Subheading · Chapter 29 · Section VI, Products of the chemical or allied industries
HS 2916 31Benzoic acid, its salts and esters
Organic chemicals › Unsaturated acyclic monocarboxylic acids, cyclic monocarboxylic acids, their anhydrides, halides, peroxides and peroxyacids, their halogenated, sulphonated, nitrated or nitrosated derivatives
- Customs duty
- 7.5%
- 7 tariff items
- GST now
- 5% or 18%
- depending on the goods
- Import policy
- Free
- Export policy
- Free
- Unit
- kg
- Duty in China
- 6.5%
- On Indian goods
Codes under this subheading
7 codes. Duty and GST are set on the 8-digit tariff items; open the one that describes your goods.
| Code | Description | Customs duty | GST now | Unit |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2916 31 10 | Benzoic acid | 7.5% | 5% or 18% | kg |
| 2916 31 20 | Benzyl benzoate | 7.5% | 5% or 18% | kg |
| 2916 31 30 | Methyl benzoate | 7.5% | 5% or 18% | kg |
| 2916 31 40 | Sodium benzoate | 7.5% | 5% or 18% | kg |
| 2916 31 50 | Benzocaine (ethylpara-amino benzoate) | 7.5% | 5% or 18% | kg |
| 2916 31 60 | Orthochloro benzoic acid | 7.5% | 5% or 18% | kg |
| 2916 31 90 | Other | 7.5% | 5% or 18% | kg |
Importing into India
Duty is set on each 8-digit tariff item: open one of the codes above. Basic customs duty across its 7 tariff items: 7.5%. The rules below cover this whole code.
Anti-dumping, countervailing and safeguard duty in force
- Anti-dumping duty on goods from China and South Korea: reference price USD 378.38–465.94/KG, by origin and producer (until 17 Aug 2027). Ursodeoxycholic Acid (UDCA). 04/2023-ADD
Charged on top of the duty above, only on goods from the countries named.
Import policy (DGFT ITC(HS)) of its tariff items
- Free: 8 tariff items
GST
IGST on imports is the GST rate. Rates changed on 22 September 2025.
- Now 5% or 18%, depending on the goods.
- Until 21 September 2025 12% or 18%, depending on the goods.
- Change: Changed.
The rules that set it now
| Notification | Goods | Rate |
|---|---|---|
| 9/2025-Integrated Tax (Rate)Schedule I, S.No. 222 | Gibberellic aci d | 5% |
| 9/2025-Integrated Tax (Rate)Schedule II, S.No. 36 | All organic chemicals other than giberellic acid | 18% |
History
| Period | Rate | Notification |
|---|---|---|
| Until 21 Sep 2025 | 12% or 18% | 1/2017-Central Tax (Rate) |
| From 22 Sep 2025 | 5% or 18% | 9/2025-Integrated Tax (Rate) |
Exporting from India
Export duty
Nil. The Second Schedule to the Customs Tariff Act does not list these goods, so no export duty is charged.
Duty drawback (All Industry Rates)
| Drawback item | Goods | Rate | Cap |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2916 | Unsaturated acyclic mono-carboxylic acids, cyclic mono-carboxylic acids, their anhydrides, halides, peroxides and peroxyacids; their halogenated, sulphonated, nitrated or nitrosated derivatives | 1.2% | — |
Drawback items follow the 4-digit heading, not the 8-digit code: claim the one that describes your goods. Rates of notification 77/2023-Customs (N.T.) as amended, in force on 19 Oct 2026.
Export policy (DGFT ITC(HS) Schedule 2) of its tariff items
- Free: 8 tariff items
What buyers pay abroad: import duty in the US, UK, EU and Australia for 2916 31, and China's below.
China: the same goods (2916 31)
China shares the first 6 digits with India and splits them into 10-digit codes of its own: 2 in force and 2 expired under 2916 31. Exporters see what China charges Indian goods; importers see the rebate and licences their Chinese supplier deals with.
| China code | Goods | Duty on Indian goods | MFN | Import VAT | Export rebate | Licences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2916.31.00.10 | Ethyl benzoate苯甲酸乙酯 | 6.5%MFN rate (no APTA concession on this line) | 6.5% | 13% | 13% | ABGNMRS |
| 2916.31.00.90 | Other benzoic acid, its salts and esters其他苯甲酸及其盐和酯 | 6.5%MFN rate (no APTA concession on this line) | 6.5% | 13% | 13% | ABRSMN |
- India is a member of the Asia-Pacific Trade Agreement (APTA). With an APTA certificate of origin, Indian goods pay China's APTA rate where the line has one; China applies the lower of that and its provisional rate.
- The export VAT rebate is what China refunds its own exporters. When China cuts it, Chinese export prices tend to rise.
Every Chinese code in full
2916.31.00Benzoic acid, its salts and esters
2916.31.00.10Ethyl benzoate苯甲酸乙酯
CAS93-89-0
- Unit
- kg
- MFN import duty
- 6.5%
- Provisional import duty
- None
- General import duty
- 30%
- Import VAT
- 13%
- Consumption tax
- 0%
- Export duty
- 0%
- Provisional export duty
- None
- Export VAT rebate
- 13%
- Updated by China
- 23 Aug 2026
Licences and certificates
- AInbound goods clearance (inspection and quarantine)入境货物通关单
- BOutbound goods clearance (inspection and quarantine)出境货物通关单
- GDual-use items and technologies export licence (targeted)两用物项和技术出口许可证(定向)
Inspection and quarantine
- NExport commodity inspection出口商品检验
- MImport commodity inspection进口商品检验
- RImported food hygiene inspection进口食品卫生监督检验
- SExported food hygiene inspection出口食品卫生监督检验
What the customs declaration must state
- 0.Brand type品牌类型
- 1.Export preferential status出口享惠情况
- 2.Ingredient content成分含量
- 3.Use用途
- 4.Packing specifications包装规格
- 5.Brand (Chinese or foreign names)品牌(中文或外文名称)
- 6.Model型号
- 7.GTIN
- 8.CAS
- 9.Other其他
China's agreement rates
- ASEAN
- 0%
- Chile
- 0%
- Pakistan
- 4%
- New Zealand
- 0%
- Peru
- 0%
- Costa Rica
- 0%
- Iceland
- 0%
- Australia
- 0%
- South Korea
- 0%
- Georgia
- 0%
- Mauritius
- 0%
- Maldives
- 0%
- Cambodia
- 0%
- Nicaragua
- 0%
- Ecuador
- 0%
- Serbia
- 0%
- Hong Kong
- 0%
- Macao
- 0%
RCEP rates
- Australia
- 0%
- Brunei
- 0%
- Cambodia
- 0%
- South Korea
- 3.3%
- Laos
- 0%
- Malaysia
- 0%
- New Zealand
- 0%
- Singapore
- 0%
- Thailand
- 0%
- Vietnam
- 0%
- Japan
- 3.5%
- Indonesia
- 0%
- Philippines
- 0%
- Myanmar
- 0%
CIQ codes
- 2916310010301Ethyl benzoate (CAS No. 93-89-0) (no quarantine requirements, food additives)苯甲酸乙酯(CAS号93-89-0)(无检疫要求食品添加剂)
- 2916310010302Ethyl benzoate (CAS No. 93-89-0) (Chemicals declared for industrial use only, not for food additives, no quarantine requirements)苯甲酸乙酯(CAS号93-89-0)(需申报仅用于工业用途不用于食品添加剂无检疫要求的化学品)
- 2916310010303Ethyl benzoate (CAS No. 93-89-0) (other chemicals, not for use as food additives)苯甲酸乙酯(CAS号93-89-0)(其他化工品,不用作食品添加剂)
- 2916310010304Ethyl benzoate (CAS 93-89-0) (other chemicals, for use as food additive)苯甲酸乙酯(CAS号93-89-0)(其他化工品,用作食品添加剂)
2916.31.00.90Other benzoic acid, its salts and esters其他苯甲酸及其盐和酯
- Unit
- kg
- MFN import duty
- 6.5%
- Provisional import duty
- None
- General import duty
- 30%
- Import VAT
- 13%
- Consumption tax
- 0%
- Export duty
- 0%
- Provisional export duty
- None
- Export VAT rebate
- 13%
- Updated by China
- 2 Apr 2026
Licences and certificates
- AInbound goods clearance (inspection and quarantine)入境货物通关单
- BOutbound goods clearance (inspection and quarantine)出境货物通关单
Inspection and quarantine
- RImported food hygiene inspection进口食品卫生监督检验
- SExported food hygiene inspection出口食品卫生监督检验
- MImport commodity inspection进口商品检验
- NExport commodity inspection出口商品检验
What the customs declaration must state
- 0.Brand type品牌类型
- 1.Export preferential status出口享惠情况
- 2.Ingredient content成分含量
- 3.Use用途
- 4.Packing specifications包装规格
- 5.Brand (Chinese or foreign names)品牌(中文或外文名称)
- 6.Model型号
- 7.GTIN
- 8.CAS
- 9.Other其他
China's agreement rates
- ASEAN
- 0%
- Chile
- 0%
- Pakistan
- 4%
- New Zealand
- 0%
- Peru
- 0%
- Costa Rica
- 0%
- Iceland
- 0%
- Australia
- 0%
- South Korea
- 0%
- Georgia
- 0%
- Mauritius
- 0%
- Maldives
- 0%
- Cambodia
- 0%
- Nicaragua
- 0%
- Ecuador
- 0%
- Serbia
- 0%
- Hong Kong
- 0%
- Macao
- 0%
RCEP rates
- Australia
- 0%
- Brunei
- 0%
- Cambodia
- 0%
- South Korea
- 3.3%
- Laos
- 0%
- Malaysia
- 0%
- New Zealand
- 0%
- Singapore
- 0%
- Thailand
- 0%
- Vietnam
- 0%
- Japan
- 3.5%
- Indonesia
- 0%
- Philippines
- 0%
- Myanmar
- 0%
CIQ codes
- 2916310090101Other benzoic acid, its salts and esters (feed additives)其他苯甲酸及其盐和酯(饲料添加剂)
- 2916310090301Other benzoic acid, its salts and esters (dangerous chemicals, not for use as food additives)其他苯甲酸及其盐和酯(危险化学品,不用作食品添加剂)
- 2916310090302Other benzoic acid, its salts and esters (dangerous chemicals, used as food additives)其他苯甲酸及其盐和酯(危险化学品,用作食品添加剂)
- 2916310090303Other benzoic acid, its salts and esters (other chemicals, not for use as food additives)其他苯甲酸及其盐和酯(其他化工品,不用作食品添加剂)
- 2916310090304Other benzoic acid, its salts and esters (other chemicals, used as food additives)其他苯甲酸及其盐和酯(其他化工品,用作食品添加剂)
2916.31.00.00Other benzoic acid, its salts and esters其他苯甲酸及其盐和酯Expired
- Unit
- kg
- MFN import duty
- 6.5%
- Provisional import duty
- None
- General import duty
- 30%
- Import VAT
- 13%
- Consumption tax
- None
- Export duty
- 0%
- Provisional export duty
- None
- Export VAT rebate
- 13%
- Updated by China
- 1 Oct 2024
Licences and certificates
- AInbound goods clearance (inspection and quarantine)入境货物通关单
- BOutbound goods clearance (inspection and quarantine)出境货物通关单
Inspection and quarantine
- NExport commodity inspection出口商品检验
- MImport commodity inspection进口商品检验
- RImported food hygiene inspection进口食品卫生监督检验
- SExported food hygiene inspection出口食品卫生监督检验
What the customs declaration must state
- 0.Brand type品牌类型
- 1.Export preferential status出口享惠情况
- 2.Ingredient content成分含量
- 3.Use用途
- 4.GTIN
- 5.CAS
- 6.Other其他
RCEP rates
- Australia
- 0%
- Brunei
- 0%
- Cambodia
- 0%
- Laos
- 0%
- Malaysia
- 0%
- New Zealand
- 0%
- Singapore
- 0%
- Thailand
- 0%
- Vietnam
- 0%
- Japan
- 5.9%
CIQ codes
- 2916310000101Other benzoic acid, its salts and esters (feed additives)其他苯甲酸及其盐和酯(饲料添加剂)
- 2916310000102Other benzoic acid, its salts and esters (2,4,6-trinitrobenzoic acid (dry or with water content < 30%))其他苯甲酸及其盐和酯(2,4,6-三硝基苯甲酸(干的或含水＜30%))
- 2916310000103Other benzoic acid, its salts and esters (trinitrobenzoic acid (water content >= 30%))其他苯甲酸及其盐和酯(三硝基苯甲酸(含水≥30%))
- 2916310000104Other benzoic acid, its salts and esters (3-tert-butylperoxy-3-o-hydroxymethylbenzoic acid lactone (industrial pure))其他苯甲酸及其盐和酯(3-过氧化叔丁基-3-邻羟甲基苯甲酸内酯(工业纯))
- 2916310000105Other benzoic acid, its salts and esters (methyl benzoate) (dangerous chemicals)其他苯甲酸及其盐和酯(苯甲酸甲酯)(危险化学品)
- 2916310000106Other benzoic acid, its salts and esters (p-Nitrobenzoyl chloride)其他苯甲酸及其盐和酯(对硝基苯甲酰氯)
- 2916310000107Other benzoic acid, its salts and esters (3-nitrobenzoyl bromide)其他苯甲酸及其盐和酯(3-硝基苯甲酰溴)
- 2916310000108Other benzoic acid, its salts and esters (sodium methyl p-hydroxybenzoate)其他苯甲酸及其盐和酯(对羟基苯甲酸甲脂钠)
- 2916310000109Other benzoic acid, its salts and esters (sodium benzoate)其他苯甲酸及其盐和酯(苯甲酸钠)
- 2916310000110Other benzoic acid, its salts and esters (methyl p-hydroxybenzoate)其他苯甲酸及其盐和酯(对羟基苯甲酸甲酯)
- 2916310000111Other benzoic acid, its salts and esters (benzoic acid)其他苯甲酸及其盐和酯(苯甲酸)
- 2916310000112Other benzoic acid, its salts and esters (phenethyl benzoate)其他苯甲酸及其盐和酯(苯甲酸苯乙酯)
- 2916310000113Other benzoic acid, its salts and esters (Benzyl benzoate)其他苯甲酸及其盐和酯(苯甲酸苄酯)
- 2916310000114Other benzoic acid, its salts and esters (Propyl benzoate)其他苯甲酸及其盐和酯(苯甲酸丙酯)
- 2916310000115Other benzoic acid, its salts and esters (linalyl benzoate)其他苯甲酸及其盐和酯(苯甲酸芳樟酯)
- 2916310000116Other benzoic acid, its salts and esters (Hexyl benzoate)其他苯甲酸及其盐和酯(苯甲酸己酯)
- 2916310000117Other benzoic acid, its salts and esters (Methylthiobenzoate)其他苯甲酸及其盐和酯(苯甲酸甲硫醇酯)
- 2916310000118Other benzoic acid, its salts and esters (cis-3-hexenyl benzoate (leaf alcohol benzoate))其他苯甲酸及其盐和酯(苯甲酸顺式-3-己烯酯(苯甲酸叶醇酯))
- 2916310000119Other benzoic acid, its salts and esters (geranyl benzoate)其他苯甲酸及其盐和酯(苯甲酸香叶酯)
- 2916310000120Other benzoic acid, its salts and esters (Ethyl benzoate)其他苯甲酸及其盐和酯(苯甲酸乙酯)
- 2916310000121Other benzoic acid, its salts and esters (isobutyl benzoate)其他苯甲酸及其盐和酯(苯甲酸异丁酯)
- 2916310000122Other benzoic acid, its salts and esters (Benzoic acid and its sodium salts)其他苯甲酸及其盐和酯(苯甲酸及其钠盐)
- 2916310000123Other benzoic acid, its salts and esters (isoamyl benzoate)其他苯甲酸及其盐和酯(苯甲酸异戊酯)
- 2916310000124Other benzoic acid, its salts and esters (methyl benzoate) (hazardous chemical & food additive)其他苯甲酸及其盐和酯(苯甲酸甲酯)(危险化学品&食品添加剂)
- 2916310000301Other benzoic acid, its salts and esters (dangerous chemicals, not for use as food additives)其他苯甲酸及其盐和酯(危险化学品,不用作食品添加剂)
- 2916310000302Other benzoic acid, its salts and esters (dangerous chemicals, used as food additives)其他苯甲酸及其盐和酯(危险化学品,用作食品添加剂)
- 2916310000303Other benzoic acid, its salts and esters (other chemicals, not for use as food additives)其他苯甲酸及其盐和酯(其他化工品,不用作食品添加剂)
- 2916310000304Other benzoic acid, its salts and esters (other chemicals, used as food additives)其他苯甲酸及其盐和酯(其他化工品,用作食品添加剂)
2916.31.00.202-(Acetyloxy)benzoic acid2-(乙酰氧基)苯甲酸Expired
- Unit
- kg
- MFN import duty
- 6.5%
- Provisional import duty
- None
- General import duty
- 30%
- Import VAT
- 17%
- Consumption tax
- 0%
- Export duty
- 0%
- Provisional export duty
- None
- Export VAT rebate
- 0%
- Updated by China
- 30 Dec 2018
Licences and certificates
- SPesticide import/export registration certificate进出口农药登记证明
Inspection and quarantine
None.
What the customs declaration must state
Not listed.
China's agreement rates
- ASEAN
- 0%
- Chile
- 0%
- Pakistan
- 4%
- New Zealand
- 0%
- Peru
- 0%
- Costa Rica
- 0%
- Switzerland
- 0%
- Iceland
- 0%
- Australia
- 0%
- South Korea
- 1.9%
- Georgia
- 0%
- Mauritius
- 0%
China's tariff as compiled by HS编码网 from China Customs, the State Council Tariff Commission and the State Taxation Administration. The Chinese is the original.
Nearby codes
Previous2916 20Cyclanic, cyclenic or cycloterpenic monocarboxylic acids, their anhydrides, halides, peroxides, peroxyacids and their derivativesOne level up2916Unsaturated acyclic monocarboxylic acids, cyclic monocarboxylic acids, their anhydrides, halides, peroxides and peroxyacids, their halogenated, sulphonated, nitrated or nitrosated derivativesNext2916 39Other
Sources
- GSTN HSN code masterChecked 13 Oct 2026
- DGFT ITC(HS) import and export policyChecked 9 Oct 2026
- GST rate per HSN (archived GSTZen extract)Checked 29 Sep 2026
- Customs Tariff of India (First Schedule): sections, chapters, notes and statutory BCDChecked 19 Oct 2026
- GST rates on goods, before and after 22 September 2025Checked 18 Oct 2026
- BIS compulsory certification: products and Quality Control OrdersChecked 18 Oct 2026
- Anti-dumping, countervailing and safeguard duties in force (India)Checked 19 Oct 2026
- India's export duty (Second Schedule to the Customs Tariff Act and notifications 27/2011, 55/2022, 22/2024)Checked 18 Oct 2026
- India's All Industry Rates of duty drawback (notification 77/2023-Customs (N.T.))Checked 19 Oct 2026
- China customs tariff (HS编码网)Checked 19 Oct 2026
For information, not a customs ruling. Only notifications published in the Gazette have legal force; confirm the duty with your customs broker or ICEGATE before you price a deal.