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HS 38.08 Heading · Chemicals & Allied Industries

Insecticides, rodenticides, fungicides, herbicides, anti-sprouting products, plant growth regulators, disinfectants and the like, put up in forms or packings for retail sale or as preparations or articles

HS heading 38.08 covers Insecticides, rodenticides, fungicides, herbicides, anti-sprouting products, plant growth regulators, disinfectants and the like, put up in forms or packings for retail sale or as preparations or articles. Within Chapter 38 it splits into 10 six-digit subheadings spanning insecticides and the like to disinfectants, each carrying its own customs duty line.

India exports 2024
$4.14B
Share of Chapter 38
61.4%
Rank in its chapter
#1 of 27

Source: UN Comtrade — India's reported merchandise exports to the world, 2024.

Sourcing this category from India

HS 38.08 covers Insecticides, rodenticides, fungicides, herbicides, anti-sprouting products, plant growth regulators, disinfectants and the like, put up in forms or packings for retail sale or as preparations or articles. At the six-digit line it separates insecticides and the like, insecticides and fungicides, among others — each a distinct duty line shown below. India's diversified chemical sector exports a broad range of specialty and composite chemical products. India exported $4.14B under this code worldwide in 2024, about 61.4% of all Chapter 38 exports, ranking #1 of 27 lines in its chapter (UN Comtrade).

How to read this code

38.08 is the four-digit HS heading for insecticides, rodenticides, fungicides, herbicides. 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.

Subheadings under HS 38.08

The Harmonised System breaks Insecticides, rodenticides, fungicides, herbicides, anti-sprouting products, plant growth regulators, disinfectants and the like, put up in forms or packings for retail sale or as preparations or articles into these 10 subheadings. Drill down to the exact classification for your goods.

3808.52

Insecticides and the like; containing goods specified in Subheading Note 1 to this Chapter; for retail sale or as preparations or articles; DDT (ISO) (clofenotane (INN)), in packings of 300g or less

3808.59

Insecticides, rodenticides, fungicides, disinfectants, herbicides and the like; containing goods specified in Subheading Note 1 to this Chapter; not DDT (ISO) (clofenotane (INN)), put up in forms or packings for retail sale or as preparations or articles

3808.61

Insecticides and the like; containing goods specified in Subheading Note 2 to this Chapter; in packings of a net weight content not exceeding 300g; for retail sale or as preparations or articles

3808.62

Insecticides; containing goods specified in Subheading Note 2 to this Chapter; put up in forms or packings for retail sale or as preparations or articles, in packings of a net weight content exceeding 300g but not exceeding 7.5kg

3808.69

Insecticides; containing goods named in Subheading Note 2 to this Chapter, put up in forms or packings for retail sale or as preparations or articles, in packings of a net weight content exceeding 7.5kg

3808.91

Insecticides; other than containing goods specified in Subheading Notes 1 & 2 to this Chapter; put up in forms or packings for retail sale or as preparations or articles

3808.92

Fungicides; other than containing goods specified in Subheading Note 1 to this Chapter; put up in forms or packings for retail sale or as preparations or articles

3808.93

Herbicides, anti-sprouting products and plant-growth regulators; other than containing goods of Subheading Note 1 to this Chapter; put up in forms or packings for retail sale or as preparations or articles

3808.94

Disinfectants; other than containing goods specified in Subheading Note 1 in this Chapter; put up in forms or packings for retail sale or as preparations or articles

3808.99

Rodenticides and other similar products n.e.c. in heading no. 3808.9; other than containing goods specified in Subheading Note 1 in this Chapter, put up in forms or packings for retail sale or as preparations or articles

Top destinations for Chapter 38 exports

India's largest buyers of goods in this HS chapter in 2024, ranked by export value.

#1 USA $1.24B
#2 Brazil $1.07B
#3 Japan $449.1M
#4 United Arab Emirates $222.3M
#5 China $201.8M

Chapter-level destination mix — your specific HS line may skew differently. Source: UN Comtrade, 2024.

More codes in Chemical products n.e.c.

Jump to the other headings classified under 38 — hover a code for its description.

Working out import duty for HS 38.08 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.

Browse the full exporter directory →
Last updated 28 Jun 2026 Figures are indicative sourcing benchmarks compiled from exporter quotes, India trade-scheme notifications and public customs tariffs. Confirm live pricing and HS classification before contracting.
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