2711.14.00.10 - Ethylene

This HTS classification, 2711.14.00.10, specifically covers ethylene when presented in liquefied form. Ethylene is a fundamental hydrocarbon, a colorless gas with a faint sweet odor, primarily derived from the cracking of hydrocarbons. It is a crucial building block in the petrochemical industry, used extensively in the production of polyethylene, ethylene oxide, and vinyl chloride monomer, among other valuable chemical intermediates and polymers.

Ethylene, at this level of detail, is distinguished from its direct siblings which represent other distinct gaseous hydrocarbons in liquefied form: propylene (2711.14.00.20), butylene (2711.14.00.30), and butadiene (2711.14.00.40). While all are C2-C4 hydrocarbons produced through similar processes, their chemical structures and resulting properties lead to fundamentally different applications. Ethylene is characterized by its single double bond and is the simplest olefin. Propylene, butylene, and butadiene, with their different numbers and configurations of carbon atoms and double bonds, serve as feedstocks for distinct manufacturing processes and end products.

As a leaf node within the HTS, 2711.14.00.10 does not have further subcategories. Therefore, the focus remains on clearly identifying liquefied ethylene. Classification under this code hinges on the material being ethylene and its physical state being liquefied. This ensures accurate distinction from gaseous ethylene or ethylene presented in other forms, or from the aforementioned related liquefied hydrocarbons.