Tanning extracts of vegetable origin; wattle extract

HS code 320120 covers tanning extracts of vegetable origin, including the important wattle extract. These natural tanning agents play a crucial role in the leather industry, providing the essential compounds needed to transform raw hides into durable, high-quality leather products. As a key input for the leather value chain, the tanning extract industry is an integral part of the broader manufacturing and trade ecosystem.

Tanning extracts like wattle extract are typically produced through the extraction of specific compounds from various plant materials. The primary production method involves milling, soaking, and boiling the raw plant matter to isolate the desired tannins and other active ingredients. The resulting liquid extract is then further processed, concentrated, and refined to meet the quality standards required by the leather industry.

The main inputs for the tanning extract industry include the raw plant materials, such as wattle bark, quebracho wood, and various other tannin-rich sources. Additionally, the production process requires access to water, energy sources, and specialized equipment like mills, boilers, and concentration/drying systems. Skilled labor with knowledge of the extraction and refinement techniques is also a critical input for this industry.

The primary output of HS code 320120 is the tanning extract itself, which is then consumed by manufacturers in the leather industry 4104 (Tanned or crust hides and skins of bovine (including buffalo) or equine animals, without hair on, whether or not split, but not further prepared), 4107 (Leather further prepared after tanning or crusting, including parchment-dressed leather, of bovine (including buffalo) or equine animals, without hair on, whether or not split, other than leather of heading 4114), and 4111 Composition leather with a basis of leather or leather fiber, in slabs, sheets or strip, whether or not in rolls. These tanning extracts are essential for the production of high-quality, durable leather goods.