Product classification
HS code for Leather paint: 3210.00
Paints and varnishes, (including enamels, lacquers and distempers), prepared water pigments of a kind used for finishing leather.
Classification of leather paint under HS 3210.00
Leather paint and prepared water pigments used for finishing leather are classified under HS code 3210.00. This code falls within Chapter 32, which encompasses tanning or dyeing extracts, tannins and their derivatives, and various paints and varnishes. Specifically, 3210.00 covers other paints and varnishes (including enamels, lacquers, and distempers) and prepared water pigments of a kind used for finishing leather. These products are distinct from standard house paints because they are formulated with specific binders and pigments that allow for adhesion to the fibrous and flexible surface of animal hides. The classification applies to both professional-grade finishing agents used in tanneries and retail-ready paints used for leather repair or customization. Because these are "prepared" pigments, they contain more than just colorants; they include additives like resins or surfactants to ensure the finish is durable and water-resistant once applied to the leather substrate.
- Covers
- Acrylic-based leather paints
- Water-based leather finishing pigments
- Leather edge paints
- Prepared leather lacquers
- Leather enamels for decorative use
- Pigmented leather topcoats
- 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. Leather paint is often misclassified under 3208 (solvent-based paints) or 3209 (water-based paints for general use). While leather paint can be water-based, 3210.00 is the more specific code because it explicitly mentions "prepared water pigments of a kind used for finishing leather." It may also be confused with 3212, which covers dyes and other coloring matter put up in forms or packings for retail sale, but 3210.00 takes precedence for prepared paints.
Top exporters and importers of HS 321000 (the code used for leather paint), 2025
In 2025, the largest exporter of HS 321000 (the code used for leather 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 leather 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 leather 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 leather paint
What is the HS code for Leather paint?
The HS code for Leather paint is 321000 (Paints and varnishes; (including enamels, lacquers and distempers), prepared water pigments of a kind used for finishing leather). The HS code for prepared water pigments and paints used for finishing leather is 3210.00.
How do I classify Leather paint for customs?
Leather 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.
Does this code include leather dyes?
If the product is a prepared pigment used for finishing the surface, it fits 3210.00. However, simple dyes that penetrate the leather without forming a surface film may sometimes fall under 3204 or 3212 depending on their composition and packaging.
Which countries are the top exporters of leather paint (HS 321000)?
In 2025, the top exporters of HS 321000 (the code used for leather 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 leather paint (HS 321000)?
In 2025, the top importers of HS 321000 (the code used for leather 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 Leather paint the same in all countries?
The base HS code 321000 for Leather 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 leather paint in Brazil?
Brazil splits HS 321000 into 3 NCM codes, so the right one for leather 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).