What is HS 390110?
HS 390110 covers Low-Density Polyethylene (LDPE) in primary forms — granules, pellets, or powder — with a density below 0.94 g/cm³. It sits within Chapter 39 of the Harmonized System (Plastics and Articles Thereof) and is the primary classification used by customs authorities worldwide for LDPE resin traded in bulk or semi-bulk form.
LDPE's defining characteristics — flexibility, moisture resistance, and ease of processing — make it indispensable across several end markets. Key applications include flexible packaging films and bags, agricultural mulch and greenhouse films, construction moisture barriers, wire and cable insulation, and a broad range of consumer goods including squeeze bottles and coatings. Demand is cyclical, tracking consumer goods activity and agricultural seasons closely.
A classification note for customs brokers: Linear Low-Density Polyethylene (LLDPE) is typically classified under HS 390120, not 390110. Misclassification between these two subheadings is a common compliance error that can trigger duty reclassification or customs examination, so verifying the density specification and production process with your supplier before filing is essential.
Top Sourcing Countries for Low-Density Polyethylene (LDPE)
LDPE supply is globally distributed but dominated by five major exporting nations, each with distinct structural advantages that affect landed cost and supply reliability.
- China (CN): China is both the world's largest producer and consumer of polyethylene, with massive domestic cracker capacity. Chinese-origin LDPE can be cost-competitive on a CFR basis to Asian and African markets, but buyers in the EU, US, and India must assess active anti-dumping duty exposure before committing to Chinese supply.
- United States (US): US producers benefit from structurally advantaged ethane feedstock costs derived from shale gas, making American LDPE materially lower in production cost compared to naphtha-based producers. The US is a significant net exporter and a reliable origin for buyers in Latin America, Europe, and Southeast Asia.
- Saudi Arabia (SA): Middle Eastern producers, led by Saudi Arabia, operate on ethane and associated gas feedstocks with some of the lowest input costs globally. Saudi-origin LDPE is structurally advantaged on price and is a preferred origin for buyers seeking to avoid anti-dumping exposure in key import markets.
- Germany (DE): German and broader European LDPE production serves premium and specialty segments, particularly where product consistency, technical datasheets, and regulatory compliance documentation (REACH, food-contact approvals) are critical. Less price-competitive on commodity grades but strategically important for regulated end uses.
- South Korea (KR): Korean producers supply high-quality LDPE across Asian markets and into the Middle East and Africa. South Korea's FTA network provides duty advantages in several markets, making Korean-origin product tactically useful for buyers operating across multiple destinations.
Import Duty Rates and Trade Agreements
Duty rates on HS 390110 vary significantly by destination and origin, and the regime is complicated by a layer of anti-dumping and countervailing duties that can dwarf MFN tariff rates. Always verify current rates with the relevant customs authority or your licensed broker before finalising sourcing decisions.
In the European Union, LDPE imports are subject to MFN rates, but anti-dumping investigations targeting specific origins have been initiated periodically — buyers should check the EU Trade Defence database for active measures. The US applies standard MFN rates under the HTS system, but Section 301 tariffs on Chinese-origin goods remain in force and can add materially to landed cost for Chinese LDPE. India maintains both MFN duties and has historically applied anti-dumping duties on polyethylene imports from multiple origins including China, the US, and the Middle East.
Free trade agreements can create meaningful duty advantages. US-origin LDPE benefits from preferential rates under agreements with South Korea, Australia, and several Latin American markets. Saudi Arabian and UAE producers benefit from GCC trade arrangements and are increasingly relevant under India's and ASEAN's bilateral frameworks. South Korean exporters leverage the Korea-EU FTA and Korea-US FTA to compete effectively in those destinations.
Cost Drivers and Price Outlook
LDPE pricing is a direct derivative of the petrochemical chain. Ethylene monomer is the primary feedstock, and ethylene margins are themselves driven by crude oil and naphtha prices for steam-cracker based producers, or by natural gas liquids pricing for ethane-based producers in North America and the Middle East.
As of early 2026, Brent crude is trading at approximately $69/bbl and WTI at approximately $64/bbl, both up around 7% month-on-month. Rising crude prices compress the margin between feedstock cost and polymer selling price, but also signal tighter upstream supply that can support LDPE values. Procurement teams should monitor ethylene spot and contract price indices — particularly in Asia (CFR Northeast Asia) and Europe (FD NWE) — as these are the most direct leading indicators for LDPE resin pricing.
Beyond feedstock, global polyethylene supply-demand balance matters. Significant capacity additions in China over recent years have kept global LDPE markets well supplied, creating downward price pressure on commodity grades. Energy price volatility disproportionately impacts European and some Asian producers, while Middle Eastern and US Gulf Coast producers remain insulated by feedstock cost advantages. Currency movements, particularly USD strength, affect the competitiveness of non-USD producers when selling into dollar-denominated commodity markets.
Compliance and Sourcing Considerations
LDPE is not classified as a hazardous material or dual-use product under standard international trade regulations, which simplifies documentation. However, compliance risk in this commodity is primarily commercial and regulatory rather than safety-related.
Anti-dumping and countervailing duty exposure is the single most significant compliance issue for LDPE buyers. Misidentifying the country of origin — whether through supplier error or deliberate transshipment — can result in retroactive duty assessments, penalties, and supply disruption. Transshipment risk for HS 390110 is rated medium: some origins with high anti-dumping exposure have been known to route product through third countries to obscure origin. Buyers should require mill certificates, supplier declarations of origin, and where volumes warrant it, third-party origin verification.
For food-contact or medical applications, ensure your supplier can provide compliance documentation under the relevant regulatory framework — FDA regulations in the US, EU Regulation 10/2011 for food contact plastics in Europe. Commodity-grade LDPE without such documentation cannot be used in regulated downstream applications, creating a costly rework or disposal problem.
How to Source Low-Density Polyethylene (LDPE) Efficiently
Efficient procurement of HS 390110 in 2025 requires more than finding the lowest quoted price. The following steps will help procurement managers and freight forwarders reduce total landed cost and supply chain risk.
- Qualify origin before price: Determine which origins are duty-clear in your destination market before soliciting quotes. Paying a slightly higher ex-works price for Saudi or US-origin material will often produce a lower duty-inclusive landed cost than cheaper Chinese-origin resin subject to anti-dumping duties.
- Benchmark feedstock indices: Tie contract pricing to published ethylene or naphtha indices rather than accepting fixed prices. This gives your cost model transparency and protects you from supplier margin expansion during periods of feedstock softness.
- Verify classification: Confirm with your supplier whether the product is LDPE (HS 390110) or LLDPE (HS 390120). Request a product datasheet including density specification. Misclassification is auditable and costly.
- Diversify sourcing origins: With medium supply concentration, maintaining two qualified supplier origins reduces exposure to regional disruptions, anti-dumping measure escalation, or freight rate spikes on a single trade lane.
- Review Incoterms and freight timing: LDPE is a bulk polymer typically moved in 20ft or 40ft containers in supersacks or octabins. CFR or CIF terms can obscure actual freight costs — request FOB prices and benchmark freight separately for better cost control.
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