Polymers of ethylene, in primary forms
12 declarable lines
Heading 3901 covers polymers of ethylene in primary forms, meaning raw resin in pellets, granules, powder or similar bulk shapes rather than finished plastic articles. The heading splits first by type of polymer: polyethylene by specific gravity, ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymers, ethylene-alpha-olefin copolymers, and a residual other group. Within polyethylene, the break is by specific gravity (below 0.94 or 0.94 and above), then by relative viscosity and density type.
Products in this heading
- Low density polyethylene resin pellets
- Linear low density polyethylene granules
- High density polyethylene molding resin
- Ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymer resin pellets
- Ethylene-alpha-olefin copolymer resin with specific gravity below 0.94
- Elastomeric ethylene polymer resin
- Ethylene copolymer resin in powder form
How to choose the right subheading
- Specific gravity of the polyethylene: less than 0.94 or 0.94 and more
- Whether the polymer has a relative viscosity of 1.44 or more
- Density type within low specific gravity polyethylene: linear low density, low density, or medium density
- Whether the product is a copolymer such as ethylene-vinyl acetate or ethylene-alpha-olefin rather than plain polyethylene
- Whether the polymer is elastomeric
Often confused with
- Heading 3920Polyethylene film in rolls
Once the resin is made into noncellular film or sheet, it leaves chapter 39 primary forms and goes to 3920.
- Heading 3923Polyethylene bags for packing goods
Bags and other packing articles of plastics are finished goods of 3923, not primary-form resin.
- Heading 3915Polyethylene scrap and regrind
Waste, parings and scrap of plastics are classified in 3915.
- Heading 3902Polypropylene resin pellets
Polymers of propylene belong to heading 3902, not 3901.
- Heading 3926Plastic household articles made from polyethylene
Finished articles of plastics are classified in 3926, not in the resin heading.
Frequently asked questions
What is the HTS code for low density polyethylene resin?
Low density polyethylene, other than linear low density, with a specific gravity below 0.94 is 3901.10.50.20, dutiable at 6.5% general (MFN). Linear low density polyethylene is 3901.10.50.10, also 6.5% general (MFN).
What is the duty on high density polyethylene?
Polyethylene with a specific gravity of 0.94 or more, other than material with a relative viscosity of 1.44 or more, is 3901.20.50.00 at 6.5% general (MFN). The relative viscosity variant is 3901.20.10.00, also 6.5% general (MFN).
How do I classify ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymer resin?
Most ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymers go in 3901.30.60.00 at 5.3% general (MFN). Vinyl acetate-vinyl chloride-ethylene terpolymers containing by weight less than 50% derivatives of vinyl acetate, except those polymerized from aromatic or modified aromatic monomers, go in 3901.30.20.00 and are free.
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.
All lines in heading 3901
- 3901.10.10.00Having a relative viscosity of 1.44 or more6.5%
- 3901.10.50.10Linear low density polyethylene6.5%
- 3901.10.50.20Low density polyethylene, except linear low density polyethylene6.5%
- 3901.10.50.30Polyethylene having a specific gravity of less than 0.94 / Medium density polyethylene6.5%
- 3901.20.10.00Having a relative viscosity of 1.44 or more6.5%
- 3901.20.50.00Polyethylene having a specific gravity of 0.94 or more / Other6.5%
- 3901.30.20.00Vinyl acetate-vinyl chloride-ethylene terpolymers, containing by weight less than 50 percent derivatives of vinyl acetate, except those polymerized from aromatic or modified aromatic monomersFree
- 3901.30.60.00Ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymers / Other5.3%
- 3901.40.00.00Ethylene-alpha-olefin copolymers, having a specific gravity of less than 0.946.5%
- 3901.90.10.00Polymers of ethylene, in primary forms / ElastomericFree
- 3901.90.55.01Polymers of ethylene, in primary forms / Ethylene copolymers6.5%
- 3901.90.90.00Polymers of ethylene, in primary forms / Other6.5%