HS code · 6-digit subheading

HS Code 3824.88 – Chemical products, mixtures and preparations; containing goods specified in Subheading Note 3 to this Chapter; containing tetra-, penta-, hexa-, hepta- or octabromodiphenyl ethers

HS code 3824.88 is the 6-digit subheading for chemical products, mixtures and preparations, containing goods specified in Subheading Note 3 to this Chapter, containing tetra-, penta-, hexa-, hepta- or octabromodiphenyl ethers. It is used for PBDE-containing flame retardant mixtures (for disposal), electronic waste containing PBDEs (for specialized processing), analytical standards of PBDEs and contaminated plastics (PBDE-containing).

What HS 3824.88 covers

This HS code covers chemical products, mixtures, and preparations containing tetra-, penta-, hexa-, hepta- or octabromodiphenyl ethers (PBDEs), as specified in Subheading Note 3 to Chapter 38. PBDEs are a class of brominated flame retardants classified as Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs) under the Stockholm Convention. Historically used in plastics, textiles, and electronic equipment, their international trade is now largely banned or severely restricted due to their environmental persistence, bioaccumulation, and toxicity. Current trade is almost exclusively for the environmentally sound destruction of existing stockpiles, remediation of contaminated sites, or highly controlled analytical and research applications. Importers and exporters are typically specialized electronic waste recyclers, hazardous waste management firms, and analytical laboratories in countries committed to eliminating POPs.

Covers: PBDE-containing flame retardant mixtures (for disposal)
Electronic waste containing PBDEs (for specialized processing)
Analytical standards of PBDEs
Contaminated plastics (PBDE-containing)
Examples: Sims Lifecycle Services (e-waste recycling)
hazardous waste management firms (e.g., Veolia)
specialized analytical standard suppliers

Codes often confused with 3824.88

Common mistake. This code covers mixtures, not the pure chemicals (e.g., 2909.30 for ethers) or articles *containing* PBDEs (e.g., plastics in 3926, electronic goods in 8543). The 'mixture' aspect is critical.

2909.30Ethers; aromatic, and their halogenated, sulphonated, nitrated or nitrosated derivatives 39.26Articles of plastics and articles of other materials of heading no. 3901 to 3914, n.e.c. in chapter 39 85.43Electrical machines and apparatus; having individual functions, not specified or included elsewhere in this chapter

Top exporters and importers of HS code 382488, 2025

In 2025, the largest exporter of HS code 382488 in UN Comtrade data was the United States, with 45% of world exports; the largest importer in UN Comtrade data was Canada, with 24% 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 $912K 45% of world exports
2 Germany $526K 26% of world exports
3 South Africa $108K 5.3% of world exports

World total: $2.0M Reported figures on UN Comtrade ↗

Top importers 2025 · share of world imports

1 Canada $2.1M 24% of world imports
2 France $1.4M 16% of world imports
3 El Salvador $897K 10% of world imports

World total: $9.0M 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 3824.88 2

Brazil splits HS 3824.88 into 2 NCM codes, Mercosur's 8-digit tariff lines.

All Brazil NCM codes in heading 38.24 →

Source: Siscomex NCM table, updated Oct 2026. The Portuguese text is official; the English is our translation.

Access via API

GET /api/hs-code/382488/

{
  "code": "382488",
  "description": "Chemical products, mixtures and preparations; containing goods specified in Subheading Note 3 to this Chapter; containing tetra-, penta-, hexa-, hepta- or octabromodiphenyl ethers",
  "section": "VI",
  "parent": "3824"
}

API docs →

Questions about HS 3824.88

What is HS code 382488?

HS code 382488 is a 6-digit subheading in the Harmonized System that covers: Chemical products, mixtures and preparations; containing goods specified in Subheading Note 3 to this Chapter; containing tetra-, penta-, hexa-, hepta- or octabromodiphenyl ethers. This HS code covers chemical products, mixtures, and preparations containing tetra-, penta-, hexa-, hepta- or octabromodiphenyl ethers (PBDEs), as specified in Subheading Note 3 to Chapter 38. PBDEs are a class of brominated flame retardants classified as Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs) under the Stockholm Convention. Historically used in plastics, textiles, and electronic equipment, their international trade is now largely banned or severely restricted due to their environmental persistence, bioaccumulation, and toxicity. Current trade is almost exclusively for the environmentally sound destruction of existing stockpiles, remediation of contaminated sites, or highly controlled analytical and research applications. Importers and exporters are typically specialized electronic waste recyclers, hazardous waste management firms, and analytical laboratories in countries committed to eliminating POPs.

What products fall under HS code 382488?

PBDE-containing flame retardant mixtures (for disposal), electronic waste containing PBDEs (for specialized processing), analytical standards of PBDEs, contaminated plastics (PBDE-containing)

What are common misclassifications for HS code 382488?

This code covers mixtures, not the pure chemicals (e.g., 2909.30 for ethers) or articles *containing* PBDEs (e.g., plastics in 3926, electronic goods in 8543). The 'mixture' aspect is critical.

Which countries are the top exporters of goods under HS code 382488?

In 2025, the top exporters of HS code 382488 in UN Comtrade data were the United States ($912K, 45% of world exports), Germany ($526K) and South Africa ($108K). World exports came to about $2.0M, 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 382488?

In 2025, the top importers of HS code 382488 in UN Comtrade data were Canada ($2.1M, 24% of world imports), France ($1.4M) and El Salvador ($897K). World imports came to about $9.0M, 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 382488 structured?

HS code 382488 is a 6-digit subheading under the Harmonized System. The first 2 digits (38) identify the chapter, digits 3-4 (24) identify the heading, and digits 5-6 (88) specify the subheading. This code is standardized globally by the World Customs Organization.

What is the Brazil NCM code for HS code 382488?

Brazil splits HS code 382488 into 2 NCM codes: 3824.88.10 (Tetra- or pentabromodiphenyl ether mixtures), 3824.88.20 (Hexa- to octabromodiphenyl ether mixtures). The first 6 digits of each match the HS code.