Soybean · guide
Soya beans have a compact classification, but the choice between seed and non-seed, and the difference between beans and their processed products, still trips up exporters. This guide shows how to pick the code and use it.
| Market | Imports | Year |
|---|---|---|
| China | $61.5B | 2024 |
| Germany | $7.1B | 2024 |
| Japan | $5.3B | 2024 |
| Mexico | $4.9B | 2024 |
| Netherlands | $4.2B | 2024 |
| Argentina | $3.3B | 2024 |
| Market | Exports | Year |
|---|---|---|
| Brazil | $43.8B | 2024 |
| United States | $30.0B | 2024 |
| Canada | $8.0B | 2024 |
| Netherlands | $4.0B | 2024 |
| Australia | $4.0B | 2024 |
| China | $3.6B | 2024 |
Figures are for the whole of HS chapter 12 (oil seeds and oleaginous fruits). Source: UN Comtrade.
Soya beans are classified in chapter 12, which covers oil seeds and oleaginous fruits, in heading 1201: soya beans, whether or not broken. The heading contains three subheadings you may see quoted: 120100, which is the general wording for soya beans whether or not broken; 120110, soya beans that are seed; and 120190, soya beans other than seed.
The six-digit level is the international standard shared by customs administrations, and it is the level at which the Harmonized System is comparable across countries. That is why a code is the most reliable key for comparing your product against a foreign tariff or searching trade records.
The practical decision is between 120110 and 120190. Beans intended for sowing fall under the seed subheading, and those for crushing, food or feed fall under the other one. In many national systems the intended use is proved by documents such as seed certification or the buyer’s declaration, so the classification is not just a matter of what the bean looks like.
Do not choose the seed code because you think it will carry a lower duty, or the non-seed code because it is easier. Customs authorities can check the end use, and a wrong declaration can lead to delay, penalties or a reclassification after the goods have arrived. Ask the buyer what the beans are for and reflect that on the invoice.
The code 120100 appears in some statistical and national schedules as a single line for soya beans without the seed split. It is a legitimate classification where a country has not adopted the further subdivision, and you will sometimes see it in shipment records for that reason. If your destination uses the split, use the split codes on your documents, and if it does not, do not force one.
For data work this matters. A search on only one subheading will miss records filed under another, so when you research a market, look at all three codes together and compare them with the heading total. Otherwise you may conclude that a buyer imports nothing when they simply report under a different line.
Classification changes as soon as the bean is processed. Soybean oil, soybean meal and cake left after oil extraction, and prepared foods made from soy sit in different chapters and headings, and they are not covered by the codes above. Roasted or otherwise prepared soya beans for direct eating can also fall elsewhere, depending on how the tariff treats prepared vegetable products, so check the wording of the notes and headings before assuming the beans stay in chapter 12.
Beans that are merely broken, cleaned or graded remain in heading 1201, because the heading says whether or not broken. Damaged or mixed lots are still soybeans for classification purposes, though a heavy admixture of other seeds can raise a question about what the goods really are. When in doubt, describe the goods precisely on the invoice and ask a licensed customs broker.
Beyond the international six digits, each country adds its own extension, commonly to eight or ten digits, and it is this national line that carries the duty rate and any import conditions. Two countries can agree on 120190 and still apply different rates or requirements to the goods. Never assume that the code you use at home is the full code at the destination.
The tariff treatment, licences, quotas, standards and inspection requirements can change, and this guide does not state any current rule. Before you quote, confirm the full national line, the applicable duty and any documentary conditions with the destination customs authority or the buyer’s broker, and record the answer in your file.
Once you have the code, it opens two kinds of research. At country level, chapter data shows where oilseeds move. For 2024, China is the largest importer at $61.5B, followed by Germany at $7.1B, Japan at $5.3B, Mexico at $4.9B, the Netherlands at $4.2B and Argentina at $3.3B. On the supply side Brazil leads at $43.8B, ahead of the United States at $30.0B. India’s chapter exports are $2.2B, ranked 11 of 96.
One caution: these figures cover the whole of chapter 12, including sunflower seed, rapeseed and other oilseeds, so they overstate soybean trade. At company level, shipment records filtered by the heading or its subheadings show named consignees, quantities and declared values. Use the country data to choose where to look and the shipment data to identify who to approach. Rankings use each country’s latest reported year and can be distorted by re-exports and reporting gaps.
A short routine prevents most classification errors. Write down the exact product, its intended use, its form and its packing. Read the heading and subheading texts against it, and check the notes to the chapter. Then confirm the national extension and the duty position at the destination, and make sure every document uses the same description.
Soya beans are classified in heading 1201. The subheadings are 120100 for soya beans generally, 120110 for seed and 120190 for beans other than seed. Most commodity trade for crushing, food and feed uses the non-seed line, subject to the destination's own schedule.
It can, because national tariffs may treat them differently, and end-use evidence may be required. Do not pick a code for its rate. Declare according to actual use and confirm the current duty with the destination customs authority.
No. Oil, meal and cake from oil extraction, and prepared foods, are classified in other chapters and headings. Heading 1201 covers the beans themselves, whole or broken. Check the tariff wording and notes for any processed product.
Because the figures are reported at chapter level, and chapter 12 covers all oil seeds and oleaginous fruits. Use them to see where oilseed trade flows, then confirm soybean-specific activity in shipment records filtered by the heading.
Usually not. Countries add their own digits after the international six, and the national line carries the duty and conditions. Confirm the full tariff line with the destination customs authority or a licensed broker before you invoice.
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