HS Code for Hydraulic fluid

Hydraulic fluid is classified under HS code 3819.00, provided it meets specific compositional requirements. This heading covers hydraulic brake fluids and other prepared liquids for hydraulic transmission. The critical factor for classification under 3819.00 is the petroleum oil content; the fluid must either contain no petroleum oils or contain less than 70% by weight of petroleum oils or oils obtained from bituminous minerals. These fluids are typically based on polyglycols, silicone oils, or other synthetic esters. If the fluid is primarily composed of petroleum (70% or more), it is excluded from Chapter 38 and moved to Chapter 27. This classification is essential for ensuring that synthetic and semi-synthetic hydraulic preparations are distinguished from mineral-oil-based lubricants and transmission fluids.

Products Included

• Synthetic hydraulic brake fluids
• Non-petroleum based hydraulic transmission fluids
• Hydraulic fluids with <70% petroleum content
• DOT 3, DOT 4, and DOT 5 brake fluids

Common Misclassification

The most frequent misclassification is under HS code 2710.19, which covers hydraulic oils that contain 70% or more by weight of petroleum oils. Importers often fail to check the percentage of mineral oil in the formulation. Another common error is using HS code 3403.19 or 3403.99, which are for lubricating preparations. While hydraulic fluids do provide lubrication, heading 3819 is more specific for fluids designed for hydraulic transmission, taking precedence over the general lubrication heading 3403.

FAQ

What is the HS code for hydraulic fluid?

The HS code for hydraulic fluids and brake fluids containing less than 70% petroleum oil is 3819.00.

What code should be used if the fluid is 80% petroleum oil?

If the fluid contains 70% or more petroleum oil, it must be classified under heading 2710, typically 2710.19.