HS code · 6-digit subheading
HS Code 3802.90 – Chemical products; activated natural mineral products, animal black, including spent animal black
HS code 3802.90 is the 6-digit subheading for chemical products, activated natural mineral products, animal black, including spent animal black. It is used for activated carbon, activated bentonite, activated attapulgite, activated bleaching earth and animal charcoal.
What HS 3802.90 covers
This HS code encompasses a diverse range of activated natural mineral products and animal black, including spent animal black, which are crucial in various industrial processes. These materials are primarily valued for their adsorptive, filtering, and decolorizing properties. Activated minerals, such as activated bentonite or attapulgite, are extensively used in refining edible oils, petroleum products, and in water treatment to remove impurities and color. Animal black, derived from bone, serves similar purposes, particularly in sugar refining and chemical purification. Importers are typically manufacturers in the food and beverage, pharmaceutical, chemical, and environmental sectors, seeking high-performance adsorbents. Exporters often come from countries with significant mineral resources or advanced processing capabilities. Key considerations in trade include the material's surface area, pore structure, and regeneration potential, which dictate its efficiency and application.
- Covers
- Activated carbon
- Activated bentonite
- Activated attapulgite
- Activated bleaching earth
- Animal charcoal
- Spent animal black
- Decolorizing carbon
- Fuller's earth
- Examples
- Calgon Carbon (activated carbon)
- Cabot Corporation (carbon black)
- Clariant (bleaching earths)
- BASF (adsorbents)
- Arkema (molecular sieves)
Codes often confused with 3802.90
Common mistake. This code can be confused with 380210 if the product is specifically activated carbon, or with other non-activated mineral products in Chapter 25 if the activation process is not clearly defined.
Top exporters and importers of HS code 380290, 2025
In 2025, the largest exporter of HS code 380290 in UN Comtrade data was the United States, with 11% of world exports; the largest importer in UN Comtrade data was Germany, with 9.0% 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 United States $105M 11% of world exports
- 2 Germany $102M 11% of world exports
- 3 Greece $102M 11% of world exports
World total: $917M Reported figures on UN Comtrade ↗
Top importers 2025 · share of world imports
- 1 Germany $89M 9.0% of world imports
- 2 Thailand $81M 8.2% of world imports
- 3 United States $63M 6.4% of world imports
World total: $988M 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 3802.90 6
Brazil splits HS 3802.90 into 6 NCM codes, Mercosur's 8-digit tariff lines.
- 3802.90.10 Activated siliceous fossil mealsFarinhas siliciosas fósseis
- 3802.90.20 Activated bentoniteBentonita
- 3802.90.30 Activated attapulgiteAtapulgita
- 3802.90.40 Other activated clays and earthsOutras argilas e terras
- 3802.90.50 Activated bauxiteBauxita
- 3802.90.90 Other activated minerals; animal blackOutros
All Brazil NCM codes in heading 38.02 →
Source: Siscomex NCM table, updated Oct 2026. The Portuguese text is official; the English is our translation.
Questions about HS 3802.90
What is HS code 380290?
HS code 380290 is a 6-digit subheading in the Harmonized System that covers: Chemical products; activated natural mineral products, animal black, including spent animal black. This HS code encompasses a diverse range of activated natural mineral products and animal black, including spent animal black, which are crucial in various industrial processes. These materials are primarily valued for their adsorptive, filtering, and decolorizing properties. Activated minerals, such as activated bentonite or attapulgite, are extensively used in refining edible oils, petroleum products, and in water treatment to remove impurities and color. Animal black, derived from bone, serves similar purposes, particularly in sugar refining and chemical purification. Importers are typically manufacturers in the food and beverage, pharmaceutical, chemical, and environmental sectors, seeking high-performance adsorbents. Exporters often come from countries with significant mineral resources or advanced processing capabilities. Key considerations in trade include the material's surface area, pore structure, and regeneration potential, which dictate its efficiency and application.
What products fall under HS code 380290?
Activated carbon, Activated bentonite, Activated attapulgite, Activated bleaching earth, Animal charcoal, Spent animal black, Decolorizing carbon, Fuller's earth
What are common misclassifications for HS code 380290?
This code can be confused with 380210 if the product is specifically activated carbon, or with other non-activated mineral products in Chapter 25 if the activation process is not clearly defined.
Which countries are the top exporters of goods under HS code 380290?
In 2025, the top exporters of HS code 380290 in UN Comtrade data were the United States ($105M, 11% of world exports), Germany ($102M) and Greece ($102M). World exports came to about $917M, 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 380290?
In 2025, the top importers of HS code 380290 in UN Comtrade data were Germany ($89M, 9.0% of world imports), Thailand ($81M) and the United States ($63M). World imports came to about $988M, 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 380290 structured?
HS code 380290 is a 6-digit subheading under the Harmonized System. The first 2 digits (38) 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 380290?
Brazil splits HS code 380290 into 6 NCM codes: 3802.90.10 (Activated siliceous fossil meals), 3802.90.20 (Activated bentonite), 3802.90.30 (Activated attapulgite), 3802.90.40 (Other activated clays and earths), 3802.90.50 (Activated bauxite), 3802.90.90 (Other activated minerals; animal black). The first 6 digits of each match the HS code.