HS code · 6-digit subheading
HS Code 1003.90 – Cereals; barley, other than seed
HS code 1003.90 is the 6-digit subheading for cereals, barley, other than seed. It is used for malting barley, feed barley, brewing barley, pearl barley (unprocessed grain) and hull-less barley.
What HS 1003.90 covers
This HS code covers barley grain that is not intended for sowing, making it a significant commodity in global trade for various industries. Barley is primarily used for malting in the brewing and distilling industries, as a key ingredient in animal feed, and to a lesser extent, for human consumption in products like pearl barley and barley flour. International trade in non-seed barley is substantial, driven by the global demand for beer, spirits, and livestock feed. Major importers include countries with large brewing industries or significant livestock populations, such as China, Saudi Arabia, and Belgium. Exporters are typically large agricultural producers with suitable climates for barley cultivation, including Australia, France, and Canada. The trade involves considerations for grain quality, protein content (especially for malting barley), moisture levels, and adherence to food safety regulations, with global prices influenced by harvest yields and market demand.
- Covers
- Malting barley
- Feed barley
- Brewing barley
- Pearl barley (unprocessed grain)
- Hull-less barley
- Covered barley
- Distilling barley
- Examples
- Coors Malting Barley
- Anheuser-Busch InBev Barley (as raw material)
- Cargill Barley
- ADM Barley
- Bunge Barley
Codes often confused with 1003.90
Common mistake. This code is distinct from 100310 (barley, seed) and can be confused with other cereal grains like wheat (100199) or rye (100290) if not accurately identified, leading to incorrect tariffs.
Top exporters and importers of HS code 100390, 2025
In 2025, the largest exporter of HS code 100390 in UN Comtrade data was Australia, with 25% of world exports; the largest importer in UN Comtrade data was China, with 29% 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 Australia $2.2B 25% of world exports
- 2 France $1.4B 16% of world exports
- 3 Germany $710M 8.2% of world exports
World total: $8.6B Reported figures on UN Comtrade ↗
Top importers 2025 · share of world imports
- 1 China $2.7B 29% of world imports
- 2 Saudi Arabia $1.2B 13% of world imports
- 3 Netherlands $544M 5.9% of world imports
World total: $9.2B 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 codes for 1003.90 3
Brazil splits HS 1003.90 into 3 NCM codes, Mercosur's 8-digit tariff lines.
- 1003.90.10 Malting (brewing) barleyCervejeira
- 1003.90.80 Other barley, in grainOutras, em grão
- 1003.90.90 Other barley, not elsewhere specifiedOutras
All Brazil NCM codes in heading 10.03 →
Source: Siscomex NCM table, updated Oct 2026. The Portuguese text is official; the English is our translation.
Questions about HS 1003.90
What is HS code 100390?
HS code 100390 is a 6-digit subheading in the Harmonized System that covers: Cereals; barley, other than seed. This HS code covers barley grain that is not intended for sowing, making it a significant commodity in global trade for various industries. Barley is primarily used for malting in the brewing and distilling industries, as a key ingredient in animal feed, and to a lesser extent, for human consumption in products like pearl barley and barley flour. International trade in non-seed barley is substantial, driven by the global demand for beer, spirits, and livestock feed. Major importers include countries with large brewing industries or significant livestock populations, such as China, Saudi Arabia, and Belgium. Exporters are typically large agricultural producers with suitable climates for barley cultivation, including Australia, France, and Canada. The trade involves considerations for grain quality, protein content (especially for malting barley), moisture levels, and adherence to food safety regulations, with global prices influenced by harvest yields and market demand.
What products fall under HS code 100390?
Malting barley, Feed barley, Brewing barley, Pearl barley (unprocessed grain), Hull-less barley, Covered barley, Distilling barley
What are common misclassifications for HS code 100390?
This code is distinct from 100310 (barley, seed) and can be confused with other cereal grains like wheat (100199) or rye (100290) if not accurately identified, leading to incorrect tariffs.
Which countries are the top exporters of goods under HS code 100390?
In 2025, the top exporters of HS code 100390 in UN Comtrade data were Australia ($2.2B, 25% of world exports), France ($1.4B) and Germany ($710M). World exports came to about $8.6B, 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.
Which countries are the top importers of goods under HS code 100390?
In 2025, the top importers of HS code 100390 in UN Comtrade data were China ($2.7B, 29% of world imports), Saudi Arabia ($1.2B) and the Netherlands ($544M). World imports came to about $9.2B, 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 100390 structured?
HS code 100390 is a 6-digit subheading under the Harmonized System. The first 2 digits (10) identify the chapter, digits 3-4 (03) identify the heading, and digits 5-6 (90) specify the subheading. This code is standardized globally by the World Customs Organization.
What is the Brazil NCM code for HS code 100390?
Brazil splits HS code 100390 into 3 NCM codes: 1003.90.10 (Malting (brewing) barley), 1003.90.80 (Other barley, in grain), 1003.90.90 (Other barley, not elsewhere specified). The first 6 digits of each match the HS code.