R600a Refrigerant Mixture High Purity
CN โ USProduct Images
AI Analysis
โ๏ธ R600a Refrigerant Mixture: High Purity & Global Classification Guide
๐ HS Code Reference & Customs Clearance Guide | 2026 Latest Tariff Analysis | Professional Level Compliance Strategy
๐ I. Product Definition & Classification: What is High-Purity R600a?
R600a (Isobutane, CAS No. 75-28-5) is a widely used natural refrigerant known for its low Global Warming Potential (GWP) and Ozone Depletion Potential (ODP). It is the standard refrigerant for domestic refrigerators and freezers globally.
"High Purity" Definition: In international trade, "High Purity" R600a typically refers to Industrial Grade Isobutane with a purity level of โฅ 99.5% or โฅ 99.9%. Impurities (such as n-butane, propane, or moisture) must be minimized to meet ISO 817 or AHRI 700 standards for refrigeration systems.
โ ๏ธ Critical Distinction: - Refrigerant Grade (R600a): Purity โฅ 99.5%, low moisture (<10 ppm), low acid value. Classified under HS 2901. - Industrial Fuel Grade: Lower purity, higher impurities. May be classified differently depending on usage claims. - Pre-mixed Cycles: R600a is a single component, not a mixture. If a product claims "R600a Mixture," it is technically incorrect terminology unless it refers to a custom blend (e.g., R600a/R290 blend for specific retrofits). Standard R600a is pure Isobutane.
๐ฆ II. HS Code Classification Details (2026 Latest Tariff Alignment)
Since R600a is chemically Isobutane, it falls under the Hydrocarbons chapter.
| HS Code | Product Description | Applicable Scenario | Purity Requirement |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2901.21.00.00 | Isobutane (2-methylpropane) | Standard R600a Refrigerant, High Purity (โฅ99.5%) | โ High Purity |
| 2901.29.00.00 | Other Acyclic Alkanes (e.g., n-Butane) | If mistakenly labeled or mixed with n-Butane | โ Not R600a |
| 2711.19.00.00 | Petroleum Gases (LPG mixtures) | If sold as generic fuel LPG, not for refrigeration | โ Wrong Class |
| 3824.99.99.00 | Other Chemical Products | If mixed with stabilizers/fluorescent dyes | โ ๏ธ Check Composition |
๐ Key Reminder: - Correct HS Code for R600a: 2901.21.00.00 (Isobutane). - Why not 2711? HS 2711 covers petroleum gases not specified elsewhere. Isobutane has a specific heading in 2901 (Charged Hydrocarbons). Therefore, 2901.21 takes precedence. - Mixture Claim: If the product is a blend (e.g., R600a + R290), it is classified as "Other Hydrocarbons" under 2901.29.00.00 or 2901.90.00.00, depending on the dominant component.
๐ฐ III. 2026 Latest Tariff Rate Breakdown (Including Additional Duties)
โ Applicable Country: United States (US)
โ Origin: China (CN)
โ Effective Date: 2025-11-10 onwards
๐ฏ 1. 2901.21.00.00 โโ Isobutane (R600a Refrigerant)
| Item | Content |
|---|---|
| Base Tax Rate | 2.5% (ad valorem) |
| USITC Additional Duty | +25% (Section 301 Footnote: 9903.01.01) |
| IEEPA Additional Duty | +10% (Against China/HK products, from 2025-11-10) |
| Total Tax Rate | 37.5% |
| Tax Calculation | CIF Value ร 37.5% |
| De Minimis Eligibility | โ Not Eligible (deny_de_minimis) |
| Legal Authority Path | IEEPA:9903.01.10 โ USITC:2901.21.00.00 โ FOOTNOTE:9903.01.01 |
๐ Explanation: - Base 2.5%: Standard MFN rate for Isobutane. - Section 301 (+25%): Applies to chemical products from China, including hydrocarbons. - IEEPA (+10%): New surcharge on Chinese chemical inputs effective Nov 2025. - Total 37.5%: This is a high effective duty for bulk commodities. Importers must factor this into pricing.
๐ Note for Non-China Origins: - If R600a is sourced from Saudi Arabia, UAE, or South Korea, the Section 301/IEEPA duties do NOT apply. - Total Tax for Non-China Origins: 2.5% (Base only). - Strategy: Sourcing from non-China countries can save 35% in duties.
๐ ๏ธ IV. Customs Clearance Practical Advice (Avoid Pitfalls)
โ 1. Document Checklist (Mandatory)
| Document | Required | Explanation |
|---|---|---|
| โ Safety Data Sheet (SDS) | โ๏ธ | Must show Flammable Gas (Class 2.1) hazard class. |
| โ Certificate of Analysis (CoA) | โ๏ธ | Must state Purity โฅ 99.5% and specify "Isobutane". |
| โ UN 1965 Labeling | โ๏ธ | Packages must bear "Flammable Gas" and UN 1965 placards. |
| โ Commercial Invoice | โ๏ธ | Clearly state: "Isobutane (R600a), Purity 99.9%, for Refrigeration Use" |
| โ Dangerous Goods Declaration (DGD) | โ๏ธ | Required for air/sea freight due to flammability. |
| โ MSDS/SDS Section 14 | โ๏ธ | Shipping Name: "ISOBUTANE" or "REFRIGERANT GAS, ISOBUTANE" |
โ ๏ธ Warning: Mislabeling R600a as "Industrial Gas" or "Fuel" without proper hazard labels can lead to cargo seizure or fines under DOT/IMDG regulations.
โ 2. Declaration Tips (Key Mnemonics)
๐ฅ "Purity Defines HS, Hazard Defines Logistics, Origin Defines Duty!"
| Scenario | Correct Declaration | Wrong Action |
|---|---|---|
| Pure Isobutane (โฅ99.5%) | HS 2901.21.00.00 Name: Isobutane |
Use "R600a" as HS Code โ โ Invalid |
| Blended Refrigerant | HS 2901.29.00.00 Name: Hydrocarbon Refrigerant Blend |
Claim as "R600a" if not pure โ โ Fraud |
| Non-China Origin | HS 2901.21.00.00 Origin: e.g., Korea |
Hide origin to avoid Section 301 โ โ High Risk |
| Small Samples (โค$800) | Not Eligible for De Minimis | Claim as "Samples" to bypass duty โ โ Denied Entry |
โ 3. Special Case Handling
| Situation | Handling Advice |
|---|---|
| R600a in Cylinder vs. Bulk | No HS difference, but bulk tanks require IMDG Class 2.1 certification. |
| Stabilized R600a | If additives are present (>0.1%), reclassify to 3824.99.99.00. |
| Return/Recycled R600a | May be classified under 3825.49.00.00 (Hazardous Waste). Check with CBP. |
| Dual-Use Risk | R600a is generally low-risk, but high volumes may trigger anti-dumping reviews. |
๐ V. Global Market Customs Comparison (2026 Latest)
| Country/Region | Recommended HS Code | Duty Rate (China) | Certification Requirement | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ๐บ๐ธ USA | 2901.21.00.00 |
37.5% | DOT / EPA SNUR | High duty, strict hazmat rules |
| ๐ช๐บ EU | 2901.21.00 |
2.5% | REACH Registration | No Section 301, but REACH compliance needed |
| ๐จ๐ณ China | 2901.21.00 |
2.5% | No special import permit | Duty-free if imported back (re-import) |
| ๐ฎ๐ณ India | 2901.21.00 |
5% - 10% | BIS Certification | Anti-dumping duties may apply |
| ๐ฆ๐บ Australia | 2901.21.00 |
5% | GHS Labeling | No additional tariffs |
๐ Conclusion: - USA has the highest effective duty due to Section 301 + IEEPA. - EU/Asia offers lower duty rates but stricter chemical registration (REACH, GHS). - Origin Sourcing is critical: Sourcing from non-China countries can save 35% in US duties.
๐ VI. Common Mistakes & Pitfall Guide (Lessons Learned)
โ Mistake 1: Using "R600a" as the HS Code
๐ Consequence: Rejected by CBP. R600a is a trade name, not a chemical class. Must use 2901.21.00.00.
โ Mistake 2: Misclassifying as "LPG" (2711.19)
๐ Consequence: Underpayment of duties. CBP will assess 37.5% retroactively + penalties.
โ Mistake 3: Ignoring Hazmat Labels
๐ Consequence: Cargo detained at port due to missing UN 1965 labeling. Delays of 2-4 weeks.
โ Mistake 4: Claiming De Minimis for R600a
๐ Consequence: Denied entry. Flammable gases are excluded from de minimis exemptions in the US.
โ Correct Practice:
"ISOBUTANE (R600a), Purity 99.9%, UN 1965, Flammable Gas Class 2.1, HS 2901.21.00.00"
๐ฏ VII. Conclusion: Accurate Classification, Safe Logistics, Cost Optimization
๐ฏ Remember Mnemonics:
๐น "Isobutane is 2901.21, not 2711.19."
๐น "China Origin = 37.5% Duty, Non-China = 2.5% Duty."
๐น "Hazmat Labels are Non-Negotiable for Flammable Gases."
๐ Pro Tip: If you are importing R600a into the US from China, consider: 1. Sourcing from Vietnam/Korea/Middle East to avoid Section 301/IEEPA duties. 2. Applying for a Tariff Classification Ruling from CBP to confirm your specific productโs classification. 3. Ensuring SDS/MSDS is up-to-date with GHS Rev. 9 standards.
๐ฃ Immediate Action:
๐ Verify your supplierโs Certificate of Analysis for purity โฅ 99.5%.
๐ Request UN 1965 Compliant Packaging and labeling.
๐ Calculate landed cost using 37.5% duty if sourcing from China.
โจ Professional Customs Clearance Starts with Precise Classification!
๐ผ Every Percent of Duty Saved is Pure Profit!
Customer Reviews
About HS Code Classification
The Harmonized System (HS) is an internationally standardized nomenclature developed by the World Customs Organization (WCO) to classify traded products. Over 200 countries use the HS system as the basis for customs tariffs, trade statistics, and import/export regulations.
Each HS code follows a hierarchical structure:
- Chapter (2 digits) โ Broad category of goods (e.g., Chapter 84: Machinery and Mechanical Appliances)
- Heading (4 digits) โ More specific grouping within the chapter
- Subheading (6 digits) โ Internationally standardized breakdown, used by all WCO member countries
- National subdivisions (8-10 digits) โ Country-specific extensions for further classification, such as US HTSUS 10-digit codes
Correct HS code classification is essential for smooth customs clearance, accurate duty payment, and compliance with trade regulations. Misclassification can lead to customs delays, overpayment of duties, or penalties.
When importing from CN to US, the applicable tariff rates may include:
- Most-Favored-Nation (MFN) rate โ The standard duty rate applied to WTO members
- General rate โ Applied to countries without trade agreements
- Trade remedy duties โ Additional tariffs such as Section 301 (anti-dumping), Section 232 (national security), or countervailing duties
The information provided on this page is for reference purposes only. For official classification, please consult with your local customs authority or a licensed customs broker.