HS code · 2-digit chapter
HS Code 13 – Lac; gums, resins and other vegetable saps and extracts
What HS 13 covers
Chapter 13 of the Harmonized System (HS) is dedicated to "Lac; gums, resins and other vegetable saps and extracts." This crucial chapter encompasses a diverse range of natural raw materials derived directly from plants, which are fundamental to various industries worldwide. The scope primarily covers crude or minimally processed plant exudates, saps, and extracts, distinguishing them from highly refined chemical compounds, essential oils, or finished pharmaceutical products. Key sub-categories include natural gums like gum arabic and tragacanth; resins such as copal, rosin, frankincense, and myrrh; and various vegetable saps and extracts, including licorice extract, pyrethrum extract, crude cannabis extracts (for non-medicinal use), and aloe vera extract. Also covered are pectic substances, agar-agar, and other mucilages and thickeners of vegetable origin. Proper classification under Chapter 13 is paramount for trade compliance, as it directly impacts applicable duties, taxes, import/export regulations, and potential eligibility for preferential trade agreements. Misclassification can lead to significant penalties, customs delays, and reputational damage. Historically, many of these products, like frankincense, myrrh, and various gums, have been traded across continents for millennia, serving as vital components in traditional medicine, perfumery, food preservation, and industrial applications such as varnishes, adhesives, and textiles. The chapter is broadly divided into two main headings: 1301 for lac, natural gums, resins, gum-resins, and oleoresins; and 1302 for vegetable saps and extracts, including pectic substances, agar-agar, and other vegetable-derived thickeners. Understanding these distinctions is critical for importers, exporters, and trade compliance professionals to ensure smooth and lawful international trade.
- Covers
- Lac (shellac)
- Gum arabic
- Gum tragacanth
- Copal resins
- Rosin (colophony)
- Frankincense (olibanum)
- Myrrh
- Crude cannabis extracts (non-medicinal)
- Licorice extract
- Pyrethrum extract
- Rotenone
- Quassia extract
- Aloe vera extract (crude)
- Ginseng extract (crude)
- Agar-agar
- Carrageenan
- Locust bean gum
- Guar gum
- Crude opium
- Areca nuts extract
- Gamboge
- Elemi gum
- Benzoin resin
- Styrax
- Dragon's blood resin
- Examples
A Sudanese exporter ships several tons of raw gum arabic to a food additive manufacturer in France via the Suez Canal and Mediterranean Sea, where it will be used as an emulsifier and stabilizer in beverages and confectionery. Separately, a Canadian company exports bulk crude cannabis extract (high CBD, low THC, for non-medicinal applications like cosmetics or industrial processing) to a processing facility in Germany, often traveling by air cargo or sea freight across the Atlantic. An Indian supplier frequently exports shellac flakes to a varnish manufacturer in the United States, typically by sea freight through the Indian Ocean and Pacific, for use in wood finishes and food glazes. Furthermore, a Chinese producer ships concentrated licorice extract to a confectionery company in the Netherlands, usually by sea, for use in candies and tobacco flavoring. Finally, an Indonesian company exports dried agar-agar powder to a laboratory supply distributor in Japan, often via short-sea shipping routes within Asia, where it's used as a gelling agent for microbial culture media.
Headings in chapter 13 2
Codes often confused with 13
Common mistake. Traders often misclassify products under Chapter 13 due to subtle distinctions in processing and intended use. A common mistake is confusing crude extracts with finished pharmaceutical products (Chapter 30), especially for herbal extracts like ginseng; if an extract is standardized and marketed as a medicament, it likely belongs in Chapter 30, whereas a crude extract for further processing falls under Chapter 13. Similarly, essential oils (Chapter 33), even if derived from the same plant, are distinct from the broader category of vegetable saps and extracts in Chapter 13 due to their specific chemical composition and extraction methods. Highly purified, chemically defined individual compounds isolated from plant extracts, such as certain alkaloids, should be classified under Chapter 29 (Organic Chemicals) rather than Chapter 13, which covers mixtures and less refined extracts. Understanding the degree of processing and the product's primary function is key to avoiding these errors.
Top exporters and importers of HS code 13, 2025
In 2025, the largest exporter of HS code 13 in UN Comtrade data was China, with 22% of world exports; the largest importer in UN Comtrade data was the United States, with 18% of world imports. Countries that did not report 2025 data are estimated from partner records, which can understate them.
Top exporters 2025 · share of world exports
- 1 China $2.2B 22% of world exports
- 2 India $1.2B 12% of world exports
- 3 France $898M 8.9% of world exports
World total: $10.1B Reported figures on UN Comtrade ↗
Top importers 2025 · share of world imports
- 1 United States $1.7B 18% of world imports
- 2 Germany $754M 7.9% of world imports
- 3 France $533M 5.6% of world imports
World total: $9.5B Reported figures on UN Comtrade ↗
How these figures are built
109 countries reported 2025 trade to UN Comtrade in HS 2022, and their own totals are used. Countries that did not report are estimated from what other countries recorded trading with them. Those estimates miss trade with other non-reporting countries, so they can be low, and a non-reporting country can rank higher than shown or be missing from the list. World totals add both and leave out trade between two non-reporting countries. Figures are in current US dollars; reported imports are mostly valued CIF and exports FOB, and exports include re-exports. The UN Comtrade links show the underlying records; they can also list a few reporters left out here (regional groups and older HS editions).
Source: UN Comtrade (United Nations Statistics Division), 2025 annual data.
Questions about HS 13
What is HS code 13?
HS code 13 is a 2-digit chapter in the Harmonized System that covers: Lac; gums, resins and other vegetable saps and extracts. Chapter 13 of the Harmonized System (HS) is dedicated to "Lac; gums, resins and other vegetable saps and extracts." This crucial chapter encompasses a diverse range of natural raw materials derived directly from plants, which are fundamental to various industries worldwide. The scope primarily covers crude or minimally processed plant exudates, saps, and extracts, distinguishing them from highly refined chemical compounds, essential oils, or finished pharmaceutical products. Key sub-categories include natural gums like gum arabic and tragacanth; resins such as copal, rosin, frankincense, and myrrh; and various vegetable saps and extracts, including licorice extract, pyrethrum extract, crude cannabis extracts (for non-medicinal use), and aloe vera extract. Also covered are pectic substances, agar-agar, and other mucilages and thickeners of vegetable origin. Proper classification under Chapter 13 is paramount for trade compliance, as it directly impacts applicable duties, taxes, import/export regulations, and potential eligibility for preferential trade agreements. Misclassification can lead to significant penalties, customs delays, and reputational damage. Historically, many of these products, like frankincense, myrrh, and various gums, have been traded across continents for millennia, serving as vital components in traditional medicine, perfumery, food preservation, and industrial applications such as varnishes, adhesives, and textiles. The chapter is broadly divided into two main headings: 1301 for lac, natural gums, resins, gum-resins, and oleoresins; and 1302 for vegetable saps and extracts, including pectic substances, agar-agar, and other vegetable-derived thickeners. Understanding these distinctions is critical for importers, exporters, and trade compliance professionals to ensure smooth and lawful international trade.
What products fall under HS code 13?
Lac (shellac), Gum arabic, Gum tragacanth, Copal resins, Rosin (colophony), Frankincense (olibanum), Myrrh, Crude cannabis extracts (non-medicinal), Licorice extract, Pyrethrum extract, Rotenone, Quassia extract, Aloe vera extract (crude), Ginseng extract (crude), Agar-agar, Carrageenan, Locust bean gum, Guar gum, Crude opium, Areca nuts extract, Gamboge, Elemi gum, Benzoin resin, Styrax, Dragon's blood resin
What are common misclassifications for HS code 13?
Traders often misclassify products under Chapter 13 due to subtle distinctions in processing and intended use. A common mistake is confusing crude extracts with finished pharmaceutical products (Chapter 30), especially for herbal extracts like ginseng; if an extract is standardized and marketed as a medicament, it likely belongs in Chapter 30, whereas a crude extract for further processing falls under Chapter 13. Similarly, essential oils (Chapter 33), even if derived from the same plant, are distinct from the broader category of vegetable saps and extracts in Chapter 13 due to their specific chemical composition and extraction methods. Highly purified, chemically defined individual compounds isolated from plant extracts, such as certain alkaloids, should be classified under Chapter 29 (Organic Chemicals) rather than Chapter 13, which covers mixtures and less refined extracts. Understanding the degree of processing and the product's primary function is key to avoiding these errors.
Which countries are the top exporters of goods under HS code 13?
In 2025, the top exporters of HS code 13 in UN Comtrade data were China ($2.2B, 22% of world exports), India ($1.2B) and France ($898M). World exports came to about $10.1B, adding countries' reported figures and partner-based estimates for those that did not report (UN Comtrade data). Countries that did not report 2025 data are estimated from partner records, which can understate them.
Which countries are the top importers of goods under HS code 13?
In 2025, the top importers of HS code 13 in UN Comtrade data were the United States ($1.7B, 18% of world imports), Germany ($754M) and France ($533M). World imports came to about $9.5B, adding countries' reported figures and partner-based estimates for those that did not report (UN Comtrade data). Countries that did not report 2025 data are estimated from partner records, which can understate them.
How is HS code 13 structured?
HS code 13 is a 2-digit chapter code in the Harmonized System maintained by the World Customs Organization. It represents a broad category of goods and contains multiple 4-digit headings and 6-digit subheadings for more specific classifications.