HS code · 6-digit subheading
HS Code 2845.90 – Isotopes other than those of heading no. 2844, 2845.20, 2845.30 or 2845.40; compounds, inorganic or organic, of such isotopes, whether or not chemically defined
HS code 2845.90 is the 6-digit subheading for isotopes other than those of heading no. 2844, 2845.20, 2845.30 or 2845.40, compounds, inorganic or organic, of such isotopes, whether or not chemically defined. It is used for oxygen-18 water, carbon-13 compounds, nitrogen-15 compounds, deuterated solvents (other than D2O) and sulfur-34.
What HS 2845.90 covers
This is a broad 'catch-all' category for stable isotopes and their compounds that are not radioactive (covered in 2844) and are not specifically heavy water (284510), boron-10 (284520), lithium-6 (284530), or helium-3 (284540). It encompasses a wide array of stable isotopes used extensively in scientific research, medical diagnostics, environmental monitoring, and industrial applications as tracers or for calibration. Trade involves specialized chemical and pharmaceutical companies, research laboratories, and analytical instrument manufacturers. Key aspects include the high purity requirements, specialized production methods (e.g., mass spectrometry, cryogenic distillation), and the increasing demand for isotopic labeling in various fields, particularly in drug discovery and metabolomics. The market is driven by innovation in science and technology.
- Covers
- Oxygen-18 water
- Carbon-13 compounds
- Nitrogen-15 compounds
- Deuterated solvents (other than D2O)
- Sulfur-34
- Silicon-28
- Chlorine-37.
- Examples
- Cambridge Isotope Laboratories
- Sigma-Aldrich
- Merck KGaA.
Codes often confused with 2845.90
Common mistake. This code is for 'other' stable isotopes not specifically listed elsewhere. It's often confused with radioactive isotopes (2844.xx) or the specific stable isotopes mentioned in 2845.10 to 2845.40. The key is that it's 'other' and 'non-radioactive'.
Top exporters and importers of HS code 284590, 2025
In 2025, the largest exporter of HS code 284590 in UN Comtrade data was China, with 27% of world exports; the largest importer in UN Comtrade data was China, with 22% 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 $409M 27% of world exports
- 2 United States $338M 23% of world exports
- 3 Ireland $196M 13% of world exports
World total: $1.5B Reported figures on UN Comtrade ↗
Top importers 2025 · share of world imports
- 1 China $276M 22% of world imports
- 2 South Korea $226M 18% of world imports
- 3 United States $154M 12% of world imports
World total: $1.2B 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.
Brazil NCM code for 2845.90
Brazil does not split HS 2845.90: its NCM code is 2845.90.00.
All Brazil NCM codes in heading 28.45 →
Source: Siscomex NCM table, updated Oct 2026. The Portuguese text is official; the English is our translation.
Questions about HS 2845.90
What is HS code 284590?
HS code 284590 is a 6-digit subheading in the Harmonized System that covers: Isotopes other than those of heading no. 2844, 2845.20, 2845.30 or 2845.40; compounds, inorganic or organic, of such isotopes, whether or not chemically defined. This is a broad 'catch-all' category for stable isotopes and their compounds that are not radioactive (covered in 2844) and are not specifically heavy water (284510), boron-10 (284520), lithium-6 (284530), or helium-3 (284540). It encompasses a wide array of stable isotopes used extensively in scientific research, medical diagnostics, environmental monitoring, and industrial applications as tracers or for calibration. Trade involves specialized chemical and pharmaceutical companies, research laboratories, and analytical instrument manufacturers. Key aspects include the high purity requirements, specialized production methods (e.g., mass spectrometry, cryogenic distillation), and the increasing demand for isotopic labeling in various fields, particularly in drug discovery and metabolomics. The market is driven by innovation in science and technology.
What products fall under HS code 284590?
Oxygen-18 water, Carbon-13 compounds, Nitrogen-15 compounds, Deuterated solvents (other than D2O), Sulfur-34, Silicon-28, Chlorine-37.
What are common misclassifications for HS code 284590?
This code is for 'other' stable isotopes not specifically listed elsewhere. It's often confused with radioactive isotopes (2844.xx) or the specific stable isotopes mentioned in 2845.10 to 2845.40. The key is that it's 'other' and 'non-radioactive'.
Which countries are the top exporters of goods under HS code 284590?
In 2025, the top exporters of HS code 284590 in UN Comtrade data were China ($409M, 27% of world exports), the United States ($338M) and Ireland ($196M). World exports came to about $1.5B, 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.
Which countries are the top importers of goods under HS code 284590?
In 2025, the top importers of HS code 284590 in UN Comtrade data were China ($276M, 22% of world imports), South Korea ($226M) and the United States ($154M). World imports came to about $1.2B, 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 284590 structured?
HS code 284590 is a 6-digit subheading under the Harmonized System. The first 2 digits (28) identify the chapter, digits 3-4 (45) identify the heading, and digits 5-6 (90) specify the subheading. This code is standardized globally by the World Customs Organization.
What is the Brazil NCM code for HS code 284590?
In Brazil, HS code 284590 is NCM 2845.90.00. The last two digits are 00 because Brazil does not split this HS code further.