What Is 2815190117?
2815190117 is part of the Harmonized Tariff Schedule (HTS) used for classifying goods in international trade. Specifically, it’s tied to inorganic chemicals—more precisely, sodium hydroxide, commonly known as caustic soda. This 10digit code drills down into why products move across borders the way they do, how tariffs apply, and which licenses may be required.
The HTS structure works like this: the first 6 digits are harmonized globally, while digits 7 through 10 serve national needs. In this case, 2815 indicates the HTS subheading for sodium or potassium hydroxide. The extra digits ‘190117’ allow U.S. Customs and Border Protection to get specific on country, form, and purpose. If you’re shipping or importing sodium hydroxide into the U.S., 2815190117 is what shows up on your paperwork.
Why It Matters
Getting this wrong can hit your business—hard. Misclassify and you might face unnecessary tariffs, regulatory penalties, or even seizure of goods. Proper classification using 2815190117 ensures your shipments are legal, compliant, and fasttracked through customs. It also affects duties, statistical tracking, and licensing.
Use Cases That Come Up More Than You Think
Don’t think this code is just bureaucratic jargon. Here’s where 2815190117 tends to matter:
Manufacturing: Caustic soda is used in paper making, textiles, petroleum, and chemical production. Cleaning products: It’s a major ingredient in industrial cleaning and soap manufacturing. Water treatment: Used to control pH and neutralize water acidity.
Anyone importing or exporting those materials is directly impacted by 2815190117 in logistics, documentation, and legal compliance.
Compliance and Documentation
When using 2815190117 on shipping documents, you’re not just throwing numbers onto a form. You’re signaling the nature of your cargo to every port, customs officer, and logistics provider in the chain. The code:
Ensures proper duties and taxes get assigned. Allows for accurate countryoforigin tracing. Enables entry under applicable free trade agreements (if any).
Incorrect or vague classification slows everything down. Worst case? Violations, fines, and blocked shipments.
Digital Tools That Help
Gone are the days of flipping through paper tariff books. If you’re handling multiple product codes, here are some tools that streamline the process:
HTS Search Tools: Online platforms like USITC.gov allow quick keyword or codebased search of the HTS database. Customs Brokers Software: They use automated classification systems that flag codes like 2815190117 instantly. ERP Integrations: Many enterprise resource planning tools plug directly into customs databases for realtime classification.
If your business ships chemical products routinely, it’s worth automating this step to avoid human errors.
Penalties for Errors
Don’t cut corners. Incorrect classification of something as sensitive as sodium hydroxide (regulated due to its hazardous nature) can result in:
Monetary penalties Revoked import/export privileges Shipment delays or confiscation
In some cases, repeat violations can trigger audits or redflag status for your company within customs databases.
Best Practices
Keep it tight. Here’s how to stay compliant with codes like 2815190117:
Double verify your source: Don’t rely on one importer’s code. Look it up yourself. Update regularly: Tariff codes change, especially with evolving trade agreements or regulatory adjustments. Keep documentation tidy: Classification rulings, product specs, SDS sheets—have them ready. Use licensed customs brokers: For anything sensitive or highvolume, leave it to the specialists.
When to Reclassify
Just because you’ve used 2815190117 once doesn’t mean it fits every shipment. Maybe your product mix changed—new supplier, concentration variation, or application purpose. That last one’s crucial.
If the intended end use or physical composition varies from what the code originally applied to, reassess. Customs isn’t swayed by “company tradition”—they go by technical precision. Minor variations can bump you into another code, and another tariff rate.
Final Word On 2815190117
It’s easy to sleep on things like classification codes. But 2815190117 is more than just a number—it’s operational clarity, financial accuracy, and legal safety. If you’re dealing with sodium hydroxide in any serious volume, get comfortable using it correctly. Your customs compliance, cost efficiency, and shipment speed all depend on it.
