Product classification
HS code for Sulphite turpentine: 3805.90
Terpenic oils, produced by the treatment of coniferous woods, crude dipentene, sulphite turpentine and other crude para-cymene, n.e.c. in heading no. 3805.
Classification of sulphite turpentine under HS 3805.90
Sulphite turpentine is classified under HS code 3805.90. This code resides within Chapter 38, which covers miscellaneous chemical products. Heading 3805 specifically addresses terpenic oils produced by the distillation or other treatment of coniferous woods. While 3805.10 covers gum, wood, or sulfate turpentine, the subheading 3805.90 acts as a residual category for other terpenic oils, including sulphite turpentine, which is a byproduct of the sulphite pulping process. The classification depends on the method of extraction and the resulting chemical profile. Sulphite turpentine contains various terpenes and is often used as a solvent or a raw material in the chemical industry for the synthesis of camphor or resins. Because it is a byproduct of wood pulp manufacture rather than direct distillation of oleoresins, it is excluded from the primary turpentine codes. Importers must provide chemical analysis to distinguish it from other terpenic oils to ensure the correct application of 3805.90. The Explanatory Notes for heading 3805 state that this heading includes products obtained during the pulping of coniferous wood by the sulphite process. This specific mention makes 3805.90 the legally correct classification. It is important to note that if the product were highly refined to a single chemical constituent, such as pure pinene, it might be classified in Chapter 29 as a separate chemically defined compound. However, as a crude byproduct containing a mixture of terpenes, it remains in 3805.90. This code is essential for tracking the trade of industrial wood byproducts.
- Covers
- Crude sulphite turpentine
- Crude dipentene
- Crude para-cymene
- Terpenic oils from sulphite pulping
- Mixed terpenic byproducts n.e.c.
- Also under 3805.90
- DRT (pine chemicals)
- Kraton (pine chemicals)
- Forchem
- Georgia-Pacific Chemicals
- Pine Chemical Group
Codes often confused with 3805.90
Common mistake. Sulphite turpentine is most commonly misclassified under 3805.10, which is strictly for gum, wood, or sulfate turpentine. It can also be confused with pine oil (3805.90) or specific hydrocarbons in 2902 if the product has been significantly refined to isolate a single terpene like limonene.
Top exporters and importers of HS 380590 (the code used for sulphite turpentine), 2025
In 2025, the largest exporter of HS 380590 (the code used for sulphite turpentine) in UN Comtrade data was India, with 26% of world exports; the largest importer in UN Comtrade data was South Africa, with 9.7% 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 380590, not only sulphite turpentine.
Top exporters 2025 · share of world exports
- 1 India $21M 26% of world exports
- 2 United States $19M 23% of world exports
- 3 China $13M 16% of world exports
World total: $81M Reported figures on UN Comtrade ↗
Top importers 2025 · share of world imports
- 1 South Africa $7.0M 9.7% of world imports
- 2 Indonesia $5.0M 6.9% of world imports
- 3 India $4.9M 6.8% of world imports
World total: $72M 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 sulphite turpentine
Brazil splits HS 3805.90 into 2 NCM codes. Pick the one that matches your product:
- 3805.90.10Pine oil
- 3805.90.90Other terpenic oils, dipentene and para-cymene
Source: Siscomex NCM table, updated Oct 2026. The Portuguese text on each NCM page is the official one.
Questions about sulphite turpentine
What is the HS code for Sulphite turpentine?
The HS code for Sulphite turpentine is 380590 (Terpenic oils; produced by the treatment of coniferous woods, crude dipentene, sulphite turpentine and other crude para-cymene, n.e.c. in heading no. 3805). The HS code for sulphite turpentine is 3805.90.
How do I classify Sulphite turpentine for customs?
Sulphite turpentine is classified under HS code 380590 — Terpenic oils; produced by the treatment of coniferous woods, crude dipentene, sulphite turpentine and other crude para-cymene, n.e.c. in heading no. 3805. This is a 6-digit subheading level code.
How does it differ from sulfate turpentine?
Sulfate turpentine is a byproduct of the Kraft (sulfate) pulping process and is classified under 3805.10, whereas sulphite turpentine comes from the sulphite process and falls under 3805.90.
Which countries are the top exporters of sulphite turpentine (HS 380590)?
In 2025, the top exporters of HS 380590 (the code used for sulphite turpentine) in UN Comtrade data were India ($21M, 26% of world exports), the United States ($19M) and China ($13M). World exports came to about $81M, 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 sulphite turpentine (HS 380590)?
In 2025, the top importers of HS 380590 (the code used for sulphite turpentine) in UN Comtrade data were South Africa ($7.0M, 9.7% of world imports), Indonesia ($5.0M) and India ($4.9M). World imports came to about $72M, 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 Sulphite turpentine the same in all countries?
The base HS code 380590 for Sulphite turpentine 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 sulphite turpentine in Brazil?
Brazil splits HS 380590 into 2 NCM codes, so the right one for sulphite turpentine depends on the product's details: 3805.90.10 (Pine oil), 3805.90.90 (Other terpenic oils, dipentene and para-cymene).