Product classification

HS code for Vegetable pitch: 3807.00

Wood tar, wood tar oils, wood creosote, wood naphtha, vegetable pitch, brewers' pitch and similar preparations based on rosin, resin acids or on vegetable pitch.

Classification of vegetable pitch under HS 3807.00

Vegetable pitch is classified under HS code 3807.00, a heading that encompasses wood tar, wood tar oils, wood creosote, wood naphtha, and vegetable pitch. This classification is based on the chemical nature of the product as a residue of the distillation or treatment of vegetable materials. Vegetable pitch, also known as stearin pitch or fatty acid pitch, is the dark, viscous residue obtained from the distillation of fatty acids, tall oil, or vegetable oils. According to the Explanatory Notes to the Harmonized System, heading 3807 includes products that are used in the preparation of caulking compounds, for the coating of casks, or for the waterproofing of fabrics. The classification under 3807.00 is appropriate because the product is a chemical preparation or a residue of the chemical industry that does not fit into the more specific categories of Chapter 15, which covers fats and oils in their primary or modified forms. Vegetable pitch is distinct from mineral-based pitches because of its organic, non-fossil origin. It is often used in the manufacture of lubricants, fuel oils, or as a binder in various industrial applications. The heading also includes brewers' pitch, which is used for coating the interior of beer barrels and is typically composed of a mixture of vegetable pitch, resins, and oils. The consistency of these products can range from a semi-liquid to a solid, but they are all grouped under this single subheading due to their shared origin and industrial utility.

Covers
  • Stearin pitch (residue from fatty acid distillation)
  • Tall oil pitch
  • Brewers' pitch for barrel coating
  • Wool grease pitch
  • Resin pitch used in industrial binders
  • Vegetable tar residues
Also under 3807.00
  • Koppers (wood preservatives)
  • DRT (pine chemicals)
  • Kraton (pine chemicals)
  • Arch Wood Protection
  • Lonza (wood preservatives)

Codes often confused with 3807.00

Common mistake. Vegetable pitch is often confused with mineral pitch or bitumen, which are classified under HS code 2708 (pitch and pitch coke from coal tar) or HS code 2713 (petroleum bitumen). The primary distinction lies in the source material; 3807.00 is strictly for vegetable-derived residues, while Chapter 27 covers mineral-derived substances. Additionally, it should not be confused with modified vegetable oils in heading 1518, which are chemically modified but have not been distilled down to a pitch residue.

27.08Pitch and pitch coke; obtained from coal tar or from other mineral tars27.13Petroleum coke, petroleum bitumen; other residues of petroleum oils or oils obtained from bituminous minerals15.18Animal, vegetable or microbial fats, oils and their fractions; boiled, oxidised, dehydrated or otherwise chemically modified, excluding those of heading no. 1516, inedible mixtures or preparations of fats, oils or their fractions, n.e.c. in chapter 15

Top exporters and importers of HS 380700 (the code used for vegetable pitch), 2025

In 2025, the largest exporter of HS 380700 (the code used for vegetable pitch) in UN Comtrade data was the United States, with 26% of world exports; the largest importer in UN Comtrade data was Sweden, with 35% 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 380700, not only vegetable pitch.

Top exporters 2025 · share of world exports

  1. 1 United States $32M
  2. 2 Sweden $23M
  3. 3 Finland $19M

World total: $124M Reported figures on UN Comtrade ↗

Top importers 2025 · share of world imports

  1. 1 Sweden $50M
  2. 2 Finland $19M
  3. 3 Norway $10M

World total: $143M 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 vegetable pitch

Brazil classifies vegetable pitch under NCM 3807.00.00: HS 3807.00 with 00 added.

Source: Siscomex NCM table, updated Oct 2026. The Portuguese text on each NCM page is the official one.

Questions about vegetable pitch

What is the HS code for Vegetable pitch?

The HS code for Vegetable pitch is 380700 (Wood tar; wood tar oils; wood creosote; wood naphtha; vegetable pitch; brewers' pitch and similar preparations based on rosin, resin acids or on vegetable pitch). The HS code for vegetable pitch is 3807.00, which includes wood tar, wood tar oils, and similar preparations.

How do I classify Vegetable pitch for customs?

Vegetable pitch is classified under HS code 380700 — Wood tar; wood tar oils; wood creosote; wood naphtha; vegetable pitch; brewers' pitch and similar preparations based on rosin, resin acids or on vegetable pitch. This is a 6-digit subheading level code.

Is vegetable pitch the same as asphalt?

No, asphalt is a mineral product classified in Chapter 27, whereas vegetable pitch is a residue from the processing of vegetable fats, oils, or resins.

Which countries are the top exporters of vegetable pitch (HS 380700)?

In 2025, the top exporters of HS 380700 (the code used for vegetable pitch) in UN Comtrade data were the United States ($32M, 26% of world exports), Sweden ($23M) and Finland ($19M). World exports came to about $124M, 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 vegetable pitch (HS 380700)?

In 2025, the top importers of HS 380700 (the code used for vegetable pitch) in UN Comtrade data were Sweden ($50M, 35% of world imports), Finland ($19M) and Norway ($10M). World imports came to about $143M, 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 Vegetable pitch the same in all countries?

The base HS code 380700 for Vegetable pitch 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 vegetable pitch in Brazil?

In Brazil, vegetable pitch (HS 380700) is classified under NCM 3807.00.00.