Sodium hydroxide — HTS 2815
Sodium hydroxide (Caustic soda); potassium hydroxide (Caustic potash); peroxides of sodium or potassium
Chapter 28 › Heading 2815
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 2815 is a four-digit product category for certain strong alkalis and related chemicals. It groups sodium hydroxide (caustic soda), potassium hydroxide (caustic potash), and peroxides of sodium or potassium. These products may be supplied in different physical forms, such as solid or liquid, depending on the product and the applicable subheading structure.
To reach the correct eight-digit HTSUS code, first identify the chemical substance, then check the relevant product distinctions in the official tariff schedule. The narrowing process may depend on the material, chemical form, concentration, or another listed characteristic. The product’s technical documentation and the exact wording of the tariff provisions should control; when the distinction is unclear, a customs broker or classification specialist may be needed.
What to check
- Confirm whether the product is sodium hydroxide, potassium hydroxide, sodium peroxide, or potassium peroxide; do not classify by a marketing name alone.
- Check the product’s chemical identity, formulation, concentration, and physical form against the subheadings and statistical suffixes in the current HTSUS.
- Review the safety data sheet (SDS), certificate of analysis, product specification, and commercial invoice for consistent chemical details.
- Do not assume that a mixture, solution, preparation, or specially packaged product belongs in the same provision as the pure chemical; verify the legal notes and wording.
- Record the reasoning and supporting documents, and ask a customs broker or seek a binding ruling if the available subheadings do not clearly fit.
HTS heading 2815 summary
Sodium hydroxide is a 4-digit product category containing 4 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.
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2815.11.00.00 👉 | Solid | Free | — | 1.1¢/kg |
| 2815.12.00.00 👉 | In aqueous solution (Soda lye or liquid soda) | Free | — | 1.1¢/kg |
| 2815.20.00 👉 | Potassium hydroxide (Caustic potash) | Free | — | 2.2¢/kg |
| 2815.30.00.00 👉 | Peroxides of sodium or potassium | 3.7% | Free | 25% |
"Special" shows the free-trade-agreement rate; open a code to see exactly which countries qualify.
Common questions
What products fall under HTS heading 2815?
Sodium hydroxide (Caustic soda); potassium hydroxide (Caustic potash); peroxides of sodium or potassium. 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.