Product classification

HS code for Animal black: 3802.90

Chemical products, activated natural mineral products, animal black, including spent animal black.

Classification of animal black under HS 3802.90

Animal black, often referred to as bone black or ivory black, is classified under HS code 3802.90. This code is designated for activated natural mineral products and specific carbonaceous materials derived from animal matter. Animal black is produced through the carbonization of bones or other animal tissues in a closed vessel, a process known as calcination. It is primarily used as a decoloring agent in sugar refining or as a pigment in paints, plastics, and inks. The classification under 3802.90 is specific to "other" activated products, distinguishing it from activated carbon, which is found under 3802.10. It is important to note that this code covers both new and spent animal black. The material must be processed to a state where it is no longer considered a raw animal part but a chemical product. The distinction between 3802.10 and 3802.90 is based on the source material and the level of activation, with animal-derived blacks falling into the latter category due to their high mineral content, primarily calcium phosphate.

Covers
  • Bone black (animal black)
  • Spent animal black
  • Ivory black
  • Calcined animal bones used as coloring matter
  • Activated animal charcoal
Also under 3802.90
  • Calgon Carbon (activated carbon)
  • Cabot Corporation (carbon black)
  • Clariant (bleaching earths)
  • BASF (adsorbents)
  • Arkema (molecular sieves)

Codes often confused with 3802.90

Common mistake. Animal black is often confused with HS code 2803.00, which covers carbon blacks (including acetylene black). However, 2803.00 is for pure carbon, whereas animal black contains significant amounts of calcium phosphates and other mineral matter from the bone. It is also sometimes misclassified under 3203.00, which covers animal dyes. While animal black can be used as a pigment, heading 3203 specifically excludes animal black. Another potential error is using 0506.90 for bone meal; however, once the bone has been carbonized to create animal black, it must move to Chapter 38 as a chemical product.

2803.00Carbon; carbon blacks and other forms of carbon n.e.c.3203.00Colouring matter of vegetable or animal origin, including dyeing extracts not animal black, whether or not chemically defined; preparations based on colouring matter of vegetable or animal origin32.03Colouring matter of vegetable or animal origin (including dyeing extracts, not animal black); whether or not chemically defined; preparations based on colouring matter of vegetable or animal origin0506.90Animal products; bones and horn-cores and powder or waste of such, unworked, defatted, simply prepared (not cut to shape), or treated with acid or degelatinised, n.e.c. in heading no. 0506

Top exporters and importers of HS 380290 (the code used for animal black), 2025

In 2025, the largest exporter of HS 380290 (the code used for animal black) 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.

Figures cover everything classified under HS 380290, not only animal black.

Top exporters 2025 · share of world exports

  1. 1 United States $105M
  2. 2 Germany $102M
  3. 3 Greece $102M

World total: $917M Reported figures on UN Comtrade ↗

Top importers 2025 · share of world imports

  1. 1 Germany $89M
  2. 2 Thailand $81M
  3. 3 United States $63M

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 animal black

Brazil splits HS 3802.90 into 6 NCM codes. Pick the one that matches your product:

Source: Siscomex NCM table, updated Oct 2026. The Portuguese text on each NCM page is the official one.

Questions about animal black

What is the HS code for Animal black?

The HS code for Animal black is 380290 (Chemical products; activated natural mineral products, animal black, including spent animal black). The HS code for animal black, including bone black and spent animal black, is 3802.90.

How do I classify Animal black for customs?

Animal black is classified under HS code 380290 — Chemical products; activated natural mineral products, animal black, including spent animal black. This is a 6-digit subheading level code.

Is animal black the same as activated carbon?

While both are used for filtration and decoloring, activated carbon is typically classified under 3802.10, whereas animal-derived blacks are classified under 3802.90.

Which countries are the top exporters of animal black (HS 380290)?

In 2025, the top exporters of HS 380290 (the code used for animal black) 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 animal black (HS 380290)?

In 2025, the top importers of HS 380290 (the code used for animal black) 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.

Is the HS code for Animal black the same in all countries?

The base HS code 380290 for Animal black is internationally standardized for the first 6 digits across 200+ countries. Individual countries may add additional digits for national tariff lines and specific classifications.

What is the NCM code for animal black in Brazil?

Brazil splits HS 380290 into 6 NCM codes, so the right one for animal black depends on the product's details: 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).