Petroleum jelly — HTS 2712
Petroleum jelly; paraffin wax, microcrystalline petroleum wax, slack wax, ozokerite, lignite wax, peat wax, other mineral waxes and similar products obtained by synthesis or by other processes, whether or not colored
Chapter 27 › Heading 2712
2026 HTS Rev 19 Synced Rules verified Operational
Written to help non-specialists understand this page. Rates, dates, and legal facts come from the official records above and on the linked source.
HTS heading 2712 is a four-digit product category for petroleum-based and other mineral wax materials, plus similar products made by synthesis or other processes. It groups products such as petroleum jelly, paraffin wax, microcrystalline petroleum wax, slack wax, ozokerite, lignite wax, peat wax, and related mineral waxes. Products may be colored or uncolored, but color alone usually does not determine the complete classification.
To reach the correct eight-digit HTSUS subheading, first identify the product’s primary material and technical type. Then review the more specific subheadings and any applicable legal notes, such as distinctions based on whether the product is petroleum jelly, paraffin wax, microcrystalline wax, slack wax, another named mineral wax, or a product obtained by synthesis. Product composition, refining, physical form, and intended use may help distinguish close alternatives, but the tariff wording and supporting classification guidance control.
What to check
- Obtain the supplier’s technical data sheet, specification, and manufacturing description before classifying the product.
- Confirm whether the product is a named wax or petroleum jelly, and identify its composition, refining level, and any synthetic or blended ingredients.
- Compare the product’s characteristics with every applicable eight-digit subheading and read the relevant section, chapter, and heading notes.
- Do not choose a code based only on marketing name, color, packaging, or intended use; verify the actual material and manufacturing process.
- For borderline mixtures, unusual formulations, or uncertain wax types, ask a customs broker or seek a binding classification ruling from the appropriate customs authority.
HTS heading 2712 summary
Petroleum jelly is a 4-digit product category containing 2 published product-code lines in this snapshot. A heading does not carry one universal duty rate; classification must be narrowed to the line matching the product facts.
How to find your code in this category
A heading is a product category. To get the exact duty, narrow from this 4-digit heading to a sub-category (usually by material), then open the 8-digit code that matches your product.
Open any code in the tables below to see its exact duty rate, a duty calculator (enter your shipment value → estimated duty and landed cost), the rate-change history chart, and the country-by-country breakdown (including Section 301/232 add-on duties).
Why you have to click in: a single category can contain products with very different duties. The rate depends on the specific product — its material and construction — and on the country of origin, and those only get pinned down at the 8-digit code level. That is why this page points you to codes instead of showing one rate for the whole category.
Sub-categories
| Code | Description |
|---|---|
| 2712.90 | Other |
Product codes & duty rates
👇 Each row is a specific product code — click a blue code to open its full page with exact duty rates by country, the rate-history chart, and a duty calculator. 👉
| Code | Description | General (MFN) | Special | Column 2 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2712.10.00.00 👉 | Petroleum jelly | Free | — | Free |
| 2712.20.00.00 👉 | Paraffin wax containing by weight less than 0.75 percent of oil | Free | — | 2.2¢/kg |
"Special" shows the free-trade-agreement rate; open a code to see exactly which countries qualify.
Common questions
What products fall under HTS heading 2712?
Petroleum jelly; paraffin wax, microcrystalline petroleum wax, slack wax, ozokerite, lignite wax, peat wax, other mineral waxes and similar products obtained by synthesis or by other processes, whether or not colored. To classify a specific item you must pick the matching sub-category and 8-digit code above; the right choice usually depends on the material and construction of the product.
How do I choose the right code within this category?
Start from the sub-categories (typically divided by material—for example cotton versus man-made fibers), then open the active 8- or 10-digit code that matches the product. When unsure, a licensed customs broker or a CBP binding ruling can confirm the classification.
Reference information only, not customs, legal, or classification advice. Confirm the current code and rate against the official HTS before you import.