HS Code 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 detergent

What HS code 3401 covers

Heading 3401 is where customs puts soap. These come as bars, cakes, moulded pieces, liquid or cream. Paper, wadding, felt and nonwovens that are coated or soaked with soap or detergent also belong here.

People search for this under many names, such as soap HS code, HSN code 3401 or HTS code 3401. The first six digits are the same everywhere, because they come from the Harmonized System that customs offices around the world share. Each country then adds its own extra digits after those six. Check the national code before you file anything.

The path is simple. It runs from Section VI to Chapter 34, then to this heading, then to the six-digit codes below it.

How to choose the right 3401 code

Each six-digit code answers a different question about form and use. Here is what everyday soap types map to:

• 340111: toilet soap in bars, cakes, moulded shapes, or paper and nonwovens treated with soap or detergent. Medicated soap is included here.
• 340119: the same forms, but not for toilet use. Think of laundry soap and other cleaning bars.
• Liquid soap and hand wash fit here.

Which code fits your soap?

Ask three questions in order. If yes, use 340130.

Second, is it a bar, a cake, a moulded piece or a treated sheet? If yes, ask whether it is for toilet use. Toilet use points to 340111. Any other use points to 340119.

Third, if it is soap but fits none of those forms, look at 340120.

A medicated bar and an ordinary toilet bar land in the same place. Code 340111 names medicated products directly, so the label does not change the code. If you are still unsure, the HS code classifier can help you narrow it down.

What does HS code 3401 not include?

Heading 3402 is the nearest neighbour. It covers surface-active agents that are not soap, plus washing and cleaning preparations, with or without soap, other than those already placed in 3401. So 3401 is about soap and skin washing, while 3402 is the wider cleaning side.

Polishes, creams, scouring pastes and powders for furniture, footwear, floors, glass or metal go to heading 3405. Candles sit in 3406.

Find importers and exporters of soap

Once you know your code, you can look at real trade. 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.

Use the import data and export data pages to see how the records work. Use the buyer and supplier pages when you want names to contact.