What is HS 390110?
HS 390110 covers Low-Density Polyethylene in primary forms — resins, pellets, and granules with a density below 0.94 g/cm³. It is produced by high-pressure polymerization of ethylene monomer and belongs to the broader polyethylene family under Chapter 39 of the Harmonized System, which covers plastics and articles thereof.
LDPE's defining characteristic is its flexible, tough, and moisture-resistant structure, making it the material of choice across several end markets: flexible packaging films, agricultural mulch and greenhouse films, construction sheeting, wire and cable insulation, and consumer goods such as squeeze bottles and coatings. Packaging remains the dominant demand driver globally, accounting for the majority of consumption volume.
Classification note: Ensure the correct subheading is applied. LDPE (HS 390110) is distinct from Linear Low-Density Polyethylene (LLDPE, HS 390120) and High-Density Polyethylene (HDPE, HS 390120 or 390130 depending on jurisdiction). Misclassification carries duty exposure and potential customs delay risks.
Top Sourcing Countries for Low-Density Polyethylene (LDPE)
Global supply of LDPE is moderately concentrated, with the United States and Saudi Arabia collectively accounting for over 32% of world export volume — a structurally advantaged position driven by access to low-cost ethane feedstocks from natural gas production.
- United States (17.1% share, 144 import markets): The largest single exporter, with US producers benefiting from competitively priced ethane cracking. Key corridors include Mexico ($654.9M), China ($615.9M), and Brazil ($404.0M) in 2024 customs flows — reflecting the reach of US resin into both USMCA-preferential and open-market destinations.
- Saudi Arabia (15.5% share, 127 markets): SABIC and other integrated petrochemical producers supply LDPE at cost-competitive levels globally. China ($607.3M) and Singapore ($408.8M) are major 2024 corridors, underscoring Saudi positioning across Asia-Pacific supply chains.
- Belgium (6.0%) and Netherlands (5.4%): Western European producers serve broad import markets — 97 and 99 destinations respectively — often acting as re-export hubs for intra-EU and African trade. Higher feedstock costs mean European-origin LDPE is typically priced at a premium relative to Middle Eastern or US material.
- Germany (4.5%, 108 markets): A technically sophisticated origin with strong regulatory compliance credentials, relevant for buyers sourcing into food-contact or pharmaceutical-adjacent applications.
- Qatar (4.2%) and UAE (3.7%): Gulf producers with structurally low production costs. The UAE corridor into China ($608.7M) is notable and warrants attention for transshipment risk assessment (see below).
- South Korea (3.6%, 120 markets): A significant Asian exporter with wide market reach, though naphtha-based cracking makes Korean-origin LDPE more sensitive to crude oil price movements than US or Middle Eastern equivalents.
Iran's presence in the China import data ($618.0M corridor in 2024) reflects sanctioned trade flows that carry significant compliance exposure for any buyer with US nexus or operating under OFAC jurisdiction.
Import Duty Rates and Trade Agreements
The EU applies a standard MFN import duty of 6.5% on HS 390110 across all member states. This applies to imports from any country without a preferential trade agreement in force with the EU — including the United States under current tariff schedules. Buyers importing LDPE into Germany, Belgium, or the Netherlands from US or Middle Eastern origins should factor this duty into total landed cost calculations.
GSP (Generalised Scheme of Preferences) and bilateral FTAs can materially reduce this burden. For example, imports from countries with EU trade agreements — such as South Korea under the EU-Korea FTA — may qualify for reduced or zero rates. Procurement teams should verify the applicable preference and confirm rules of origin compliance before claiming preferential treatment.
Under USMCA, LDPE traded between the US, Mexico, and Canada benefits from preferential tariff treatment, which directly supports the scale of the US-Mexico corridor ($654.9M). Buyers operating North American supply chains should validate origin certification to capture this advantage.
Cost Drivers and Price Outlook
LDPE pricing is fundamentally linked to ethylene feedstock costs, which in turn track crude oil and natural gas markets. Brent crude is currently trading near $69.41/bbl (up 7.4% month-on-month as of February 2026 data), while WTI sits at approximately $64.51/bbl — a recovery that is feeding through to naphtha-linked production costs in Europe and Asia.
US producers operating ethane-based crackers remain structurally insulated from crude oil volatility relative to naphtha crackers, giving American and select Middle Eastern exporters a cost-of-production advantage when oil prices rise. Buyers sourcing from naphtha-cracking regions (Europe, Northeast Asia) should model crude oil sensitivity into procurement scenarios.
Capacity additions from the Middle East and Asia are expected to maintain supply pressure on global LDPE margins, which is broadly favorable for buyers but creates pricing uncertainty for long-term contract negotiations. Global packaging demand — driven by e-commerce growth and agricultural film consumption in emerging markets — remains the primary demand-side support for pricing.
Compliance and Sourcing Considerations
LDPE is not classified as hazardous under standard transport regulations, but sourcing due diligence still requires attention in several areas. Transshipment risk for this commodity is rated medium: UAE and Singapore both serve as significant re-export nodes, and goods transshipped through these hubs may complicate origin verification for tariff preference or sanctions compliance purposes.
The Iran-China corridor identified in 2024 trade data is a red flag for any buyer or freight forwarder with exposure to US secondary sanctions. Do not source from suppliers who cannot provide clear and auditable chain-of-custody documentation for country of origin.
REACH compliance documentation is required for LDPE imported into the EU. Food-contact applications may require additional migration testing and supplier declarations depending on end-use specifications. Verify supplier compliance certifications before finalizing contracts.
How to Source Low-Density Polyethylene (LDPE) Efficiently
Effective procurement of HS 390110 starts with origin strategy. If your destination market has an FTA with the US, Saudi Arabia, or South Korea, model the duty savings against any freight cost differential before defaulting to the nearest supplier.
- Request and validate country-of-origin certificates for every shipment, particularly where goods move through transshipment hubs such as Singapore or the UAE.
- Benchmark feedstock indices (ethylene spot prices, Brent/WTI, US natural gas) monthly to anticipate supplier price movements before contract renewal periods.
- For EU import, confirm whether your supplier qualifies under GSP or a bilateral FTA to reduce the 6.5% MFN rate — document the preference claim correctly to avoid post-clearance audit risk.
- Assess supplier capacity and lead time reliability against the backdrop of new Middle Eastern and Asian capacity coming online, which may create short-term supply volatility during plant ramp-up periods.
- Use HS 390110 trade flow data to identify emerging sourcing corridors and benchmark your landed cost against actual market trade values, not just list prices.
Working with a trade intelligence platform gives procurement teams and customs brokers real-time visibility into corridor-level trade flows, duty rates by destination, and supplier country concentration — turning reactive buying into strategic sourcing.
Get a free sourcing intelligence report for HS 390110 at Logitality.com