HS Chapter 29 covers organic chemicals, defined organic compounds of known chemical constitution. The chapter spans 42 four-digit headings (29.01 to 29.42) and includes methanol, acetone, the BTX aromatics (benzene, toluene, xylene), alcohols, ketones, ethers, esters, organic acids, amines, halogenated organics, and a vast range of fine-chemical and pharmaceutical intermediates. Chapter 29 is the chapter most affected by anti-dumping and countervailing duty orders against Chinese-origin chemicals, citric acid, melamine, glyphosate, certain phthalates, and many others have active AD/CVD orders in multiple destination markets.
Chapter structure
Chapter 29 organises organic chemicals by functional group and structural family:
| Range | Coverage |
|---|---|
| 29.01-29.04 | Hydrocarbons (acyclic, cyclic, aromatic), halogenated derivatives |
| 29.05-29.06 | Acyclic and cyclic alcohols (methanol, ethanol, glycols, glycerol) |
| 29.07-29.08 | Phenols and halogenated phenols |
| 29.09-29.11 | Ethers, alcohol-peroxides, ether-peroxides, epoxides, acetals, hemiacetals |
| 29.12-29.14 | Aldehydes (formaldehyde and derivatives), ketones |
| 29.15-29.18 | Carboxylic acids and derivatives (acetic, citric, formic, salicylic, benzoic) |
| 29.19-29.20 | Phosphoric and sulphuric esters of organic compounds |
| 29.21-29.22 | Amine-function compounds (aniline, MDA, diphenylamines) |
| 29.23-29.25 | Quaternary ammonium salts, hydroxylamines, imines |
| 29.26-29.30 | Nitrile-function, diazo, organo-sulphur compounds |
| 29.31-29.34 | Other organic-inorganic compounds, heterocyclic compounds |
| 29.35-29.42 | Sulphonamides, vitamins, hormones, alkaloids, glycosides, antibiotics, other specific organic chemicals |
Top-traded Chinese-export products in Chapter 29
| HS6 | Product | Notable AD/CVD or trade-defence status |
|---|---|---|
| 29.05.11 | Methanol | Generally not subject to AD; volume export |
| 29.14.11 | Acetone | Subject to AD/CVD investigations periodically |
| 29.18.14 | Citric acid | Active AD/CVD in EU, US, Brazil, Indonesia |
| 29.05.31 | Ethylene glycol (MEG) | Anti-dumping investigations periodically |
| 29.18.15 | Salts and esters of citric acid | Often paired with citric acid AD orders |
| 29.21.11 | Methylamine, dimethylamine, trimethylamine | Limited AD coverage |
| 29.21.41 | Aniline | AD/CVD subject in EU |
| 29.31.49 | Glyphosate (technical) | AD orders in EU and Brazil |
| 29.33.61 | Melamine | Active AD orders in EU, US, India, Eurasian Union |
| 29.36.21 | Vitamin C (ascorbic acid) | Long-running AD/CVD history in US and EU |
The anti-dumping concentration in Chapter 29 reflects China’s dominant position in many specific organic chemistries, vitamin C, melamine, glyphosate, citric acid, MDI/TDI feedstocks. Where Chinese supply dominates global capacity, importing markets have been quicker to launch AD investigations.
Duty profile
| Destination | Typical MFN range on Chapter 29 |
|---|---|
| US (HTS) | 0% to 6.5% |
| EU (TARIC) | 0% to 6.5% |
| Australia | 0% to 5% (often 0% under ChAFTA) |
| Japan | 0% to 4.7% |
The MFN rates are similar to Chapter 28. The total duty story for Chinese-origin Chapter 29 substances is again dominated by Section 301 in the US (25% on most lines) and by the AD/CVD overlays specific to the substance.
For melamine into the EU in 2026: MFN ~6.5% + EU AD duty ~415 EUR/MT (effective ~30-40% on a typical FOB). For citric acid into the US: MFN 6% + Section 301 25% + AD ~94% (residual rate against China) = effective ~125% all-in. Chapter 29 duties can be substantial.
Specialty chemistry classification challenges
Chapter 29 contains the broadest specialty chemistry coverage of any HS chapter. Three classification challenges come up routinely:
-
Mixtures vs separate chemically defined compounds. A “defined organic compound” sits in Chapter 29; a mixture of two or more defined compounds typically sits in Chapter 38. The line between a “defined compound with permitted impurities” and a “mixture of defined compounds” is a common classification dispute.
-
The aromatics question. Some hydrocarbons can sit in Chapter 27 (mineral oils and petroleum products) or in Chapter 29 depending on purity and chemistry. BTX aromatics produced in petrochemical separation (purity above ~95%) are Chapter 29; lower-purity aromatic mixtures from refinery streams may be Chapter 27.
-
The pharmaceutical intermediate split. A pharmaceutical active intermediate may sit in Chapter 29 (the chemistry chapter) or Chapter 30 (pharmaceutical products) depending on whether it has been formulated, dosed, or otherwise prepared for therapeutic use. The same molecule shipped as a chemistry intermediate vs as a pharmaceutical API can attract different duty rates and different regulatory regimes (Chapter 30 carries pharmaceutical-specific scrutiny that Chapter 29 does not).
CBP, EU customs, and other authorities each maintain detailed classification rulings for these ambiguous cases. The CROSS database (US) and the EBTI database (EU) are the lookup points.
Regulatory overlays specific to Chapter 29
Chapter 29 substances overlap with:
- REACH, TSCA, IECSC, K-REACH, AICIS, registration regimes; routine commodity organics are listed in all major inventories; specialties may not be
- REACH SVHC listings, many phthalate plasticisers and certain chlorinated organics are listed; supply chain notification obligations apply
- IMDG Class 3 (flammables), most volatile organic solvents in Chapter 29 are Class 3
- IMDG Class 6.1 (toxics), many specific organics (anilines, phenols, certain pesticide intermediates) are Class 6.1
- Pharmaceutical export controls, specific organic precursors are on Chinese dual-use export control lists for narcotics or chemical-weapons precursor management
VAT rebate sensitivity
Chapter 29 has been subject to repeated VAT-rebate cuts since 2020 as China has shifted strategic-industry support. Rebate cuts on specific Chapter 29 substances have included:
- Certain pesticide actives moved from 13% to 9%
- Several plasticiser intermediates moved from 13% to 9% to 0% in stages
- Vitamin C and certain other fine chemicals adjusted with health-industry policy changes
The Chinese SAT publishes per-HS rebate schedules in monthly bulletins. For volume Chapter 29 buyers the rebate-cut signal is a leading indicator of FOB price increases.
Operator note: the API-to-finished-drug pivot
Chinese pharmaceutical API exporters in Chapter 29 sometimes ship intermediates classified at the chemistry level (Chapter 29) when the product is functionally a pharmaceutical intermediate that should be Chapter 30. This avoids pharmaceutical-grade documentation requirements and Chapter 30 duty rates. The destination customs authorities, particularly EU and US, increasingly audit this classification. A buyer importing pharmaceutical intermediates from China should align the classification with the actual intended use; a Chapter 29 entry for a product subsequently used as a pharmaceutical API can attract reclassification, back duty, and pharmaceutical-regulatory enforcement.
Related terms
HS Code is the underlying international 6-digit classification. Chapter 28 covers inorganic chemicals. Chapter 38 covers miscellaneous chemical products including formulated mixtures. Anti-dumping duty is the most common Chapter 29 overlay.