HS Code 3601Explosives; propellent powders

What HS code 3601 covers

The explosives HS code sits at the start of Chapter 36 in the Harmonized System. The Harmonized System is the shared list of product codes that customs offices around the world use. The World Customs Organization looks after it, which is why you will also see it called the WCO nomenclature.

You will often see the second word spelled propellant, and both spellings point to the same goods. Propellant powders burn in a controlled way to push a bullet, shell or rocket forward. That is different from a blast charge, which is made to break rock or metal.

If you are searching for the HS code for propellant powders, the code is 360100, and it is the only six-digit code under this heading. A customs officer, a freight forwarder or a trade analyst will all reach the same place. Chapter 36 explosives and pyrotechnic products sit inside Section VI, which groups the chemical industries.

How 3601 differs from other Chapter 36 headings

Many shippers mix up the headings in this chapter, because all of them deal with things that burn or blow up. The split is by what the goods are and how far they have been made up. Use the list below to find the right heading before you file or search.

• This is the one to pick when the goods are a made-up explosive and not a propellent powder.
• Think of the parts that set an explosive off.
• 3606: ferro-cerium and other pyrophoric alloys in all forms, plus articles of combustible materials not named elsewhere in the chapter.

Explosives classification for customs

Explosives classification for customs starts with a plain question: what is the product, and what does it do? A powder that propels a projectile goes to 3601. A prepared explosive that is not a propellent powder goes to 3602. A fuse, cord, cap or detonator goes to 3603. A firework or a signal flare goes to 3604.

Get the heading right first, then the six-digit code. Mistakes at this step can hold up a shipment, so check the goods against the wording of each heading. If you are unsure, the HS code classifier can help you narrow it down, and the chapter page shows all the headings side by side.

Rules for explosives are strict in most countries, and a licence is often needed. The code only tells customs what the goods are. It does not replace any permit you must hold.

Who imports explosives under HS 3601?

Knowing the code is half the job. The other half is knowing who buys and sells under it. Importers and exporters of HS 3601 goods are found in shipment records, which is where this site comes in.

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.

Open import data or export data to start from the trade flow you care about. Open buyer data or supplier data if you want to start from the companies.