Product classification
HS code for Fabric softener ingredient: 3402.41
Organic surface-active agents, cationic (other than soap), whether or not put up for retail sale.
Classification of fabric softener ingredient under HS 3402.41
Ingredients for fabric softeners, specifically cationic organic surface-active agents, are classified under HS code 3402.41. Heading 3402 covers organic surface-active agents (other than soap), surface-active preparations, and washing preparations. Fabric softeners primarily rely on cationic surfactants, such as quaternary ammonium compounds or esterquats, which carry a positive charge. This positive charge allows the molecules to adhere to the negatively charged fibers of the fabric, reducing static and providing a soft feel. Subheading 3402.41 is reserved for these cationic agents when they are presented as chemically defined substances or as mixtures not yet put up for retail sale as finished softeners. The classification is strictly based on the chemical nature of the surfactant. According to the Explanatory Notes to Heading 3402, these substances must be capable of reducing the surface tension of water to a specific level to be considered surface-active. This code is essential for chemical manufacturers and distributors who supply the raw materials used by the consumer goods industry to formulate liquid softeners and dryer sheets.
- Covers
- Quaternary ammonium salts (cationic)
- Esterquats used in textile softening
- Cationic surfactants in bulk liquid form
- Imidazolinium compounds for fabric care
- Distearyldimethylammonium chloride
- Also under 3402.41
- Lonza's Bardac (Benzalkonium Chloride)
- Evonik's Rewoquat (Cetrimonium Chloride)
- Stepan Company's Ammonyx (Stearalkonium Chloride)
- Croda's Incroquat Behenyl TMS (Behentrimonium Methosulfate)
- Clariant's Genamin CTAC (Cetrimonium Chloride)
Codes often confused with 3402.41
Common mistake. These ingredients are often misclassified under 3402.42 (non-ionic) or 3402.49 (other surfactants) if the chemical charge is not properly identified. More importantly, they are frequently confused with 3402.50, which is the code for finished preparations put up for retail sale. If the product is a bottled fabric softener ready for the consumer, it belongs in 3402.50. Additionally, some specialized textile finishing agents might be incorrectly placed in 3809.91, which covers finishing agents used in the textile industry that are not primarily surface-active agents.
Top exporters and importers of HS 340241 (the code used for fabric softener ingredient), 2025
In 2025, the largest exporter of HS 340241 (the code used for fabric softener ingredient) in UN Comtrade data was China, with 37% of world exports; the largest importer in UN Comtrade data was the United States, with 8.1% 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 340241, not only fabric softener ingredient.
Top exporters 2025 · share of world exports
- 1 China $255M 37% of world exports
- 2 United States $82M 12% of world exports
- 3 South Korea $73M 10% of world exports
World total: $698M Reported figures on UN Comtrade ↗
Top importers 2025 · share of world imports
- 1 United States $52M 8.1% of world imports
- 2 Canada $50M 7.8% of world imports
- 3 Vietnam* ~$42M 6.5% of world imports · partner records ↗
World total: $636M 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 marked * did not, so their figures add up what other countries recorded trading with them, and their exports are valued at buyers' CIF prices. 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 fabric softener ingredient
Brazil splits HS 3402.41 into 2 NCM codes. Pick the one that matches your product:
- 3402.41.10Oleylamine acetate
- 3402.41.90Other cationic surface-active agents
Source: Siscomex NCM table, updated Oct 2026. The Portuguese text on each NCM page is the official one.
Questions about fabric softener ingredient
What is the HS code for Fabric softener ingredient?
The HS code for Fabric softener ingredient is 340241 (Organic surface-active agents; cationic (other than soap), whether or not put up for retail sale).
How do I classify Fabric softener ingredient for customs?
Fabric softener ingredient is classified under HS code 340241 — Organic surface-active agents; cationic (other than soap), whether or not put up for retail sale. This is a 6-digit subheading level code.
What is the HS code for cationic fabric softener ingredients?
The specific HS code for cationic organic surface-active agents used as softener ingredients is 3402.41.
Is the finished liquid fabric softener in a bottle under this code?
No, finished fabric softeners packaged for retail sale are classified under HS code 3402.50, as they are considered washing or cleaning preparations rather than raw surface-active agents.
Which countries are the top exporters of fabric softener ingredient (HS 340241)?
In 2025, the top exporters of HS 340241 (the code used for fabric softener ingredient) in UN Comtrade data were China ($255M, 37% of world exports), the United States ($82M) and South Korea ($73M). World exports came to about $698M, 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 fabric softener ingredient (HS 340241)?
In 2025, the top importers of HS 340241 (the code used for fabric softener ingredient) in UN Comtrade data were the United States ($52M, 8.1% of world imports), Canada ($50M) and Vietnam (about $42M). World imports came to about $636M, 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 Fabric softener ingredient the same in all countries?
The base HS code 340241 for Fabric softener ingredient 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 fabric softener ingredient in Brazil?
Brazil splits HS 340241 into 2 NCM codes, so the right one for fabric softener ingredient depends on the product's details: 3402.41.10 (Oleylamine acetate), 3402.41.90 (Other cationic surface-active agents).