Polymers of ethylene — HTS 3901
Polymers of ethylene, in primary forms
Chapter 39 › Heading 3901
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 3901 is a broad product category for polymers of ethylene presented in “primary forms.” It generally covers ethylene-based plastics supplied as materials such as granules, pellets, powders, flakes, liquids, pastes, or similar bulk forms, rather than finished products made from those materials. The heading can include different polyethylene and ethylene-copolymer materials.
To reach a specific 8-digit HTSUS code, start with the product’s technical identity and then follow the subheadings. The classification may depend on the polymer or copolymer type, chemical composition, density, physical form, and other distinctions stated in the tariff. The final digits are the U.S. statistical classification, so use the current HTSUS wording and any applicable notes rather than choosing based only on a commercial name such as “plastic resin.”
What to check
- Obtain the supplier’s technical data sheet, safety data sheet, and composition information, including the polymer type and any comonomers.
- Confirm that the goods are in a primary form, such as pellets, granules, powder, flakes, liquid, or paste, rather than a finished or semi-finished plastic article.
- Check whether the tariff distinguishes the material by density, copolymer content, chemical composition, or another technical characteristic; do not assume similar-sounding polyethylene products share a code.
- Compare the product’s measurable specifications with the exact HTSUS subheading descriptions and relevant chapter or section notes.
- If the composition or tariff distinctions are unclear, ask a customs broker or request a formal classification ruling before relying on the code.
HTS heading 3901 summary
Polymers of ethylene 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 |
|---|---|
| 3901.10 | Polyethylene having a specific gravity of less than 0.94 |
| 3901.20 | Polyethylene having a specific gravity of 0.94 or more |
| 3901.30 | Ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymers |
| 3901.90 | 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3901.40.00.00 👉 | Ethylene-alpha-olefin copolymers, having a specific gravity of less than 0.94 | 6.5% | Free | 43% |
"Special" shows the free-trade-agreement rate; open a code to see exactly which countries qualify.
Common questions
What products fall under HTS heading 3901?
Polymers of ethylene, in primary forms. 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.