Product classification

HS code for Prepared wax: 3404.90

Waxes, artificial and prepared, other than of polyethylene glycol.

Classification of prepared wax under HS 3404.90

Prepared wax is classified under HS code 3404.90 because it represents a mixture of different waxes or a mixture of waxes with other materials, provided they exhibit a waxy character. This heading excludes waxes that are chemically defined compounds or mineral waxes that have not been mixed. Under the General Rules for the Interpretation (GRI) of the Harmonized System, products that consist of mixtures of animal, vegetable, or artificial waxes fall under heading 3404. Subheading 3404.90 specifically captures those waxes that are not based on polyethylene glycol. These preparations must have a dropping point above 40 degrees Celsius and a consistency that allows them to be polished. The classification depends on the transformation of the raw material into a "prepared" state, which involves blending or chemical modification to achieve specific industrial properties such as hardness, luster, or melting point. This category is essential for industrial applications where natural waxes alone do not meet the required performance specifications.

Covers
  • Dental waxes in various shapes
  • Sealing waxes for documents
  • Mixtures of animal and vegetable waxes
  • Waxes mixed with fats or resins
  • Prepared waxes for wood treatment
  • Industrial wax blends for casting
Also under 3404.90
  • Sasolwax
  • Evonik Vestowax
  • Honeywell A-C Wax
  • BASF Luwax
  • Clariant Licowax

Codes often confused with 3404.90

Common mistake. A frequent error is classifying these products under HS code 2712, which covers petroleum jelly and paraffin wax. However, 2712 is reserved for mineral waxes that are not mixed with other substances. Another common mistake is using HS code 1521 for vegetable or animal waxes; this code only applies to those waxes in their raw or unrefined state without additives.

27.12Petroleum jelly; paraffin wax, micro-crystalline petroleum wax, slack wax, ozokerite, lignite wax, peat wax, other mineral waxes, similar products obtained by synthesis, other processes; coloured or not15.21Vegetable waxes (other than triglycerides), beeswax, other insect waxes and spermaceti; whether or not refined or coloured

Top exporters and importers of HS 340490 (the code used for prepared wax), 2025

In 2025, the largest exporter of HS 340490 (the code used for prepared wax) in UN Comtrade data was Germany, with 18% of world exports; the largest importer in UN Comtrade data was China, with 16% 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 340490, not only prepared wax.

Top exporters 2025 · share of world exports

  1. 1 Germany $584M
  2. 2 United States $479M
  3. 3 China $325M

World total: $3.2B Reported figures on UN Comtrade ↗

Top importers 2025 · share of world imports

  1. 1 China $529M
  2. 2 United States $273M
  3. 3 Germany $235M

World total: $3.4B 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 prepared wax

Brazil splits HS 3404.90 into 8 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 prepared wax

What is the HS code for Prepared wax?

The HS code for Prepared wax is 340490 (Waxes; artificial and prepared, other than of polyethylene glycol). The primary HS code for prepared wax not based on polyethylene glycol is 3404.90.

How do I classify Prepared wax for customs?

Prepared wax is classified under HS code 340490 — Waxes; artificial and prepared, other than of polyethylene glycol. This is a 6-digit subheading level code.

Is paraffin wax included here?

No, pure paraffin wax is classified under 2712.20. It only moves to 3404 if it is mixed with other waxes or materials to form a prepared wax.

Which countries are the top exporters of prepared wax (HS 340490)?

In 2025, the top exporters of HS 340490 (the code used for prepared wax) in UN Comtrade data were Germany ($584M, 18% of world exports), the United States ($479M) and China ($325M). World exports came to about $3.2B, 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.

Which countries are the top importers of prepared wax (HS 340490)?

In 2025, the top importers of HS 340490 (the code used for prepared wax) in UN Comtrade data were China ($529M, 16% of world imports), the United States ($273M) and Germany ($235M). World imports came to about $3.4B, 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 Prepared wax the same in all countries?

The base HS code 340490 for Prepared wax 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 prepared wax in Brazil?

Brazil splits HS 340490 into 8 NCM codes, so the right one for prepared wax depends on the product's details: 3404.90.11 (Emulsifiable polyethylene waxes), 3404.90.12 (Other polyethylene artificial waxes), 3404.90.13 (Polypropylene glycol artificial waxes), 3404.90.14 (C12-C16 alkyl ketene dimer wax, in granules), 3404.90.19 (Other artificial waxes), 3404.90.21 (Anhydrous eucerin (petrolatum, lanolin alcohols)), and more.