Clearance of Nitric Acid (HNO₃) and Sulphonitric Acids from Iranian Customs (HS Codes + Documents)

Clearing nitric acid and sulphonitric acids through customs is highly specialized due to safety and environmental sensitivities and their broad applications in petrochemicals, pharmaceuticals, fertilizer production, and defense-related sectors. This guide reviews technical/industrial specs, the HS Code, permit requirements, mandatory documents, transport & storage tips, and step-by-step clearance flow so importers can proceed with greater accuracy and speed.

1) Detailed Product Description & Clearance Features

Nitric acid (HNO₃) is a mineral acid, strong and oxidizing—generally colorless at high purity—and corrosive; used in producing ammonium nitrate, paints and resins, metalworking/gold & platinum leaching, pharmaceuticals, water & wastewater, and certain fuels. Sulphonitric acids are compounds with sulfonic groups -SO₃H and nitro/nitric groups -NO₂, used in drug synthesis, pigment & dye production, and certain catalytic reactions. For clearance, it is essential to state the exact concentration/grade, purity percentage, grade (industrial/lab), packaging type (tank/corrosion-resistant drum), net/gross weight, country of origin & brand, and the MSDS.

• Leak-proof, corrosion-resistant packaging; use drum/IBC or tank.
• Farsi labeling per GHS: hazard pictograms, warning statements, and UN number (where applicable).
• Exact consistency across documents (Invoice, Packing List, CO, COA/quality analysis, MSDS) with the customs declaration and order registration.

2) Industrial Applications

Nitric Acid (HNO₃)

Production of nitrogen fertilizers (ammonium nitrate), manufacture of paints/resins, metal finishing and extraction of precious metals, pharmaceuticals, water & wastewater, some detergents and polymers.

Sulphonitric Acids

Catalysts and chemical intermediates in complex syntheses, production of dyes and pigments, manufacturing of certain pharmaceuticals and high-performance materials.

3) Key Points & Steps in Clearance

1. Register the order in the Comprehensive Trade System (NTSW) with acid type, concentration, grade, packaging, and weight.
2. Secure foreign currency (if needed) and plan transport per hazardous materials rules (IMDG/ADR).
3. Prepare documents: Invoice, Packing List, B/L, Certificate of Origin, MSDS, and Certificate of Analysis (COA).
4. Customs declaration with correct HS and inclusion of hazard class/labels and related codes.
5. Assessment, potential sampling, payment of import duty/charges/VAT based on CIF value.
6. Release and delivery; ensure segregation, ventilation, and PPE for staff.

4) Tariff / Common HS Codes

Final classification may depend on concentration, exact formulation, packaging type, and industrial use.

5) Special Conditions for Import & Export

• Compliance with safety and environmental requirements; hazard labels and MSDS are mandatory.
• Obtain permits from competent authorities (DoE/Environmental Protection, Ministry of Industry, Mine & Trade, and in specific cases the Ministry of Defense).
• Control during transport and storage: segregate from incompatible materials (alkalis, flammable organics), ensure ventilation, and corrosion-resistant equipment.

6) Iran Market

7) Trade Volume and Import Duties

Import duty, charges, and VAT are calculated based on CIF value. Volumes depend on domestic capacity, industrial policy, and demand (fertilizer, coatings, chemicals, pharma). Typically, nitric acid accounts for a large share of chemical raw-material imports, while sulphonitric acids—due to their specialist applications—arrive in lower tonnages but under tighter regulatory oversight.

8) Global Market

Production of nitric acid and related sulphonitric materials is tied to fertilizers, industrial explosives, coatings, and pharmaceuticals. Countries with advanced petrochemical/chemical infrastructure (Europe, U.S., East Asia) hold most production/export share, while the Middle East has a strategic position for sourcing and transit.

9) Required Documents for Clearance

• Order registration in the National Trade System and, if applicable, FX allocation.
• Commercial Invoice, Bill of Lading (B/L), Packing List, Certificate of Origin (CO).
• MSDS and COA; hazard labels as per GHS.
• Standard/health certificates (where applicable); packaging conformity for corrosives.
• Insurance documents and evidence of VAT and duty payments.

10) Fast Clearance in Iran + Saba Brokerage’s Premium Services

1. Determine the exact HS Code based on concentration/formula and packaging type.
2. Register the order and plan transport according to hazard class and IMDG/ADR requirements.
3. Complete the document set: Invoice, Packing List, B/L, CO, MSDS, COA, and compliance certificates.
4. Specialized customs declaration including technical specs, concentration, packaging, and safety labels.
5. Assessment, payment of duties & taxes, responding to sampling/inspection if requested.
6. Release & delivery; monitor safety requirements and provide brief training to the buyer’s team.

Key Tips & Practical Advice

• Nitric acid is corrosive and oxidizing; use compatible containers and resistant equipment.
• Sulphonitric acids often have stricter rules for transport and storage due to combined reactivity.
• Choose HS based on concentration/formula and packaging; misclassification can cause delays and penalties.
• Localize MSDS, COA, and hazard labels in Persian and align with national standards.

Media Suggestions

• Image file name: nitric-acid-clearance-hs-iran.jpg
• Alt Text: Customs clearance of nitric and sulphonitric acids in Iran
• Caption: “Clearance path for corrosives: from order registration to safe delivery”
• Infographic: “Safety checklist & essential documents for clearing corrosive acids”

Suggested Links

• Saba Tarkhis Customs Clearance Services
• HS Code Selection Guide
• Wikipedia, WTO, UN