HS code · 6-digit subheading
HS Code 3402.90 – Washing and cleaning preparations; surface-active, whether or not containing soap (excluding those of heading no. 3401), including auxiliary washing preparations, not for retail sale
HS code 3402.90 is the 6-digit subheading for washing and cleaning preparations, surface-active, whether or not containing soap (excluding those of heading no. 3401), including auxiliary washing preparations, not for retail sale. It is used for industrial laundry detergent concentrate, bulk degreaser, commercial kitchen cleaner, institutional floor cleaner and car wash concentrate.
What HS 3402.90 covers
This code covers washing and cleaning preparations, including auxiliary washing preparations, that are surface-active, may or may not contain soap, and are specifically *not* for retail sale. This category primarily serves industrial, institutional, and commercial sectors, encompassing bulk detergents, degreasers, sanitizers, and specialized cleaning agents used in manufacturing, hospitality, healthcare, and public services. Trade in these goods is typically B2B, with chemical manufacturers and industrial suppliers exporting large volumes to businesses, factories, and service providers globally. Importers are often large-scale operations requiring efficient and cost-effective cleaning solutions. Key considerations in this trade include product performance, safety data sheets, bulk packaging, and compliance with industrial regulations. The 'not for retail sale' distinction is crucial, differentiating these from consumer-packaged goods.
- Covers
- Industrial laundry detergent concentrate
- Bulk degreaser
- Commercial kitchen cleaner
- Institutional floor cleaner
- Car wash concentrate
- Textile scouring agent
- Metal cleaning solution
- Examples
- Ecolab Apex
- Diversey Suma
- Zep Industrial Purple Degreaser
- JohnsonDiversey Taski
- NCL Speed Stripper
Codes often confused with 3402.90
Common mistake. This code is often confused with retail-packaged washing preparations (340250) due to similar functions, but the 'not for retail sale' criterion is the key differentiator. It also differs from raw surface-active agents (34024x) which are not yet formulated into cleaning preparations.
Top exporters and importers of HS code 340290, 2025
In 2025, the largest exporter of HS code 340290 in UN Comtrade data was Germany, with 14% of world exports; the largest importer in UN Comtrade data was China, with 6.3% 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 Germany $1.2B 14% of world exports
- 2 United States $982M 12% of world exports
- 3 China $783M 9.2% of world exports
World total: $8.5B Reported figures on UN Comtrade ↗
Top importers 2025 · share of world imports
- 1 China $567M 6.3% of world imports
- 2 Germany $529M 5.9% of world imports
- 3 France $387M 4.3% of world imports
World total: $9.0B 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 codes for 3402.90 9
Brazil splits HS 3402.90 into 9 NCM codes, Mercosur's 8-digit tariff lines.
- 3402.90.1 Mixtures of organic surface-active agentsMisturas entre si de agentes orgânicos de superfície Group
- 3402.90.11 Non-ionic-only surface-active agent mixturesQue contenham exclusivamente produtos não iônicos
- 3402.90.19 Other surface-active agent mixturesOutras
- 3402.90.2 Solutions or emulsions of surface-active products of subheadings 3402.31 to 3402.49, and other surface-active preparations as suchSoluções ou emulsões de produtos tensoativos das subposições 3402.31 a 3402.49, e outras preparações tensoativas propriamente ditas Group
- 3402.90.21 Perfluoroalkyl acetoxypropyl betaine mixturesSoluções ou emulsões hidroalcoólicas de (1-perfluoralquil-2-acetoxi)propil-betaína
- 3402.90.22 Sodium nonanoyloxybenzenesulphonate preparationsÀ base de nonanoiloxibenzenossulfonato de sódio
- 3402.90.23 Perfluoroalkyl ammonium sulphonates and acrylamideSoluções ou emulsões hidroalcoólicas de sulfonatos de perfluoralquiltrimetilamônio e de perfluoralquilacrilamida
- 3402.90.29 Other surface-active solutions and preparationsOutras
- 3402.90.3 Washing preparations (detergents)Preparações para lavagem (detergentes) Group
- 3402.90.31 Ethoxylated nonylphenol detergentsÀ base de nonilfenol etoxilado
- 3402.90.39 Other detergents, not for retail saleOutras
- 3402.90.90 Other cleaning preparations, not for retailOutras
All Brazil NCM codes in heading 34.02 →
Source: Siscomex NCM table, updated Oct 2026. The Portuguese text is official; the English is our translation.
Questions about HS 3402.90
What is HS code 340290?
HS code 340290 is a 6-digit subheading in the Harmonized System that covers: Washing and cleaning preparations; surface-active, whether or not containing soap (excluding those of heading no. 3401), including auxiliary washing preparations, not for retail sale. This code covers washing and cleaning preparations, including auxiliary washing preparations, that are surface-active, may or may not contain soap, and are specifically *not* for retail sale. This category primarily serves industrial, institutional, and commercial sectors, encompassing bulk detergents, degreasers, sanitizers, and specialized cleaning agents used in manufacturing, hospitality, healthcare, and public services. Trade in these goods is typically B2B, with chemical manufacturers and industrial suppliers exporting large volumes to businesses, factories, and service providers globally. Importers are often large-scale operations requiring efficient and cost-effective cleaning solutions. Key considerations in this trade include product performance, safety data sheets, bulk packaging, and compliance with industrial regulations. The 'not for retail sale' distinction is crucial, differentiating these from consumer-packaged goods.
What products fall under HS code 340290?
Industrial laundry detergent concentrate, Bulk degreaser, Commercial kitchen cleaner, Institutional floor cleaner, Car wash concentrate, Textile scouring agent, Metal cleaning solution
What are common misclassifications for HS code 340290?
This code is often confused with retail-packaged washing preparations (340250) due to similar functions, but the 'not for retail sale' criterion is the key differentiator. It also differs from raw surface-active agents (34024x) which are not yet formulated into cleaning preparations.
Which countries are the top exporters of goods under HS code 340290?
In 2025, the top exporters of HS code 340290 in UN Comtrade data were Germany ($1.2B, 14% of world exports), the United States ($982M) and China ($783M). World exports came to about $8.5B, 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 340290?
In 2025, the top importers of HS code 340290 in UN Comtrade data were China ($567M, 6.3% of world imports), Germany ($529M) and France ($387M). World imports came to about $9.0B, 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 340290 structured?
HS code 340290 is a 6-digit subheading under the Harmonized System. The first 2 digits (34) identify the chapter, digits 3-4 (02) 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 340290?
Brazil splits HS code 340290 into 9 NCM codes: 3402.90.11 (Non-ionic-only surface-active agent mixtures), 3402.90.19 (Other surface-active agent mixtures), 3402.90.21 (Perfluoroalkyl acetoxypropyl betaine mixtures), 3402.90.22 (Sodium nonanoyloxybenzenesulphonate preparations), 3402.90.23 (Perfluoroalkyl ammonium sulphonates and acrylamide), 3402.90.29 (Other surface-active solutions and preparations), 3402.90.31 (Ethoxylated nonylphenol detergents), 3402.90.39 (Other detergents, not for retail sale), and more listed on this page. The first 6 digits of each match the HS code.