)4 codes 3402Organic surface-active agents (not soap); surface-active, washing (including auxiliary washing) and cleaning preparations, containing soap or not, excluding those of heading no. 3401340231 to 340290e.g. 340231 — Anionic organic surface-active agents (other than soap); linear alkylbenzene sulphonic acids and their salts, whether or not put up for retail sale7 codes 3403Lubricating preparations and those used in oil or grease treatment of textile and similar materials; excluding preparations containing 70% or more (by weight) of petroleum or bituminous mineral oils340311 to 340399e.g. 340311 — Lubricating preparations; for the treatment of textile and similar materials (leather, furskins etc), containing less than 70% (by weight) of petroleum oils or oils obtained from bituminous minerals4 codes 3404Waxes; artificial, prepared340420 to 340490e.g. 340420 — Waxes; artificial and prepared, of poly(oxyethylene) (polyethylene glycol)2 codes 3405Polishes, creams, scouring pastes, powders and similar; in any form, (including articles impregnated, coated or covered with such), for furniture, footwear, floors, coachwork, glass or metal340510 to 340590e.g. 340510 — Polishes, creams and similar preparations; for footwear or leather, excluding waxes of heading no. 34045 codes 3406Candles, tapers and the likee.g. 340600 — Candles, tapers and the like1 code 3407Modelling pastes, including those for children; dental wax, impression compounds, in sets or packings for retail sale or in plates and similar forms; dentistry preparations with plaster basee.g. 340700 — Modelling pastes; preparations known as dental wax, put up in sets, in packings for retail sale or in plates, horseshoe shapes, sticks or similar forms, other preparations for use in dentistry1 code

Chapter 33 All chapters Chapter 35

HS code 34 soap: what heading 3401 covers

Heading 3401 is the home of soap. It also covers paper, wadding, felt and nonwovens that are soaked or coated with soap or detergent.

The split inside the heading is simple. Soap bars and similar items that are not for toilet use, such as industrial soap bars, go to 340119. Soap in other forms goes to 340120.

Liquid hand wash and body wash have their own code. A skin-washing preparation in liquid or cream form, put up for retail sale, goes to 340130. It does not matter whether it contains soap or not.

Detergents and surfactants: heading 3402

Surfactants are the ingredients that let water lift grease and dirt. The heading also covers washing and cleaning preparations, including auxiliary washing preparations.

Surfactants are sorted by their electric charge. Cationic agents and non-ionic agents each have their own subheading.

Finished cleaning products are sorted by how they are sold. Detergent powders, flakes and granules put up for retail sale go to 340250.

Lubricants, waxes, polishes, candles and dental wax

Heading 3403 covers lubricating preparations, and preparations used to treat textiles, leather and furskins with oil or grease. There is a firm limit. Below that limit, the code depends on two things: whether the product treats textiles and similar materials, and whether it contains any petroleum oil at all.

Waxes made of polyethylene glycol go to 340420.

Heading 3405 covers polishes, creams and scouring products. Shoe polish and other footwear or leather creams go to 340510. Furniture and floor polish, car polish and scouring pastes and powders have their own subheadings. The heading excludes the waxes of 3404.

Candles, tapers and the like have one code, 340600. The single code there is 340700.

3404: artificial and prepared waxes
3405: polishes, creams and scouring preparations
3406: candles and tapers
3407: modelling pastes and dental preparations

How to choose the right Chapter 34 code

Start with the difference between HS 3401 and 3402. If the product is a bar, cake or skin wash, check 3401 first. If it is a cleaner, an auxiliary wash or a raw surfactant, check 3402.

Next, ask how the product is sold. Several codes depend on whether it is put up for retail sale. Liquid skin wash in 340130 and detergent powder in 340250 are retail codes. The bulk match for cleaning preparations is 340290.

Then ask what the product is for. Toilet use points to 340111. Other uses point to 340119. A polish that is really a wax may belong in 3404 instead of 3405.

Some goods sit just outside this chapter. Chemical products not named elsewhere are in Chapter 38. If you are unsure, test your product description in the HS code classifier.

Chapter 34 import and export data

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.

Other chapters in Section VI

Products of the Chemical or Allied Industries covers chapters 28–38.

These codes carry real shipments.

EximDataX shows the live import–export records filed under Chapter 34: named buyers, suppliers, quantities and values from official customs feeds.

See live data for Chapter 34

Straight answers

HS Chapter 34: common questions

What is the HS code for soap?

Soap is classified in heading 3401. Toilet soap is 340111, soap not for toilet use is 340119, and other soap forms are 340120.

What is the HS code for liquid hand wash or body wash?

Use 340130. It covers liquid or cream skin-washing preparations put up for retail sale, with or without soap.

What is the HS code for detergent powder?

Retail detergent powders, flakes and granules go to 340250.

What is the difference between HS 3401 and 3402?

Heading 3401 covers soap and products used as soap to wash skin. Heading 3402 covers surface-active agents and washing or cleaning preparations, and it leaves out what is in 3401.

What is the HS code for candles?

Candles, tapers and the like are classified under 340600.

What is the HS code for shoe polish?

Waxes that fall under heading 3404 are excluded.

What is the HS code for dental wax and modelling clay?

Both are in heading 3407, under the single code 340700. It covers modelling pastes, including those for children, and dental wax put up in sets, retail packs or plates.

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