Product classification
HS code for Phenol: 2907.11
Monophenols, phenol (hydroxybenzene) and its salts.
Classification of phenol under HS 2907.11
Phenol, also known as hydroxybenzene (C6H5OH), is classified under HS code 2907.11. This classification is determined by the Harmonized System's structure for organic chemicals in Chapter 29. Specifically, Heading 2907 covers phenols and phenol-alcohols. Phenol is the simplest member of the monophenols group, which are compounds containing one hydroxyl group attached to a benzene ring. Because it is a separate chemically defined organic compound and fits the specific description of a monophenol without other functional groups, it is placed in the first subheading of 2907. The classification also includes the salts of phenol, such as sodium phenoxide, which are treated as the parent compound under the General Rules of Interpretation (GRI). Customs authorities require precise identification because phenol is a high-volume industrial chemical used in the production of plastics, resins, and pharmaceuticals. The purity of the substance is a key factor; while technical grade phenol is included here, mixtures containing less than 90% phenol by weight derived from coal tar may be classified in Chapter 27.
- Covers
- Pure phenol (hydroxybenzene)
- Phenol salts (e.g., sodium phenate, potassium phenate)
- Technical grade phenol (meeting Chapter 29 purity standards)
- Phenol crystals and liquefied phenol
- Also under 2907.11
- INEOS Phenol
- Mitsui Chemicals
- Shell Chemicals
- Dow Chemical
- Kumho P&B Chemicals
Codes often confused with 2907.11
Common mistake. Phenol is frequently confused with coal tar oils classified under HS code 2707.99. While phenol can be derived from coal tar, Chapter 29 is reserved for separate chemically defined compounds. If the product is a crude mixture of phenols where hydroxybenzene does not predominate by weight, it belongs in Chapter 27. Another common error is confusing it with cresols (2907.12) or xylenols (2907.13), which are substituted monophenols with different chemical structures.
Top exporters and importers of HS 290711 (the code used for phenol), 2025
In 2025, the largest exporter of HS 290711 (the code used for phenol) in UN Comtrade data was Saudi Arabia, with 17% of world exports; the largest importer in UN Comtrade data was India, with 14% 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 290711, not only phenol.
Top exporters 2025 · share of world exports
- 1 Saudi Arabia $194M 17% of world exports
- 2 Thailand $189M 16% of world exports
- 3 United States $132M 12% of world exports
World total: $1.1B Reported figures on UN Comtrade ↗
Top importers 2025 · share of world imports
- 1 India $247M 14% of world imports
- 2 Germany $229M 13% of world imports
- 3 Netherlands $218M 12% of world imports
World total: $1.8B 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 phenol
Brazil classifies phenol under NCM 2907.11.00: HS 2907.11 with 00 added.
Source: Siscomex NCM table, updated Oct 2026. The Portuguese text on each NCM page is the official one.
Questions about phenol
What is the HS code for Phenol?
The HS code for Phenol is 290711 (Monophenols; phenol (hydroxybenzene) and its salts). The HS code for phenol (hydroxybenzene) and its salts is 2907.11.
How do I classify Phenol for customs?
Phenol is classified under HS code 290711 — Monophenols; phenol (hydroxybenzene) and its salts. This is a 6-digit subheading level code.
Does this code include phenolic resins?
No, phenolic resins are polymers and are classified in Chapter 39 under HS code 3909.40, as they are no longer separate chemically defined monophenols.
Which countries are the top exporters of phenol (HS 290711)?
In 2025, the top exporters of HS 290711 (the code used for phenol) in UN Comtrade data were Saudi Arabia ($194M, 17% of world exports), Thailand ($189M) and the United States ($132M). World exports came to about $1.1B, 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 phenol (HS 290711)?
In 2025, the top importers of HS 290711 (the code used for phenol) in UN Comtrade data were India ($247M, 14% of world imports), Germany ($229M) and the Netherlands ($218M). World imports came to about $1.8B, 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.
Is the HS code for Phenol the same in all countries?
The base HS code 290711 for Phenol 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 phenol in Brazil?
In Brazil, phenol (HS 290711) is classified under NCM 2907.11.00.