HS Code 13.01 – Lac; natural gums, resins, gum-resins and oleoresins (for example, balsams)

HS code 1301 is a 4-digit heading in the Harmonized System that covers: Lac; natural gums, resins, gum-resins and oleoresins (for example, balsams). Heading 1301 encompasses a diverse range of natural exudates from plants, including lac, natural gums, resins, gum-resins, and oleoresins (such as balsams). This classification is crucial for substances derived directly from trees and plants without significant chemical modification, distinguishing them from synthetic counterparts. The scope includes various forms, from raw lumps to purified flakes, as long as their natural chemical structure remains largely unaltered. Key sub-categories involve water-soluble gums (like Gum Arabic), solvent-soluble resins (like rosin), and complex mixtures (like frankincense). This heading is vital for trade compliance as it differentiates these natural products, often used in food, pharmaceuticals, cosmetics, and industrial coatings, from highly processed extracts (1302) or synthetic polymers (Chapter 39). Historically, these materials have been traded for millennia, playing significant roles in ancient medicines, incense, and varnishes. Their classification under Section II, 'Vegetable Products,' and specifically Chapter 13, 'Lac; gums, resins and other vegetable saps and extracts,' underscores their direct botanical origin and natural composition, which is paramount for their applications and regulatory oversight.

Shellac (seedlac, button lac, flake lac), gum arabic (acacia gum), gum tragacanth, frankincense resin (olibanum), myrrh resin, copal resin, dammar resin, rosin (colophony), balsam of Peru, balsam of Tolu, benzoin resin, mastic gum, gamboge, chicle gum, gutta-percha (natural), dragon's blood resin, sandarac resin, guaiac gum, natural rubber latex (unvulcanized, not for Chapter 40), karaya gum, elemi resin, ammoniacum gum, asafoetida resin.

Common misclassification errors under HS 1301 include confusing these natural exudates with synthetic resins (Chapter 39), which are chemically manufactured polymers. Traders might also mistakenly classify highly processed vegetable extracts (e.g., purified pectin, agar-agar, which fall under 1302) within this heading, overlooking the 'natural, un-modified' characteristic of 1301. Furthermore, essential oils (3301), although derived from plants, are distinct volatile aromatic compounds, not gums or resins. The key distinction for 1301 lies in its status as a direct, largely unprocessed, natural secretion from plants, as opposed to a manufactured extract or synthetic substance.

In 2025, the top exporters of HS code 1301 in UN Comtrade data were France ($256M, 20% of world exports), Sudan (about $162M) and Afghanistan (about $144M). World exports came to about $1.3B, 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.

In 2025, the top importers of HS code 1301 in UN Comtrade data were India ($296M, 23% of world imports), France ($177M) and the United States ($145M). World imports came to about $1.3B, 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.

HS code 1301 is a 4-digit heading under Chapter 13 of the Harmonized System. The first 2 digits (13) identify the chapter, and digits 3-4 (01) specify the heading. This code contains multiple 6-digit subheadings for precise product classification.