HS code · 6-digit subheading
HS Code 0101.21 – Horses; live, pure-bred breeding animals
HS code 0101.21 is the 6-digit subheading for horses, live, pure-bred breeding animals. It is used for thoroughbred stallions, arabian mares, warmblood dressage horses, quarter Horse broodmares and standardbred pacers.
What HS 0101.21 covers
This HS code covers live pure-bred horses specifically traded for breeding purposes. This is a high-value segment of the international livestock market, driven by the demand for superior genetics to improve bloodlines in equestrian sports, racing, and specialized breeding programs. Importers are typically wealthy individuals, professional stables, and large breeding farms seeking to enhance performance, conformation, or specific traits in their herds. Exporters are often countries with established reputations for producing elite horses. Key considerations in this trade include meticulous pedigree documentation, stringent health certifications, complex logistics for safe and humane transport, and significant insurance coverage due to the high value of these animals. The focus is entirely on genetic contribution rather than immediate use.
- Covers
- Thoroughbred stallions
- Arabian mares
- Warmblood dressage horses
- Quarter Horse broodmares
- Standardbred pacers
- Friesian breeding stock
- Akhal-Teke breeding horses
- Examples
- Darley Stud (Godolphin) breeding stock
- Coolmore Stud stallions
- Olympic show jumping prospects
- elite polo pony broodmares
Codes often confused with 0101.21
Common mistake. Can be confused with 010129 (other live horses) if pedigree documentation is incomplete or the animal's primary purpose isn't explicitly breeding, leading to lower valuation.
Top exporters and importers of HS code 010121, 2025
In 2025, the largest exporter of HS code 010121 in UN Comtrade data was the United Kingdom, with 25% of world exports; the largest importer in UN Comtrade data was the United Kingdom, with 39% of world imports. Countries that did not report 2025 data are estimated from partner records, which can understate them.
Top exporters 2025 · share of world exports
- 1 United Kingdom $428M 25% of world exports
- 2 Ireland $414M 24% of world exports
- 3 United States $273M 16% of world exports
World total: $1.7B Reported figures on UN Comtrade ↗
Top importers 2025 · share of world imports
- 1 United Kingdom $608M 39% of world imports
- 2 Ireland $387M 25% of world imports
- 3 France $115M 7.4% of world imports
World total: $1.6B Reported figures on UN Comtrade ↗
How these figures are built
109 countries reported 2025 trade to UN Comtrade in HS 2022, and their own totals are used. Countries that did not report are estimated from what other countries recorded trading with them. Those estimates miss trade with other non-reporting countries, so they can be low, and a non-reporting country can rank higher than shown or be missing from the list. World totals add both and leave out trade between two non-reporting countries. Figures are in current US dollars; reported imports are mostly valued CIF and exports FOB, and exports include re-exports. The UN Comtrade links show the underlying records; they can also list a few reporters left out here (regional groups and older HS editions).
Source: UN Comtrade (United Nations Statistics Division), 2025 annual data.
Brazil NCM code for 0101.21
Brazil does not split HS 0101.21: its NCM code is 0101.21.00.
All Brazil NCM codes in heading 01.01 →
Source: Siscomex NCM table, updated Oct 2026. The Portuguese text is official; the English is our translation.
Questions about HS 0101.21
What is HS code 010121?
HS code 010121 is a 6-digit subheading in the Harmonized System that covers: Horses; live, pure-bred breeding animals. This HS code covers live pure-bred horses specifically traded for breeding purposes. This is a high-value segment of the international livestock market, driven by the demand for superior genetics to improve bloodlines in equestrian sports, racing, and specialized breeding programs. Importers are typically wealthy individuals, professional stables, and large breeding farms seeking to enhance performance, conformation, or specific traits in their herds. Exporters are often countries with established reputations for producing elite horses. Key considerations in this trade include meticulous pedigree documentation, stringent health certifications, complex logistics for safe and humane transport, and significant insurance coverage due to the high value of these animals. The focus is entirely on genetic contribution rather than immediate use.
What products fall under HS code 010121?
Thoroughbred stallions, Arabian mares, Warmblood dressage horses, Quarter Horse broodmares, Standardbred pacers, Friesian breeding stock, Akhal-Teke breeding horses
What are common misclassifications for HS code 010121?
Can be confused with 010129 (other live horses) if pedigree documentation is incomplete or the animal's primary purpose isn't explicitly breeding, leading to lower valuation.
Which countries are the top exporters of goods under HS code 010121?
In 2025, the top exporters of HS code 010121 in UN Comtrade data were the United Kingdom ($428M, 25% of world exports), Ireland ($414M) and the United States ($273M). World exports came to about $1.7B, adding countries' reported figures and partner-based estimates for those that did not report (UN Comtrade data). Countries that did not report 2025 data are estimated from partner records, which can understate them.
Which countries are the top importers of goods under HS code 010121?
In 2025, the top importers of HS code 010121 in UN Comtrade data were the United Kingdom ($608M, 39% of world imports), Ireland ($387M) and France ($115M). World imports came to about $1.6B, adding countries' reported figures and partner-based estimates for those that did not report (UN Comtrade data). Countries that did not report 2025 data are estimated from partner records, which can understate them.
How is HS code 010121 structured?
HS code 010121 is a 6-digit subheading under the Harmonized System. The first 2 digits (01) identify the chapter, digits 3-4 (01) identify the heading, and digits 5-6 (21) specify the subheading. This code is standardized globally by the World Customs Organization.
What is the Brazil NCM code for HS code 010121?
In Brazil, HS code 010121 is NCM 0101.21.00. The last two digits are 00 because Brazil does not split this HS code further.