Product classification
HS code for Large plastic containers: 3925.10
Plastics, builders' ware, reservoirs, tanks, vats and similar containers of a capacity exceeding 300 litres.
Classification of large plastic containers under HS 3925.10
Large plastic containers are classified under HS code 3925.10 when they are identified as builders' ware of plastics. This classification is specifically for reservoirs, tanks, vats, and similar containers that possess a capacity exceeding 300 liters. The Harmonized System distinguishes these items from general-purpose packaging or transport containers based on their intended use in construction or as permanent fixtures and their significant volume. Chapter 39 covers plastics and articles thereof, and heading 39.25 is dedicated to products used in the construction of buildings. The 300-liter threshold is a definitive legal boundary; any container with a capacity of 300 liters or less would typically be classified under heading 39.23 (for transport or packing) or 39.26 (other articles of plastics). The classification assumes the product is a finished article ready for installation or use in a structural capacity, such as water storage or chemical containment within a facility.
- Covers
- Plastic water storage tanks (> 300L)
- Industrial plastic vats for liquid storage
- Septic tanks made of polyethylene or PVC
- Large plastic reservoirs for rainwater harvesting
- Also under 3925.10
- Enduramaxx water tanks
- Snyder Industries chemical tanks
- Bushman Tanks rainwater tanks
- Polymaster industrial tanks
- Roth Double-Wall oil tanks
Codes often confused with 3925.10
Common mistake. The most common misclassification occurs with HS code 3923.90, which covers plastic containers used for the conveyance or packing of goods. While a 500-liter drum might look like a tank, if its primary purpose is shipping goods, it belongs in 3923. Another confusion arises with 3926.90, a residual category for plastic items that do not meet the "builders' ware" definition of heading 39.25.
Top exporters and importers of HS 392510 (the code used for large plastic containers), 2025
In 2025, the largest exporter of HS 392510 (the code used for large plastic containers) in UN Comtrade data was Germany, with 20% of world exports; the largest importer in UN Comtrade data was the United States, with 7.6% 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 392510, not only large plastic containers.
Top exporters 2025 · share of world exports
- 1 Germany $294M 20% of world exports
- 2 Netherlands $129M 8.9% of world exports
- 3 China $93M 6.4% of world exports
World total: $1.5B Reported figures on UN Comtrade ↗
Top importers 2025 · share of world imports
- 1 United States $96M 7.6% of world imports
- 2 Germany $94M 7.4% of world imports
- 3 Belgium $84M 6.6% of world imports
World total: $1.3B 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 code for large plastic containers
Brazil classifies large plastic containers under NCM 3925.10.00: HS 3925.10 with 00 added.
Source: Siscomex NCM table, updated Oct 2026. The Portuguese text on each NCM page is the official one.
Questions about large plastic containers
What is the HS code for Large plastic containers?
The HS code for Large plastic containers is 392510 (Plastics; builders' ware, reservoirs, tanks, vats and similar containers of a capacity exceeding 300 litres). The HS code for plastic containers used as builders' ware with a capacity exceeding 300 liters is 3925.10.
How do I classify Large plastic containers for customs?
Large plastic containers is classified under HS code 392510 — Plastics; builders' ware, reservoirs, tanks, vats and similar containers of a capacity exceeding 300 litres. This is a 6-digit subheading level code.
Are IBC (Intermediate Bulk Containers) classified here?
Generally, no. IBCs are typically classified under 3923.90 because they are designed for the transport and packing of goods rather than as permanent builders' ware.
Which countries are the top exporters of large plastic containers (HS 392510)?
In 2025, the top exporters of HS 392510 (the code used for large plastic containers) in UN Comtrade data were Germany ($294M, 20% of world exports), the Netherlands ($129M) and China ($93M). 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 large plastic containers (HS 392510)?
In 2025, the top importers of HS 392510 (the code used for large plastic containers) in UN Comtrade data were the United States ($96M, 7.6% of world imports), Germany ($94M) and Belgium ($84M). World imports came to about $1.3B, 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 Large plastic containers the same in all countries?
The base HS code 392510 for Large plastic containers 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 large plastic containers in Brazil?
In Brazil, large plastic containers (HS 392510) is classified under NCM 3925.10.00.