HS Code for Ethyl Acetate
Ethyl acetate points toward subheading 2915.31 of the HTSUS, which provides for it by name among the esters of acetic acid, and the 10-digit line to explore is 2915.31.00.00 at a general rate of 3.7%. Because it has its own named subheading, the main questions are whether the product is ethyl acetate on its own or a different acetate ester, and whether it is a separate chemically defined compound or part of a solvent blend. Blends usually point toward heading 3814 instead.
HTS Codes for Ethyl Acetate
| HTS Code | Description | Duty Rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2915.31.00.00 | Esters of acetic acid: ethyl acetate Ethyl acetate (ethyl ethanoate, CAS 141-78-6) as a separate chemically defined compound, including solvent and food grades | 3.7% |
| 2915.32.00.00 | Esters of acetic acid: vinyl acetate Vinyl acetate monomer, used to make polymers and adhesives (shown for contrast) | 3.8% |
| 2915.33.00.00 | Esters of acetic acid: n-butyl acetate n-Butyl acetate, a common coatings solvent often confused with ethyl acetate | 5.5% |
| 2915.39.45.10 | Esters of acetic acid: other, odoriferous or flavoring compounds, other: n-propyl acetate n-Propyl acetate, a related ester solvent used in inks and coatings | 4.8% |
| 2915.39.70.00 | Esters of acetic acid: other: isobutyl acetate Isobutyl acetate, another acetic ester solvent (shown for contrast) | 5.5% |
| 2915.21.00.00 | Acetic acid and its salts; acetic anhydride: acetic acid Acetic acid itself, the parent acid rather than its ester (shown for contrast) | 1.8% |
| 3814.00.50.90 | Organic composite solvents and thinners, not elsewhere specified or included: other, other Blended solvents and thinners that contain ethyl acetate mixed with other solvents, rather than ethyl acetate on its own | 6% |
How to Approach Classification for Ethyl Acetate
Ethyl acetate is an organic chemical and falls within chapter 29 of the HTSUS, which covers separate chemically defined organic compounds. Heading 2915 provides for saturated acyclic monocarboxylic acids and their derivatives, and within it the esters of acetic acid are grouped under 2915.3. Ethyl acetate is named in its own subheading, 2915.31, so a product that is ethyl acetate as a single compound usually points there directly.
The neighboring lines in 2915.3 name other acetic esters, and these are worth checking because the products share uses as solvents. Vinyl acetate points toward 2915.32 and n-butyl acetate toward 2915.33, while other esters fall into the residual 2915.39 group, where n-propyl acetate (2915.39.45.10) and isobutyl acetate (2915.39.70.00) have their own statistical or tariff lines. Each of these carries its own general rate, so the exact ester matters for the estimate as well as for the code.
Chapter 29 is limited to separate chemically defined compounds, whether or not they contain impurities. Ethyl acetate of technical, industrial or food grade, and ethyl acetate dissolved only in water, generally stays in 2915.31. Once ethyl acetate is deliberately blended with other solvents to make a thinner or composite solvent, the product usually moves out of chapter 29 and points toward heading 3814 (organic composite solvents and thinners), where the residual line 3814.00.50 carries a different rate. Nail polish removers and similar retail preparations may point toward cosmetics headings instead.
It is also worth separating ethyl acetate from its building blocks. Acetic acid itself points toward 2915.21 and ethyl alcohol toward chapter 22, so a product sheet that lists only the feedstocks is not enough to place an ester. A useful sequence is to confirm the CAS number (141-78-6 for ethyl acetate), confirm it is a single compound rather than a mixture, and then match it to the named ester subheading.
Duty Rate Overview
The general rate of duty for ethyl acetate at 2915.31.00.00 is 3.7%. Related acetic esters differ: vinyl acetate (2915.32) is around 3.8%, n-propyl acetate (2915.39.45.10) around 4.8%, and n-butyl acetate (2915.33) and isobutyl acetate (2915.39.70.00) around 5.5%, while acetic acid itself (2915.21) is around 1.8% and composite solvent blends under 3814.00.50 around 6%. Because the rate changes with the exact ester and with whether the product is a blend, identifying the compound is worth doing before estimating duty. Additional duties such as Section 301 or IEEPA-based tariffs may apply depending on country of origin, and imports of chemical substances generally call for a TSCA import certification. Preferential rates under free trade agreements may reduce duties for qualifying origins. These figures are estimates for general planning purposes only.