HS Code 3211
Prepared Liquid Driers
HS code 3211 covers prepared liquid driers, such as metallic soaps, used as additives to accelerate the curing of paints and varnishes.
4-digit Section VILCL Hazmat 3
HS Code 3211 — Prepared Liquid Driers
Driers are chemical additives (usually metallic soaps) that speed up the drying process of oil-based paints and varnishes. They work by promoting the oxidation and polymerisation of the drying oils.
What's included
- Cobalt naphthenate driers
- Manganese driers
- Lead driers (industrial)
- Zirconium driers
What's excluded
- Metallic soaps not prepared as driers → use
2915(Unmixed chemical soaps are classified by their organic chemical structure.)
Common examples
- Liquid Cobalt 6% Drier
- Calcium octoate paint additive
- Combi-drier for alkyd resin paints
Frequently asked questions
Are these the same as desiccants like silica gel?
No, 3211 driers are chemical additives for liquids, while silica gel (3824) absorbs moisture from the air.
Trade & shipping notes
- Typical duty range: 3% - 6.5%
- Documentation: High sensitivity to heavy metal regulations; lead-based driers are banned in many consumer applications.
- Typical shipping mode: LCL
- Top exporters: Germany, United Kingdom, India
- Top importers: United States, China, Turkey
Related HS codes
Key takeaway
A critical additive for the alkyd paint industry; subject to strict chemical safety monitoring.
Related HS codes
Tired of HS code lookups?
CargoMode extracts HS codes directly from commercial invoices, packing lists, and CMRs — no manual lookup, no transcription errors.