Polyamides in primary forms
3 declarable lines
Heading 3908 covers polyamides in primary forms: resins, granules, pellets, powders, flakes and similar unformed masses, before they are made into film, fiber or finished parts. It splits three ways: a line for the named polyamide types (nylon 6, 11, 12, 6,6, 6,9, 6,10 and 6,12), a duty-free line for one specified copolymer, and a residual line for all other polyamides and polyamide blends.
Products in this heading
- Nylon 6 resin pellets for injection molding
- Nylon 6,6 molding compound in granule form
- Nylon 12 powder for coating or sintering
- Nylon 11 granules for extrusion
- Polyamide hot melt adhesive resin in pellet form
- Reprocessed nylon resin in flake or pellet form
- Polyamide copolymer resin in primary form
How to choose the right subheading
- Identify the exact polyamide type: nylon 6, 11, 12, 6,6, 6,9, 6,10 or 6,12 falls in the named line; anything else goes to the residual line.
- Check whether the product is the specified bis(4-amino-3-methylcyclohexyl)methane-isophthalic acid-laurolactam copolymer, which has its own free line.
- Confirm the goods are in a primary form such as liquid, paste, powder, granule, flake or lump, not a semi-manufactured shape.
- For blends or copolymers of polyamides, decide whether the named-type line applies or whether the residual line is the correct fit.
- Check whether the goods are scrap or a finished plastics article, since both are excluded from this heading.
Often confused with
- Heading 3916Nylon monofilament, rods and sticks
Once the polyamide is drawn or shaped into a profile with any cross-section over 1 mm, it leaves the primary forms of 3908.
- Heading 3917Nylon tubes, pipes and hoses
Hollow extruded tubing is a finished plastics article, not a primary form.
- Heading 3920Nylon film and sheet, noncellular and not reinforced
Flat shapes of plastics are classified by form, not by the resin they came from.
- Heading 3909Polyurethane and other amino-resins
Polyurethanes are a separate resin family and are not polyamides.
- Heading 3915Nylon waste, parings and scrap
Scrap of plastics has its own heading even when the material is a polyamide.
Frequently asked questions
What is the HTS code for nylon 6 pellets?
Nylon 6 in primary form is classified under 3908.10.00.00, which carries a general (MFN) rate of 6.3%.
What is the duty on polyamide resin?
The named polyamide types under 3908.10.00.00 pay a general (MFN) rate of 6.3%. Other polyamides and blends fall under 3908.90.70.00 at a general (MFN) rate of 6.5%.
How do I classify a polyamide that is not nylon 6, 11, 12, 6,6, 6,9, 6,10 or 6,12?
It goes in the residual line 3908.90.70.00 at a general (MFN) rate of 6.5%, unless it is the specified copolymer of 3908.90.20.00, which is 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.