Product classification
HS code for Citric acid: 2918.14
Acids, carboxylic acids, (with alcohol function but without other oxygen function), citric acid.
Classification of citric acid under HS 2918.14
Citric acid is classified under HS code 2918.14. This code is part of Chapter 29, which covers organic chemicals. Specifically, heading 2918 is dedicated to carboxylic acids with additional oxygen functions (such as alcohol, phenol, aldehyde, or ketone functions) and their anhydrides, halides, peroxides, and peroxyacids. Citric acid is a tri-carboxylic acid with one alcohol group, chemically known as 2-hydroxy-1,2,3-propanetricarboxylic acid. The classification 2918.14 is specific to the acid itself, which is naturally occurring in citrus fruits but commercially produced via fermentation. This includes both the anhydrous form and the monohydrate form. The Harmonized System provides this specific subheading because citric acid is a high-volume industrial chemical used extensively in the food, beverage, and pharmaceutical industries as an acidulant and chelating agent. To be classified here, the product must be a separate chemically defined compound, meaning it should not be mixed with other ingredients that would change its character into a prepared food additive or a medicament.
- Covers
- Anhydrous citric acid in powder or granular form
- Citric acid monohydrate used in food and beverage production
- High-purity USP/BP grade citric acid for pharmaceutical applications
- Technical grade citric acid for industrial cleaning and descaling
- Citric acid crystals used as a preservative in canning
- Also under 2918.14
- Jungbunzlauer Citric Acid
- ADM Citric Acid
- Cargill Citric Acid
- Weifang Ensign Industry Citric Acid
- Gadot Biochemical Industries Citric Acid
Codes often confused with 2918.14
Common mistake. Citric acid is often confused with its salts and esters, which are classified under HS code 2918.15. While the acid and its salts are chemically related, the HS system separates them into distinct subheadings. Another common misclassification involves HS code 3824.99, which covers chemical products and preparations of the chemical or allied industries not elsewhere specified. If citric acid is mixed with other substances, such as sodium bicarbonate for bath bombs or effervescent cleaners, it moves to Chapter 38 or 33. Furthermore, if citric acid is packaged as a retail-ready descaler with added surfactants, it might be classified under 3402 as a cleaning preparation.
Top exporters and importers of HS 291814 (the code used for citric acid), 2025
In 2025, the largest exporter of HS 291814 (the code used for citric acid) in UN Comtrade data was China, with 55% of world exports; the largest importer in UN Comtrade data was the United States, with 18% 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 291814, not only citric acid.
Top exporters 2025 · share of world exports
- 1 China $830M 55% of world exports
- 2 Thailand $144M 9.6% of world exports
- 3 Belgium $95M 6.3% of world exports
World total: $1.5B Reported figures on UN Comtrade ↗
Top importers 2025 · share of world imports
- 1 United States $370M 18% of world imports
- 2 Germany $186M 9.0% of world imports
- 3 India $99M 4.8% of world imports
World total: $2.1B 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 citric acid
Brazil classifies citric acid under NCM 2918.14.00: HS 2918.14 with 00 added.
Source: Siscomex NCM table, updated Oct 2026. The Portuguese text on each NCM page is the official one.
Questions about citric acid
What is the HS code for Citric acid?
The HS code for Citric acid is 291814 (Acids; carboxylic acids, (with alcohol function but without other oxygen function), citric acid). The specific HS code for citric acid, whether anhydrous or monohydrate, is 2918.14.
How do I classify Citric acid for customs?
Citric acid is classified under HS code 291814 — Acids; carboxylic acids, (with alcohol function but without other oxygen function), citric acid. This is a 6-digit subheading level code.
Can citric acid be classified in Chapter 30?
Only if it is put up in measured doses or in forms or packings for retail sale specifically as a medicament, which is extremely rare for pure citric acid. Standard bulk or retail citric acid remains in 2918.14.
Which countries are the top exporters of citric acid (HS 291814)?
In 2025, the top exporters of HS 291814 (the code used for citric acid) in UN Comtrade data were China ($830M, 55% of world exports), Thailand ($144M) and Belgium ($95M). 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 citric acid (HS 291814)?
In 2025, the top importers of HS 291814 (the code used for citric acid) in UN Comtrade data were the United States ($370M, 18% of world imports), Germany ($186M) and India ($99M). World imports came to about $2.1B, 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 Citric acid the same in all countries?
The base HS code 291814 for Citric acid 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 citric acid in Brazil?
In Brazil, citric acid (HS 291814) is classified under NCM 2918.14.00.