1. Why chemicals are hard
Three variables decide the classification at once: chemical composition, purity, and use or packing form.
2. The relevant chapters
Chapter 28
Inorganic chemicals, compounds of precious metals and rare earths, inorganic acids, bases and salts.
Chapter 29
Organic chemicals. Hydrocarbons, alcohols, phenols, aldehydes, ketones, acids, esters, amines.
Chapter 30
Pharmaceutical products.
Chapter 31
Fertilisers.
Chapter 32
Dyes, pigments, paints and varnishes.
Chapter 33
Essential oils, cosmetics.
Chapter 38
Miscellaneous chemical products.
3. The deciding factors
Composition determines the chapter and heading.
Purity matters where a heading sets a threshold.
Retail packing matters where a heading is defined by presentation.
Use matters where headings are use-based.
4. The 28 / 29 boundary
Inorganic in 28, organic in 29.
A frequent error is placing organic salts in chapter 28. They belong in 29 on the basis of their organic character.
Both chapters carry notes that exclude specific products. Those notes decide more cases than the heading text.
5. Dangerous goods
Certain chemicals are regulated as dangerous goods, which brings additional documentation such as safety data sheets and transport papers.
The classification and the dangerous goods assessment should be done together.
6. The common errors
Classifying by trade name when the composition differs.
Ignoring purity thresholds.
Ignoring the packing form.
Overlooking dangerous goods status.
7. A working habit
Chemical classification needs composition data.
For each product, keep a composition sheet: chemical name, CAS number, content, impurities.
That sheet supports classification and the dangerous goods determination at the same time.
8. Closing view
Chemicals are among the most technical categories in the tariff.
For anything uncertain, an advance ruling or a specialist opinion is cheaper than a correction later.
*This article is based on the notes to chapters 28 to 38 of the Harmonized System. Exporters should confirm classification with China Customs.*