Product classification
HS code for Enamel paint: 3210.00
Paints and varnishes, (including enamels, lacquers and distempers), prepared water pigments of a kind used for finishing leather.
Classification of enamel paint under HS 3210.00
Enamel paint is classified under HS code 3210.00. This heading covers 'Other paints and varnishes (including enamels, lacquers and distempers); prepared water pigments of a kind used for finishing leather.' Classification in 3210.00 is typically reserved for paints and varnishes that do not fit into the more specific categories of 3208 (solvent-based synthetic polymers) or 3209 (water-based synthetic polymers). Enamel paints are generally defined by their ability to dry to a hard, usually glossy, finish. They often consist of pigments suspended in an oil-based or resinous vehicle. The 3210.00 code is also specifically noted for including prepared water pigments used in the leather industry. When classifying these products, it is important to distinguish between the chemical base of the paint and its final application. If the paint is based on a specific synthetic polymer and the solvent exceeds 50% by weight, it may move to 3208, but many traditional enamels and specialty leather finishes remain under 3210.00.
- Covers
- Oil-based enamel paints for general use
- Glossy lacquers not based on synthetic polymers
- Distempers (water-based paints with natural binders)
- Prepared water pigments for leather finishing
- Traditional solvent-borne enamels
- Also under 3210.00
- Fiebings Leather Dye
- Angelus Leather Paint
- Tarrago Leather Dye
- Saphir Renovating Cream
- Annie Sloan Chalk Paint
Codes often confused with 3210.00
Common mistake. The most frequent misclassification occurs with HS code 3208.10 through 3208.90. These codes are for paints based on synthetic polymers (like acrylics or polyurethanes) in a non-aqueous medium. If an enamel paint is specifically formulated with these polymers, it must be classified in 3208. Similarly, water-based synthetic enamels should be classified under 3209. Code 3210.00 is often used as a default, but it should only be applied if the paint does not meet the criteria for synthetic polymer-based paints in the preceding headings. Another error involves 3212.90, which covers pigments dispersed in non-aqueous media used in the manufacture of paints, rather than the finished paint itself.
Top exporters and importers of HS 321000 (the code used for enamel paint), 2025
In 2025, the largest exporter of HS 321000 (the code used for enamel paint) in UN Comtrade data was Germany, with 15% of world exports; the largest importer in UN Comtrade data was China, with 15% 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 321000, not only enamel paint.
Top exporters 2025 · share of world exports
- 1 Germany $128M 15% of world exports
- 2 Netherlands $92M 11% of world exports
- 3 United States $70M 8.1% of world exports
World total: $868M Reported figures on UN Comtrade ↗
Top importers 2025 · share of world imports
- 1 China $138M 15% of world imports
- 2 United Kingdom $48M 5.1% of world imports
- 3 Türkiye $46M 4.9% of world imports
World total: $932M 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 enamel paint
Brazil splits HS 3210.00 into 3 NCM codes. Pick the one that matches your product:
- 3210.00.10Other paints, including distempers
- 3210.00.20Other varnishes, including lacquers
- 3210.00.30Prepared water pigments for finishing leather
Source: Siscomex NCM table, updated Oct 2026. The Portuguese text on each NCM page is the official one.
Questions about enamel paint
What is the HS code for Enamel paint?
The HS code for Enamel paint is 321000 (Paints and varnishes; (including enamels, lacquers and distempers), prepared water pigments of a kind used for finishing leather). The general HS code for enamel paints, particularly those not based on synthetic polymers, is 3210.00.
How do I classify Enamel paint for customs?
Enamel paint is classified under HS code 321000 — Paints and varnishes; (including enamels, lacquers and distempers), prepared water pigments of a kind used for finishing leather. This is a 6-digit subheading level code.
What is the difference between HS 3208 and HS 3210?
HS 3208 is for paints based on synthetic or chemically modified natural polymers in a non-aqueous solution, while HS 3210 is for other paints, including traditional enamels and leather finishes.
Which countries are the top exporters of enamel paint (HS 321000)?
In 2025, the top exporters of HS 321000 (the code used for enamel paint) in UN Comtrade data were Germany ($128M, 15% of world exports), the Netherlands ($92M) and the United States ($70M). World exports came to about $868M, 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 enamel paint (HS 321000)?
In 2025, the top importers of HS 321000 (the code used for enamel paint) in UN Comtrade data were China ($138M, 15% of world imports), the United Kingdom ($48M) and Türkiye ($46M). World imports came to about $932M, 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 Enamel paint the same in all countries?
The base HS code 321000 for Enamel paint 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 enamel paint in Brazil?
Brazil splits HS 321000 into 3 NCM codes, so the right one for enamel paint depends on the product's details: 3210.00.10 (Other paints, including distempers), 3210.00.20 (Other varnishes, including lacquers), 3210.00.30 (Prepared water pigments for finishing leather).