Product classification

HS code for Nylon resin: 3908.10

Polyamides, polyamide-6, -11, -12, -6,6, -6,9, -6,10 or -6,12, in primary forms.

Classification of nylon resin under HS 3908.10

Nylon resin is classified under HS code 3908.10, which specifically covers polyamides in primary forms. Chapter 39 of the Harmonized System is dedicated to plastics and articles thereof, and heading 3908 is reserved for polyamides. The term 'primary forms' is strictly defined in the HS Explanatory Notes to include liquids, pastes, blocks, lumps, powders, granules, flakes, and similar bulk forms. Nylon resin, as a thermoplastic engineering plastic, is typically traded in the form of small pellets or granules ready for injection molding or extrusion. This subheading includes various chemical types such as Polyamide-6 (PA6), Polyamide-6,6 (PA66), Polyamide-11, and Polyamide-12. The classification is based on the chemical structure where the amide groups are an integral part of the polymer chain. Because these resins are the raw material for a vast array of industrial products, from automotive parts to food packaging, accurate classification at the resin stage is vital for trade statistics and duty assessment.

Covers
  • Polyamide-6 (PA6) granules
  • Polyamide-6,6 (PA66) pellets
  • Nylon 11 and Nylon 12 molding compounds
  • Nylon resin in powder form for 3D printing
  • Polyamide-6,10 and 6,12 primary resins
Also under 3908.10
  • DuPont Zytel (PA 6,6)
  • BASF Ultramid (PA 6, PA 6,6)
  • Arkema Rilsan (PA 11, PA 12)
  • DSM Akulon (PA 6, PA 6,6)
  • Lanxess Durethan (PA 6, PA 6,6)

Codes often confused with 3908.10

Common mistake. A common misclassification occurs with HS code 3907, which covers other polyethers and polyesters. While they are also plastics, their chemical backbone differs from polyamides. Another frequent error involves HS code 3911, which is for petroleum resins and other resins not elsewhere specified. If the nylon resin is reinforced with glass fibers or mineral fillers, it remains under 3908.10 as long as the polyamide remains the predominant plastic component. However, if the resin has been processed into semi-finished shapes like rods, tubes, or sheets, it must be classified under headings 3916, 3917, or 3920 respectively, rather than the primary form code.

3908.90Polyamides; n.e.c. in heading no. 3908, in primary forms39.07Polyacetals, other polyethers and epoxide resins, in primary forms; polycarbonates, alkyd resins, polyallyl esters and other polyesters, in primary forms39.11Petroleum resins, coumarone-indene resins, polyterpenes, polysulphides, polysulphones and similar products of chemical synthesis n.e.c. in chapter 39, in primary forms39.16Monofilament of which any cross-sectional dimension exceeds 1mm, rods, sticks and profile shapes, whether or not surface-worked but not otherwise worked, of plastics39.17Tubes, pipes and hoses and fittings thereof (for example, joints, elbows, flanges), of plastics39.20Plastics; plates, sheets, film, foil and strip (not self-adhesive); non-cellular and not reinforced, laminated, supported or similarly combined with other materials, n.e.c. in chapter 39

Top exporters and importers of HS 390810 (the code used for nylon resin), 2025

In 2025, the largest exporter of HS 390810 (the code used for nylon resin) in UN Comtrade data was Germany, with 18% of world exports; the largest importer in UN Comtrade data was Germany, with 11% 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 390810, not only nylon resin.

Top exporters 2025 · share of world exports

  1. 1 Germany $1.8B
  2. 2 China $1.7B
  3. 3 United States $1.5B

World total: $9.8B Reported figures on UN Comtrade ↗

Top importers 2025 · share of world imports

  1. 1 Germany $1.1B
  2. 2 China $746M
  3. 3 Mexico $655M

World total: $10.2B 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 nylon resin

Brazil splits HS 3908.10 into 11 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 nylon resin

What is the HS code for Nylon resin?

The HS code for Nylon resin is 390810 (Polyamides; polyamide-6, -11, -12, -6,6, -6,9, -6,10 or -6,12, in primary forms). The HS code for nylon resin in primary forms (such as pellets or granules) is 3908.10.

How do I classify Nylon resin for customs?

Nylon resin is classified under HS code 390810 — Polyamides; polyamide-6, -11, -12, -6,6, -6,9, -6,10 or -6,12, in primary forms. This is a 6-digit subheading level code.

Does this code include recycled nylon pellets?

Yes, as long as the recycled material has been re-processed into a primary form like granules and consists of polyamides, it is classified under 3908.10. However, waste, parings, and scrap of nylon are classified under 3915.90.

Which countries are the top exporters of nylon resin (HS 390810)?

In 2025, the top exporters of HS 390810 (the code used for nylon resin) in UN Comtrade data were Germany ($1.8B, 18% of world exports), China ($1.7B) and the United States ($1.5B). World exports came to about $9.8B, 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 nylon resin (HS 390810)?

In 2025, the top importers of HS 390810 (the code used for nylon resin) in UN Comtrade data were Germany ($1.1B, 11% of world imports), China ($746M) and Mexico ($655M). World imports came to about $10.2B, 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.

Is the HS code for Nylon resin the same in all countries?

The base HS code 390810 for Nylon resin 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 nylon resin in Brazil?

Brazil splits HS 390810 into 11 NCM codes, so the right one for nylon resin depends on the product's details: 3908.10.11 (Polyamide-11, liquid or paste forms), 3908.10.12 (Polyamide-12, liquid or paste forms), 3908.10.13 (Filled polyamide-6 or -6,6, liquid or paste), 3908.10.14 (Unfilled polyamide-6 or -6,6, liquid or paste), 3908.10.19 (Polyamide-6,9, -6,10 or -6,12, liquid or paste), 3908.10.21 (Polyamide-11, solid bulk forms), and more.