Activated carbon — HTS 3802
Activated carbon; activated natural mineral products; animal black, including spent animal black
Chapter 38 › Heading 3802
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 3802 is a broad 4-digit category for certain porous, carbon-based, and mineral products that have been treated or processed to improve their ability to absorb, filter, decolorize, or otherwise react with substances. It groups activated carbon, activated natural mineral products, and animal black, including spent animal black. Examples may include activated carbon made from different raw materials, activated clays or other natural minerals, and carbon materials made from animal matter.
To reach the correct 8-digit HTS code, start with the product’s legally relevant identity: its material or feedstock, how it was activated or processed, and its specific type or form. The subheadings generally separate products by these characteristics, so do not select a code based only on a trade name such as “filter carbon.” Review the heading and subheading wording, the HTS notes, and any applicable classification guidance. A customs broker or other qualified professional may be needed when the product’s composition or processing is unclear.
What to check
- Confirm the product’s raw material, such as coal, wood, coconut shell, bone, or a natural mineral, using technical specifications or supplier records.
- Check how the product was activated or treated, including whether it is chemically activated, physically activated, calcined, spent, or otherwise modified.
- Read every applicable 4-, 6-, and 8-digit HTS description and the relevant legal notes before choosing a code.
- Do not rely on a brand name, marketing description, particle size, or intended use if the tariff text distinguishes products by composition or processing.
- Keep laboratory data, a safety data sheet, product specifications, and prior classification rulings available to support the classification.
HTS heading 3802 summary
Activated carbon is a 4-digit product category containing 1 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 |
|---|---|
| 3802.90 | 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3802.10.00 👉 | Activated carbon | 4.8% | Free | 45% |
"Special" shows the free-trade-agreement rate; open a code to see exactly which countries qualify.
Common questions
What products fall under HTS heading 3802?
Activated carbon; activated natural mineral products; animal black, including spent animal black. 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.