HSN Code 38 – Miscellaneous Chemical Products

What is HSN Code 38?

HSN code 38 is the Harmonized System of Nomenclature classification for Miscellaneous Chemical Products under India's Goods and Services Tax (GST). It is a 2-digit code sitting at the chapter (2-digit) level of the HSN hierarchy.

This code belongs to Chapter 38 — Miscellaneous Chemical Products, which is part of Section VI: Chemical Products. Every GST-registered business supplying miscellaneous chemical products must quote HSN 38 (or the digit-length required for its turnover) on tax invoices and in GSTR-1.

Classification breakdown of 38

Level	Code	Description
Chapter	38	miscellaneous chemical products

GST rate for HSN 38

Goods under HSN 38 attract GST at one of the five standard slabs. The exact rate depends on the specific product and the latest GST Council notification — always confirm before invoicing.

Nil / Exempt

Fresh produce, milk, cereals, books

Merit rate

Essentials, packaged food, transport

12%

Standard-low

Processed food, mobiles, apparel > ₹1,000

18%

Standard

Most goods, electronics, services

28%

Demerit / luxury

Cars, cement, aerated drinks, tobacco

Find the exact GST rate for Miscellaneous Chemical Products →

Sub-codes under this classification

HSN Code	Description
3801	artificial graphite, colloidal or semi-colloidal graphite, preparations based on graphite or other carbon in the form of pastes, blocks, plates or other semi-manufactures
3802	activated carbon; activated natural mineral products; animal black, including spent animal black
3803	tall oil, whether or not refined
3804	residual lyes from the manufacture of wood pulp, whether or not concentrated, desugared or chemically treated, including lignin sulphonates, but excluding tall oil of heading 3802
3805	gum, wood or sulphate turpentine and other terpenic oils produced by the distillation or other treatment of coniferous woods, crude dipentene, sulphite turpentine and other crude para-cymene, pine oil containing alpha-terpineol as the main constituent
3806	rosin and resin acids, and derivatives thereof; rosin spirit and rosin oils; run gums
3807	wood tar, wood tar oils, wood creosote, wood naphtha, vegetable pitch, brewers' pitch and similar preparations based on rosin, resin acids or on vegetable pitch
3808	insecticides, rodenticides, fungicides, herbicides, anti-sprouting products and plant-growth regulators, disinfectants and similar products, put up in forms or packings for retail sale or as preparations or articles (for example, sulphurtreated bands, wicks and candles, and fly-papers)
3809	finishing agents, dye carriers to accelerate the dyeing or fixing of dye-stuffs and other products and preparations (for example, dressings and mordants), of a kind used in the textile, paper, leather or like industries, not elsewhere specified or included
3810	pickling preparations for metal surfaces, fluxes and other auxiliary preparations for soldering, brazing or welding, soldering, brazing or welding powders and pastes consisting of metal and other materials, preparations of a kind used as cores or coatings for welding electrodes or rods
3811	anti-knock preparations, oxidation inhibitors, gum inhibitors, viscosity improvers, anti-corrosive preparations and other prepared additives, for mineral oils (including gasoline) or for other liquids used for the same purposes as mineral oils
3812	prepared rubber accelerators; compound plasticisers for rubber or plastics, not elsewhere specified or included; anti-oxidising preparations and other compound stabilisers for rubber or plastics
3813	preparations and charges for fire-extinguishers; charged fire-extinguishing grenades
3814	organic composite solvents and thinners, not elsewhere specified or included; prepared paint or varnish removers
3815	reaction initiators, reaction accelerators and catalytic preparations, not elsewhere specified or included
3816	refractory cements, mortars, concretes and similar compositions, including dolomite ramming mix, other than products of heading 3800
3817	mixed alkylbenzenes and mixed alkylnaphthalenes, other than those of heading 2707 or 2902
3818	chemical elements doped for use in electronics, in the form of discs, wafers or similar forms, chemical compounds doped for use in electronics
3819	hydraulic brake fluids and other prepared liquids for hydraulic transmission, not containing or containing less than 70% by weight of petroleum oils or oils obtained from bituminous minerals
3820	anti-freezing preparations and prepared de-icing fluids
3821	prepared culture media for development or maintenance of micro-organism (including viruses and the like) or of plant human or animal cells
3822	diagnostic or laboratory reagents on a backing, prepared diagnostic or laboratory reagents whether or not on a backing, whether or not put up in the form of kits, other than those of heading 3006; certified reference materials
3823	industrial monocarboxylic fatty acids; acid oils from refining; industrial fatty alcohols
3824	prepared binders for foundry moulds or cores; chemical products and preparations of the chemical or allied industries (including those consisting of mixtures of natural products), not elsewhere specified or included
3825	residual products of the chemical or allied industries, not elsewhere specified or included, municipal waste, sewage sludge, other wastes specified in note 6 to this chapter
3826	biodiesel and mixtures thereof, not containing or containing less than 70 % by weight of petroleum oils and oils obtained from bituminous minerals
3827	mixtures containing halogenated derivatives of methane, ethane or propane, not elsewhere specified or included

HSN Code 38 — FAQs

What is HSN code 38?

HSN code 38 classifies "Miscellaneous Chemical Products" under India's GST regime. It falls under Chapter 38 (Miscellaneous Chemical Products) of the Harmonized System of Nomenclature.

How many digits is HSN code 38?

38 is a 2-digit HSN code — a chapter (2-digit). Businesses declare 4-digit HSN (turnover up to ₹5 crore) or 6-digit HSN (above ₹5 crore) on GST invoices; 8-digit codes are used for exports and imports.

What is the GST rate for HSN code 38?

Goods under HSN 38 are taxed at one of the GST slabs — 0%, 5%, 12%, 18% or 28% — depending on the exact product and the latest GST Council notification. Use the Laabam.One GST Rate Finder to confirm the current rate for Miscellaneous Chemical Products.

Which chapter does HSN code 38 belong to?

HSN 38 belongs to Chapter 38 — Miscellaneous Chemical Products, part of Section VI: Chemical Products.