Heading 3403

Lubricating preparations (including cutting-oil preparations, bolt or nut release preparations, antirust or anticorrosion preparations and mold release preparations, based on lubricants) and preparations of a kind used for the oil or grease treatment of textile materials, leather, furskins or other materials, but excluding preparations containing, as basic constituents, 70 percent or more by weight of petroleum oils or oils obtained from bituminous minerals

8 declarable lines

Heading 3403 covers lubricating preparations and related treatment preparations for textile materials, leather, furskins and other materials, plus cutting oils, release agents, antirust preparations and mold release preparations based on lubricants. It does not cover preparations containing 70% or more by weight of petroleum oils or oils from bituminous minerals. The heading splits first by whether petroleum oils are present, then by use for material treatment versus other uses, with a 50% petroleum oil threshold in some lines.

Products in this heading

Cutting-oil preparation containing less than 70% petroleum oils
Bolt or nut release spray based on a lubricant
Antirust lubricant preparation
Mold release agent based on a lubricant
Textile oiling preparation containing less than 70% petroleum oils
Leather conditioner based on lubricants
Furskin treatment preparation
Lubricating grease preparation with less than 70% petroleum oils

How to choose the right subheading

Check the petroleum oil content by weight: heading 3403 covers preparations with less than 70% petroleum oils or oils from bituminous minerals.
Decide whether the preparation is for treatment of textile materials, leather, furskins or other materials, or for another use such as cutting oil, release agent or antirust preparation.
For preparations containing petroleum oils, check whether they contain 50% or more by weight, which separates some lines within 3403.11 and 3403.19.
For textile treatment preparations, distinguish those for textile materials from those for leather, furskins or other materials.
For preparations without petroleum oils, use 3403.91 for material treatment and 3403.99 for other residual preparations.

Often confused with

Lubricating oil containing 70% or more by weight of petroleum oils
Heading 3403 excludes preparations with 70% or more petroleum oils as basic constituents.
Heading 2710
Antifreeze preparation
Antifreezing preparations are classified outside the lubricant-based preparations of heading 3403.
Bar soap
Soap and organic surface-active products for use as soap are in heading 3401.
Heading 3401
Furniture polish or cream
Polishes and creams for furniture are in heading 3405, not the lubricant preparations of 3403.
Heading 3405

Frequently asked questions

What is the HTS code for a textile treatment preparation containing 50% or more petroleum oils?

Use 3403.11.20.00; its general (MFN) rate is 0.2%.

What is the duty on a mold release preparation with no petroleum oils?

A mold release preparation that falls in the residual Other line is 3403.99.00.00, with a general (MFN) rate of 6.5%.

How do I classify a leather treatment preparation containing 60% petroleum oils?

Because the petroleum oil content is below 70%, it stays in heading 3403; as a petroleum-oil preparation for leather treatment, it falls to 3403.11.50.00 at a general (MFN) rate of 1.4%.

Guide written from the official schedule text. Rates quoted are general (MFN) rates; check the line page for trade agreement rates and the classification of your exact product.