Product classification

HS code for Herbicides: 3808.93

Herbicides, anti-sprouting products and plant-growth regulators, other than containing goods of Subheading Note 1 to this Chapter, put up in forms or packings for retail sale or as preparations or articles.

Classification of herbicides under HS 3808.93

Herbicides are classified under HS code 3808.93. This classification is part of Chapter 38, which encompasses miscellaneous chemical products. Heading 3808 is designated for insecticides, rodenticides, fungicides, herbicides, anti-sprouting products, and plant-growth regulators. The classification under 3808.93 is specific to substances that are used to control or destroy unwanted vegetation. For a product to be classified here, it must be "put up in forms or packings for retail sale" or "as preparations or articles." This means that pure chemical compounds intended for use as herbicides are classified in Chapter 28 or 29 unless they are specifically prepared for herbicidal use or packaged for end-user consumption. The code 3808.93 also includes anti-sprouting products and plant-growth regulators, which are chemicals used to alter the physiological processes of plants, such as inhibiting the sprouting of potatoes or regulating the height of cereal crops. The classification process involves analyzing the active ingredients and the concentration, as well as the packaging. If a product contains multiple active ingredients, such as a herbicide mixed with a fertilizer, the classification may shift depending on which component gives the product its essential character. However, most standard weed killers found in hardware stores or used in industrial agriculture fall squarely within 3808.93.

Covers
  • Glyphosate-based weed killers
  • Selective lawn herbicides
  • Anti-sprouting agents for vegetables
  • Plant growth hormones for agriculture
  • Pre-emergent herbicides
Also under 3808.93
  • Roundup Weed & Grass Killer
  • Spectracide Weed Stop for Lawns
  • Ortho GroundClear
  • Scotts Weed B Gon
  • Bonide Sucker Punch.

Codes often confused with 3808.93

Common mistake. Herbicides are sometimes misclassified under HS code 3105 if they are mixed with fertilizers. However, if the primary function is to kill weeds, 3808.93 is usually correct. Another error is using codes from Chapter 29 (e.g., 2901-2942) for pure chemicals; these only apply if the chemical is not yet formulated into a retail-ready herbicide preparation.

31.05Fertilizers; mineral or chemical, containing 2 or 3 of the elements nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium; other fertilisers; goods of chapter 31 in tablets or packages of gross weight not exceeding 10kg29.01Acyclic hydrocarbons29.42Organic compounds; n.e.c. in chapter 29

Top exporters and importers of HS 380893 (the code used for herbicides), 2025

In 2025, the largest exporter of HS 380893 (the code used for herbicides) in UN Comtrade data was China, with 38% of world exports; the largest importer in UN Comtrade data was Brazil, 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 380893, not only herbicides.

Top exporters 2025 · share of world exports

  1. 1 China $5.8B
  2. 2 United States $1.4B
  3. 3 India $1.4B

World total: $15.2B Reported figures on UN Comtrade ↗

Top importers 2025 · share of world imports

  1. 1 Brazil $2.3B
  2. 2 Canada $1.0B
  3. 3 Australia $803M

World total: $15.3B 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 herbicides

Brazil splits HS 3808.93 into 19 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 herbicides

What is the HS code for Herbicides?

The HS code for Herbicides is 380893 (Herbicides, anti-sprouting products and plant-growth regulators; other than containing goods of Subheading Note 1 to this Chapter; put up in forms or packings for retail sale or as preparations or articles). The HS code for herbicides, anti-sprouting products, and plant-growth regulators is 3808.93.

How do I classify Herbicides for customs?

Herbicides is classified under HS code 380893 — Herbicides, anti-sprouting products and plant-growth regulators; other than containing goods of Subheading Note 1 to this Chapter; put up in forms or packings for retail sale or as preparations or articles. This is a 6-digit subheading level code.

Are plant growth regulators different from herbicides?

While they have different functions, they are grouped under the same HS subheading 3808.93 for customs purposes.

Which countries are the top exporters of herbicides (HS 380893)?

In 2025, the top exporters of HS 380893 (the code used for herbicides) in UN Comtrade data were China ($5.8B, 38% of world exports), the United States ($1.4B) and India ($1.4B). World exports came to about $15.2B, 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 herbicides (HS 380893)?

In 2025, the top importers of HS 380893 (the code used for herbicides) in UN Comtrade data were Brazil ($2.3B, 15% of world imports), Canada ($1.0B) and Australia ($803M). World imports came to about $15.3B, 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 Herbicides the same in all countries?

The base HS code 380893 for Herbicides 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 herbicides in Brazil?

Brazil splits HS 380893 into 19 NCM codes, so the right one for herbicides depends on the product's details: 3808.93.11 (Household herbicides with bromo(chloro)methane), 3808.93.19 (Other household herbicides), 3808.93.21 (Other herbicides with bromo(chloro)methane), 3808.93.22 (2,4-D, 2,4-DB or MCPA herbicides), 3808.93.23 (Atrazine or diuron herbicides), 3808.93.24 (Glyphosate, imazaquin or lactofen herbicides), and more.