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
Chapter 34 of the Harmonised System covers 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 four-digit headings spanning soap to modelling pastes, including those for children that customs authorities worldwide use to classify these goods and set duty.
- India exports 2024
- $1.05B
Source: UN Comtrade — India's reported merchandise exports to the world, 2024.
Sourcing this category from India
Chapter 34 covers soap, surface-active agents, washing, lubricating and polishing preparations, waxes and candles. India exports toilet and laundry soaps, surfactants, candles and polishing preparations to regional and Western markets. Subheadings separate true soaps from organic surface-active products, and finished washing preparations from waxes, modelling pastes and dental preparations.
How to read this code
34 is the two-digit HS chapter for soap, organic surface-active agents. To clear customs your destination country extends it to a full 8–10 digit code and assigns the duty rate. India's preferential trade agreements (UAE CEPA, Australia ECTA, and others) can reduce or zero out that duty on many chemicals & allied industries lines — check our import guides for your market.
Headings under HS 34
The Harmonised System breaks 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 into these 7 headings. Drill down to the exact classification for your goods.
Soap; 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
Organic surface-active agents (not soap); surface-active, washing (including auxiliary washing) and cleaning preparations, containing soap or not, excluding those of heading no. 3401
Lubricating 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 oils
Waxes; artificial, prepared
Polishes, creams, scouring pastes, powders and similar; in any form, (including articles impregnated, coated or covered with such), for furniture, footwear, floors, coachwork, glass or metal
Candles, tapers and the like
Modelling 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 base
Top destinations for Chapter 34 exports
India's largest buyers of goods in this HS chapter in 2024, ranked by export value.
Chapter-level destination mix — your specific HS line may skew differently. Source: UN Comtrade, 2024.
Working out import duty for HS 34 into your market? See full duty context and India-vs-rivals comparisons in our India comparison guides and export resource hub.
Indian exporters in this category
Established export houses with relevant HS focus. Listings are compiled from public records — run your own due diligence.
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