Product classification
HS code for Polyethylene scrap: 3915.10
Ethylene polymers, waste, parings and scrap.
Classification of polyethylene scrap under HS 3915.10
Polyethylene scrap is classified under HS code 3915.10. This heading is specifically reserved for waste, parings, and scrap of plastics made from polymers of ethylene. Classification under 3915 is restricted to materials that are either manufacturing waste (such as offcuts, shavings, or defective batches) or products that are worn out and no longer fit for their original purpose. To be classified here, the material is typically intended for the recovery of the plastic through recycling or for use as a fuel source. The Harmonized System distinguishes between "primary forms" and "waste." If the polyethylene has been processed back into uniform granules or pellets that meet the specifications of virgin material for use in molding or extrusion, it may no longer qualify as scrap and could be moved to primary form headings.
- Covers
- Crushed polyethylene bottle scrap
- Industrial PE film offcuts
- Used PE crates broken for recycling
- Polyethylene shavings and sawdust from machining
- Defective PE molded parts intended for regrinding
- Also under 3915.10
- Recycled HDPE pellets
- Recycled LDPE film
- Post-consumer resin (PCR) PE
- Pre-consumer PE scrap
- PE plastic bales
Codes often confused with 3915.10
Common mistake. The most common misclassification is with HS code 3901.10 or 3901.20 (polyethylene in primary forms). If scrap has been cleaned, melted, and pelletized into uniform resin, many customs authorities argue it should be classified as primary form material under 3901. Another error involves 3915.90, which is a catch-all for "other" plastic scrap; however, because ethylene polymers have their own specific subheading (3915.10), that specific code must be used.
Top exporters and importers of HS 391510 (the code used for polyethylene scrap), 2025
In 2025, the largest exporter of HS 391510 (the code used for polyethylene scrap) in UN Comtrade data was Germany, with 22% of world exports; the largest importer in UN Comtrade data was Germany, with 12% 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 391510, not only polyethylene scrap.
Top exporters 2025 · share of world exports
- 1 Germany $226M 22% of world exports
- 2 Netherlands $102M 9.7% of world exports
- 3 United Kingdom $86M 8.2% of world exports
World total: $1.1B Reported figures on UN Comtrade ↗
Top importers 2025 · share of world imports
- 1 Germany $130M 12% of world imports
- 2 Malaysia $125M 12% of world imports
- 3 Türkiye $119M 11% of world imports
World total: $1.0B 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 polyethylene scrap
Brazil classifies polyethylene scrap under NCM 3915.10.00: HS 3915.10 with 00 added.
Source: Siscomex NCM table, updated Oct 2026. The Portuguese text on each NCM page is the official one.
Questions about polyethylene scrap
What is the HS code for Polyethylene scrap?
The HS code for Polyethylene scrap is 391510 (Ethylene polymers; waste, parings and scrap). The HS code for waste, parings, and scrap of polyethylene is 3915.10.
How do I classify Polyethylene scrap for customs?
Polyethylene scrap is classified under HS code 391510 — Ethylene polymers; waste, parings and scrap. This is a 6-digit subheading level code.
Can recycled PE pellets be classified as scrap?
Generally, no. If the scrap has been reprocessed into uniform pellets for manufacturing, it is usually classified under 3901 as a primary form.
Which countries are the top exporters of polyethylene scrap (HS 391510)?
In 2025, the top exporters of HS 391510 (the code used for polyethylene scrap) in UN Comtrade data were Germany ($226M, 22% of world exports), the Netherlands ($102M) and the United Kingdom ($86M). 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 polyethylene scrap (HS 391510)?
In 2025, the top importers of HS 391510 (the code used for polyethylene scrap) in UN Comtrade data were Germany ($130M, 12% of world imports), Malaysia ($125M) and Türkiye ($119M). World imports came to about $1.0B, 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 Polyethylene scrap the same in all countries?
The base HS code 391510 for Polyethylene scrap 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 polyethylene scrap in Brazil?
In Brazil, polyethylene scrap (HS 391510) is classified under NCM 3915.10.00.