Industrial monocarboxylic fatty acids — HTS 3823
Industrial monocarboxylic fatty acids; acid oils from refining; industrial fatty alcohols
Chapter 38 › Heading 3823
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 3823 is a broad product category for certain industrial fatty-acid and related materials. It generally groups industrial monocarboxylic fatty acids, acid oils left from refining, and industrial fatty alcohols. These are usually bulk chemical or processing inputs, not finished consumer products. The heading’s wording is a starting point, not the final tariff classification.
To reach the correct 8-digit HTS code, narrow the product by its material and type, such as whether it is a fatty acid, acid oil, or fatty alcohol, and by the specific composition or technical description listed in the subheadings. Review the product’s formulation, manufacturing process, physical form, and intended industrial use, then compare those facts with the official HTS descriptions and any applicable legal notes. A customs broker or classification specialist may be needed when the product is a mixture or could fit more than one provision.
What to check
- Obtain the supplier’s specification sheet, safety data sheet, certificate of analysis, and ingredient or composition information.
- Confirm whether the product is an industrial fatty acid, an acid oil from refining, or an industrial fatty alcohol before reviewing lower-level subheadings.
- Check the relevant subheadings for distinctions based on material, chemical type, composition, or other stated characteristics—not just the product’s trade name.
- Verify that the product’s condition, purity, processing, and intended use match the selected 8-digit description and any applicable section or chapter notes.
- Document your classification reasoning and seek a binding ruling or qualified customs advice if the composition or heading choice is uncertain.
HTS heading 3823 summary
Industrial monocarboxylic fatty acids is a 4-digit product category containing 3 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 |
|---|---|
| 3823.19 | Other |
| 3823.70 | Industrial fatty alcohols |
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3823.11.00.00 👉 | Stearic acid | 2.1¢/kg + 3.8% | Free | 6.6¢/kg + 25% |
| 3823.12.00.00 👉 | Oleic acid | 2.1¢/kg + 3.2% | Free | 6.6¢/kg + 20% |
| 3823.13.00 👉 | Tall oil fatty acids | 3.2% | Free | 20% |
"Special" shows the free-trade-agreement rate; open a code to see exactly which countries qualify.
Common questions
What products fall under HTS heading 3823?
Industrial monocarboxylic fatty acids; acid oils from refining; industrial fatty alcohols. 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.