Subheading · Chapter 34 · Section VI, Products of the chemical or allied industries
HS 3401 19Soap, organic surface-active products and preparations for use as soap, in the form of bars, cakes, moulded pieces or shapes, whether or not containing soap, organic surface-active products and preparations for washing the skin, in the form of liquid or cream and put up for retail sale, whether or not containing soap, paper, wadding, felt and nonwovens, impregnated, coated or covered with soap or detergent: other
Soap, organic surface-active agents, washing preparations, lubricating preparations, artificial waxes, prepared waxes, polishing or scouring preparations, candles and similar articles, modelling pastes, "dental waxes" and dental preparations with a basis of plaster
- Customs duty
- 10%
- 7 tariff items
- GST now
- 5% or 18%
- depending on the goods
- Import policy
- Free
- Export policy
- Free
- Unit
- kg
- Duty in China
- 6.5%
- On Indian goods
Codes under this subheading
7 codes. Duty and GST are set on the 8-digit tariff items; open the one that describes your goods.
| Code | Description | Customs duty | GST now | Unit |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3401 19 11 | Industrial soap | 10% | 5% or 18% | kg |
| 3401 19 19 | Other | 10% | 5% or 18% | kg |
| 3401 19 20 | Flakes, chips and powder | 10% | 5% or 18% | kg |
| 3401 19 30 | Tablets and cakes | 10% | 5% or 18% | kg |
| 3401 19 41 | Household soaps | 10% | 5% or 18% | kg |
| 3401 19 42 | Laundry soaps | 10% | 5% or 18% | kg |
| 3401 19 90 | Other | 10% | 5% or 18% | kg |
Importing into India
Duty is set on each 8-digit tariff item: open one of the codes above. Basic customs duty across its 7 tariff items: 10%. The rules below cover this whole code.
Anti-dumping, countervailing and safeguard duty
None in force on this code as on 19 Oct 2026.
Import policy (DGFT ITC(HS)) of its tariff items
- Free: 7 tariff items
GST
IGST on imports is the GST rate. Rates changed on 22 September 2025.
- Now 5% or 18%, depending on the goods.
- Until 21 September 2025 18%.
- Change: Changed.
The rules that set it now
| Notification | Goods | Rate |
|---|---|---|
| 9/2025-Integrated Tax (Rate)Schedule I, S.No. 251 | Toilet Soap (other than industrial soap) in the form of bars, cakes, moulded pieces or shapes | 5% |
| 9/2025-Integrated Tax (Rate)Schedule II, S.No. 66 | Soap; organic surface-active products and preparations for use as soap, in the form of cakes, moulded pieces or shapes, whether or not containing soap[other than toilet soap in the form of bars, cakes, moulded pieces or shapes]; organic surface active products and preparations for washing the skin, in the form of liquid or cream and put up for retail sale, whether or not containing soap; paper, wadding, felt and nonwovens, impregnated, coated or covered with soap or detergent | 18% |
History
| Period | Rate | Notification |
|---|---|---|
| Until 21 Sep 2025 | 18% | 1/2017-Central Tax (Rate) |
| From 22 Sep 2025 | 5% or 18% | 9/2025-Integrated Tax (Rate) |
Exporting from India
Export duty
Nil. The Second Schedule to the Customs Tariff Act does not list these goods, so no export duty is charged.
Duty drawback (All Industry Rates)
| Drawback item | Goods | Rate | Cap |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3401 | Soap; organic surface-active products and preparations for use as soap, in the form of bars, cakes, moulded pieces or shapes, whether or not containing soap; organic surface- active products and preparations for washing the skin, in the form of liquid or cream and put up for retail sale, whether or not containing soap; paper, wadding, felt and nonwovens, impregnated, coated or covered with soap or detergent | 1.2% | — |
Drawback items follow the 4-digit heading, not the 8-digit code: claim the one that describes your goods. Rates of notification 77/2023-Customs (N.T.) as amended, in force on 19 Oct 2026.
Export policy (DGFT ITC(HS) Schedule 2) of its tariff items
- Free: 7 tariff items
What buyers pay abroad: import duty in the US, UK, EU and Australia for 3401 19, and China's below.
China: the same goods (3401 19)
China shares the first 6 digits with India and splits them into 10-digit codes of its own: 3 in force and 1 expired under 3401 19. Exporters see what China charges Indian goods; importers see the rebate and licences their Chinese supplier deals with.
| China code | Goods | Duty on Indian goods | MFN | Import VAT | Export rebate | Licences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3401.19.10.00 | Laundry soap洗衣皂 | 6.5%MFN rate (no APTA concession on this line) | 6.5% | 13% | 13% | None |
| 3401.19.90.10 | Other mercury-containing skin-lightening soap, in bars, blocks or moulded shapes, and paper, wadding, felt and nonwovens, impregnated, coated or covered with soap其他含汞亮肤肥皂,条状、块状或模制形状的,以及用肥皂浸渍、涂面或包覆的纸、絮胎、毡呢及无纺织物 | 6.5%MFN rate (no APTA concession on this line) | 6.5% | 13% | 13% | 89 |
| 3401.19.90.90 | Other organic surface-active products and preparations其他有机表面活性产品及制品 | 6.5%MFN rate (no APTA concession on this line) | 6.5% | 13% | 13% | None |
- India is a member of the Asia-Pacific Trade Agreement (APTA). With an APTA certificate of origin, Indian goods pay China's APTA rate where the line has one; China applies the lower of that and its provisional rate.
- The export VAT rebate is what China refunds its own exporters. When China cuts it, Chinese export prices tend to rise.
Every Chinese code in full
3401.19.10Laundry soap, in bars, blocks or moulded shapes
3401.19.10.00Laundry soap洗衣皂
In bars, blocks or moulded forms呈条状、块状或模制形状的
- Unit
- kg
- MFN import duty
- 6.5%
- Provisional import duty
- None
- General import duty
- 80%
- Import VAT
- 13%
- Consumption tax
- 0%
- Export duty
- 0%
- Provisional export duty
- None
- Export VAT rebate
- 13%
- Updated by China
- 23 Aug 2026
Licences and certificates
None.
Inspection and quarantine
None.
What the customs declaration must state
- 0.Brand type品牌类型
- 1.Export preferential status出口享惠情况
- 2.Ingredient content成分含量
- 3.Appearance外观
- 4.Packing specifications包装规格
- 5.Brand (Chinese or foreign names)品牌(中文或外文名称)
- 6.Model型号
- 7.GTIN
- 8.CAS
- 9.Other其他
China's agreement rates
- ASEAN
- 0%
- Chile
- 0%
- Pakistan
- 1.5%
- New Zealand
- 0%
- Peru
- 0%
- Costa Rica
- 0%
- Switzerland
- 0%
- Iceland
- 0%
- Australia
- 0%
- Georgia
- 0%
- Mauritius
- 0%
- Maldives
- 0%
- Cambodia
- 0%
- Nicaragua
- 0%
- Ecuador
- 0%
- Serbia
- 0%
- Hong Kong
- 0%
- Macao
- 0%
RCEP rates
- Australia
- 6.5%
- Brunei
- 6.5%
- Cambodia
- 6.5%
- Laos
- 6.5%
- Malaysia
- 6.5%
- New Zealand
- 6.5%
- Singapore
- 6.5%
- Thailand
- 6.5%
- Vietnam
- 6.5%
- Indonesia
- 6.5%
- Philippines
- 6.5%
- Myanmar
- 6.5%
CIQ codes
- 3401191000999Laundry soap (in bars, cakes or moulded shapes)洗衣皂(呈条状、块状或模制形状的)
3401.19.90Soap and organic surface-active products in bars, etc., n.e.s.
3401.19.90.10Other mercury-containing skin-lightening soap, in bars, blocks or moulded shapes, and paper, wadding, felt and nonwovens, impregnated, coated or covered with soap其他含汞亮肤肥皂,条状、块状或模制形状的,以及用肥皂浸渍、涂面或包覆的纸、絮胎、毡呢及无纺织物
- Unit
- kg
- MFN import duty
- 6.5%
- Provisional import duty
- None
- General import duty
- 130%
- Import VAT
- 13%
- Consumption tax
- 0%
- Export duty
- 0%
- Provisional export duty
- None
- Export VAT rebate
- 13%
- Updated by China
- 23 Aug 2026
Licences and certificates
- 8Export prohibited禁止出口商品
- 9Import prohibited禁止进口商品
Inspection and quarantine
None.
What the customs declaration must state
- 0.Brand type品牌类型
- 1.Export preferential status出口享惠情况
- 2.Ingredient content成分含量
- 3.Appearance外观
- 4.Packing specifications包装规格
- 5.Brand (Chinese or foreign names)品牌(中文或外文名称)
- 6.Model型号
- 7.GTIN
- 8.CAS
- 9.Other其他
China's agreement rates
- ASEAN
- 0%
- Chile
- 0%
- Pakistan
- 0%
- New Zealand
- 0%
- Peru
- 0%
- Costa Rica
- 0%
- Switzerland
- 0%
- Iceland
- 0%
- Australia
- 0%
- South Korea
- 0%
- Georgia
- 0%
- Mauritius
- 0%
- Maldives
- 0%
- Cambodia
- 0%
- Nicaragua
- 0%
- Ecuador
- 0%
- Serbia
- 2.6%
- Hong Kong
- 0%
- Macao
- 0%
RCEP rates
- Australia
- 0%
- Brunei
- 0%
- Cambodia
- 0%
- South Korea
- 7.5%
- Laos
- 0%
- Malaysia
- 0%
- New Zealand
- 0%
- Singapore
- 0%
- Thailand
- 0%
- Vietnam
- 0%
- Japan
- 8.2%
- Indonesia
- 0%
- Philippines
- 0%
- Myanmar
- 0%
CIQ codes
- 3401199010999Other mercury-containing skin-lightening soaps, in bars, cakes or moulded shapes, and paper, wadding, felt and nonwovens impregnated, coated or covered with soap (mercury content exceeding 1 part per million)其他含汞亮肤肥皂,条状、块状或模制形状的,以及用肥皂浸渍、涂面或包覆的纸、絮胎、毡呢及无纺织物(含汞量超过百万分之一)
3401.19.90.90Other organic surface-active products and preparations其他有机表面活性产品及制品
Incl. paper, wadding and nonwovens, impregnated, coated or covered with soap or detergent包括用肥皂或洗涤剂浸、涂或包覆的纸、絮胎及无纺织物
- Unit
- kg
- MFN import duty
- 6.5%
- Provisional import duty
- None
- General import duty
- 130%
- Import VAT
- 13%
- Consumption tax
- 0%
- Export duty
- 0%
- Provisional export duty
- None
- Export VAT rebate
- 13%
- Updated by China
- 23 Aug 2026
Licences and certificates
None.
Inspection and quarantine
None.
What the customs declaration must state
- 0.Brand type品牌类型
- 1.Export preferential status出口享惠情况
- 2.Ingredient content成分含量
- 3.Appearance外观
- 4.Packing specifications包装规格
- 5.Brand (Chinese or foreign names)品牌(中文或外文名称)
- 6.Model型号
- 7.GTIN
- 8.CAS
- 9.Other其他
China's agreement rates
- ASEAN
- 0%
- Chile
- 0%
- Pakistan
- 0%
- New Zealand
- 0%
- Peru
- 0%
- Costa Rica
- 0%
- Switzerland
- 0%
- Iceland
- 0%
- Australia
- 0%
- South Korea
- 0%
- Georgia
- 0%
- Mauritius
- 0%
- Maldives
- 0%
- Cambodia
- 0%
- Nicaragua
- 0%
- Ecuador
- 0%
- Serbia
- 2.6%
- Hong Kong
- 0%
- Macao
- 0%
RCEP rates
- Australia
- 0%
- Brunei
- 0%
- Cambodia
- 0%
- South Korea
- 7.5%
- Laos
- 0%
- Malaysia
- 0%
- New Zealand
- 0%
- Singapore
- 0%
- Thailand
- 0%
- Vietnam
- 0%
- Japan
- 8.2%
- Indonesia
- 0%
- Philippines
- 0%
- Myanmar
- 0%
CIQ codes
- 3401199090999Other organic surface-active products and preparations (including paper, wadding and nonwovens, impregnated, coated or covered with soap or detergent)其他有机表面活性产品及制品(包括用肥皂或洗涤剂浸、涂或包覆的纸、絮胎及无纺织物)
3401.19.90.00Other organic surface-active products and preparations其他有机表面活性产品及制品Expired
Incl. paper, wadding and nonwovens, impregnated, coated or covered with soap or detergent包括用肥皂或洗涤剂浸、涂或包覆的纸、絮胎及无纺织物
- Unit
- kg
- MFN import duty
- 6.5%
- Provisional import duty
- None
- General import duty
- 130%
- Import VAT
- 13%
- Consumption tax
- None
- Export duty
- 0%
- Provisional export duty
- None
- Export VAT rebate
- 13%
- Updated by China
- 4 Jan 2021
Licences and certificates
None.
Inspection and quarantine
None.
What the customs declaration must state
- 0.Brand type品牌类型
- 1.Export preferential status出口享惠情况
- 2.Ingredient content成分含量
- 3.Appearance外观
- 4.Packing specifications包装规格
- 5.Composition of impregnating preparations浸渍物的成分
- 6.Brand品牌
- 7.Model [Article No.]型号[货号]
- 8.GTIN
- 9.CAS
China's agreement rates
- ASEAN
- 0%
- Chile
- 0%
- Pakistan
- 0%
- New Zealand
- 0%
- Peru
- 0%
- Costa Rica
- 0%
- Switzerland
- 3%
- Iceland
- 0%
- Australia
- 0%
- South Korea
- 4.5%
- Georgia
- 0%
- Mauritius
- 0%
CIQ codes
- 3401199000101Other organic surface-active products and preparations (including paper, wadding, felt and nonwovens, impregnated, coated or covered with soap or detergent) (facial cleansing products)其他有机表面活性产品及制品(包括用肥皂或洗涤剂浸、涂或包覆的纸、絮胎及无纺织物)(面部用清洁品)
- 3401199000102Other organic surface-active products and preparations (including paper, wadding, felt and nonwovens, impregnated, coated or covered with soap or detergent) (Bath preparations and hand cleaning products)其他有机表面活性产品及制品(包括用肥皂或洗涤剂浸、涂或包覆的纸、絮胎及无纺织物)(沐浴制剂及手部清洁品)
- 3401199000103Other organic surface-active preparations and articles (incl. paper, wadding, felt and nonwovens, impregnated, coated or covered with soap or detergent) (other cosmetic preparations for the skin)其他有机表面活性产品及制品(包括用肥皂或洗涤剂浸、涂或包覆的纸、絮胎及无纺织物)(其他肤用化妆品)
- 3401199000104Other organic surface-active products and preparations (including paper, wadding, felt and nonwovens, impregnated, coated or covered with soap or detergent) (semi-finished cosmetic products)其他有机表面活性产品及制品(包括用肥皂或洗涤剂浸、涂或包覆的纸、絮胎及无纺织物)(化妆品半成品)
- 3401199000105Other organic surface-active products and preparations (incl. paper, wadding and nonwovens, impregnated, coated or covered with soap or detergent) (saponin mother liquor)其他有机表面活性产品及制品(包括用肥皂或洗涤剂浸、涂或包覆的纸、絮胎及无纺织物)(皂素母液)
China's tariff as compiled by HS编码网 from China Customs, the State Council Tariff Commission and the State Taxation Administration. The Chinese is the original.
Nearby codes
Previous3401 11For toilet use (including medicated products)One level up3401Soap, organic surface-active products and preparations for use as soap, in the form of bars, cakes, moulded pieces or shapes, whether or not containing soap, organic surface-active products and preparations for washing the skin, in the form of liquid or cream and put up for retail sale, whether or not containing soap, paper, wadding, felt and nonwovens, impregnated, coated or covered with soap or detergentNext3401 30Organic surface-active products and preparations for washing the skin, in the form of liquid or cream and put up for retail sale, whether or not containing soap
Sources
- GSTN HSN code masterChecked 13 Oct 2026
- DGFT ITC(HS) import and export policyChecked 9 Oct 2026
- GST rate per HSN (archived GSTZen extract)Checked 29 Sep 2026
- Customs Tariff of India (First Schedule): sections, chapters, notes and statutory BCDChecked 19 Oct 2026
- GST rates on goods, before and after 22 September 2025Checked 18 Oct 2026
- BIS compulsory certification: products and Quality Control OrdersChecked 18 Oct 2026
- Anti-dumping, countervailing and safeguard duties in force (India)Checked 19 Oct 2026
- India's export duty (Second Schedule to the Customs Tariff Act and notifications 27/2011, 55/2022, 22/2024)Checked 18 Oct 2026
- India's All Industry Rates of duty drawback (notification 77/2023-Customs (N.T.))Checked 19 Oct 2026
- China customs tariff (HS编码网)Checked 19 Oct 2026
For information, not a customs ruling. Only notifications published in the Gazette have legal force; confirm the duty with your customs broker or ICEGATE before you price a deal.