HS Code 3404Waxes; artificial, prepared

What HS code 3404 covers: artificial and prepared waxes

The Harmonized System is a global naming list for traded goods. The World Customs Organization keeps it up to date. Customs offices use it on import and export papers. In India you may see the same heading called HSN code 3404.

Here is the classification path. Inside it, Chapter 34 groups soaps, cleaners, lubricants, polishes, candles and waxes. HS heading 3404 sits in that chapter and holds the artificial waxes and prepared waxes.

The official text is short and full of punctuation. In plain words, these are waxes made in a factory or mixed from other materials. They are not waxes taken straight from nature. The table above gives the exact customs wording for each subheading.

How to choose between 340420 and 340490

Ask one question about the wax. Is it made of polyethylene glycol? Customs also writes this as poly(oxyethylene). Polyethylene glycol waxes and poly(oxyethylene) waxes are the same goods.

If the answer is yes, use subheading 340420. If the answer is no, use subheading 340490. This second code is the catch-all for every other wax in the heading.

To check, read the product data sheet or ask the maker what the wax is based on. If you are still unsure, the HS code classifier can help you narrow it down.

• 340420: the wax is based on polyethylene glycol
• 340490: any other wax in this heading

Is the HS code for waxes the same in every country?

Mostly, yes, at the start of the code. Countries that use the Harmonized System share the first six digits. So 340420 and 340490 mean the same thing wherever the system is used.

Many countries then add extra digits to build their own national codes. Those longer codes, and any duty tied to them, are set by each country. Check the national code before you ship. For a product-level answer, try the HS code classifier.

How 3404 differs from nearby Chapter 34 headings

Several Chapter 34 goods look like waxes in daily life but sit elsewhere. The rule is simple: classify by what the product is, not by whether it contains wax.

Candles and tapers go to heading 3406, even though they are made of wax. Polishes, creams and scouring pastes for furniture, footwear, floors, glass or metal fall under heading 3405. Dental wax, impression compounds and modelling pastes are found in heading 3407.

Soap sits in heading 3401. If your goods fit one of these better than a plain wax, use that heading instead.

HS 3404 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.

Use customs shipment records to see who exports artificial waxes and to find importers and exporters of waxes. From there you can build a list of waxes buyers and suppliers. Start with the import data or export data pages, or go straight to buyer data and supplier data.