XportStack
Free tool for F&B exporters

HS codes and import duty,
without the customs jargon.

Look up the right HS code for any F&B product. See duty rates and classification risk for your destination markets. Built for F&B brand owners shipping their own products.

Try: sweet biscuits · palm oil · chocolate · 190531

How to find the right HS code in four steps.

The first time I classified a product, I picked the wrong code. The second time, customs at destination flagged it. After that I built a process. This is the one I still use at Popsmalaya today.

1

Describe your product in plain words.

Open the lookup and type the product the way customers do. 'Sweet biscuits', 'sambal sauce', 'oat milk', 'frozen durian'. Skip the tariff jargon. The lookup matches across multiple HS chapter descriptions and surfaces every candidate code.

2

Next, review the candidate codes side by side.

Read each chapter description carefully. Products that look similar can sit under very different chapters. Oat-based biscuits sit in 1905.31. Oat-based drinks sit in 2202.99. Oat flour sits in 1104.22. The right code depends on the dominant ingredient and the final form.

3

Then check the classification risk.

Codes like 2106.90 (food preparations not elsewhere specified) are catch-alls. Destination customs often disagree on what belongs there. The lookup flags ambiguous codes so you know where reclassification is most likely. For high-value shipments, confirm with your destination customs broker before quoting.

4

Finally, check the duty and preferential rate.

Click through to the duty calculator with your candidate code. Enter destination and origin. The tool shows the MFN rate plus any FTA preferential rate you qualify for. If classification is ambiguous, compare 2-3 candidate codes. The duty impact across them can be material.

HS code questions, answered

The questions F&B exporters search for most often.

What is an HS code?

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HS code stands for Harmonised System code, a 6-digit international classification standard maintained by the World Customs Organization. Every traded product has one. The first 2 digits are the chapter (01-97), the next 2 are the heading, and the final 2 are the subheading. Countries extend the 6-digit international standard to 8 or 10 digits for their own tariff schedules (US HTS, EU TARIC, etc.).

What HS chapter covers food and beverage products?

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F&B products span HS chapters 01 to 22. Chapter 01-05 covers live animals and animal products. Chapter 06-14 covers vegetable products. Chapter 15 covers oils and fats. Chapter 16-24 covers prepared foodstuffs and beverages. Specifically: chapter 19 covers bakery and cereal products (biscuits, breads, breakfast cereals, pastries), chapter 20 covers preserved vegetables and fruits, chapter 21 covers miscellaneous food preparations (sauces, soups, condiments, coffee extracts), and chapter 22 covers beverages including water, juices, and alcoholic drinks.

What is classification risk?

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Classification risk is the chance that destination customs reclassifies your product under a different HS code than the one on your export documentation. This is common for innovative products that don't fit neatly into existing categories: oat milk could be classified as a beverage (2202.99), a milk substitute (0404), or a food preparation (2106.90), each with a different duty rate. Reclassification at port can cost the exporter days of demurrage and unexpected duty.

Why are 6-digit, 8-digit, and 10-digit HS codes different?

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The first 6 digits of any HS code are internationally standardised by the World Customs Organization. Beyond 6 digits, each country adds its own subheadings for statistical and tariff purposes. The US uses 10-digit HTS codes. The EU uses 8-digit Combined Nomenclature and 10-digit TARIC. ASEAN countries use 8-digit AHTN codes. The XportStack HS Code Lookup works at the 6-digit international level since that's where international duty rates and FTA schedules are published. Your destination customs broker can refine the rate based on the full local code.

Is HS code 2106.90 risky for F&B exporters?

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HS code 2106.90 (food preparations not elsewhere specified) is the catch-all for products that don't fit other chapters: protein powders, health drinks with multiple ingredients, dietary supplements, mixed seasonings, novel snack formats. It carries the highest reclassification risk in F&B because destination customs often disagree on whether a product belongs in 2106.90 or in a chapter with a lower duty rate. Where possible, classify under a more specific code with clearer characterising ingredients.

When the tool isn't enough

The HS lookup is one piece. The platform is the rest.

XportStack helps F&B exporters manage quotes, shipments, compliance, and margin control across every distributor and market, from one dashboard.

See XportStack →