HS code · 2-digit chapter
HS Code 11 – Products of the milling industry; malt, starches, inulin, wheat gluten
What HS 11 covers
Chapter 11 of the Harmonized System (HS) is dedicated to 'Products of the milling industry; malt, starches, inulin, wheat gluten,' encompassing a crucial segment of global agricultural trade. This chapter primarily covers the initial stages of processing cereals, leguminous vegetables, and certain roots and tubers, transforming them into foundational ingredients for various industries. Its scope includes flours, groats, meal, pellets, flakes, granules, and other worked cereal grains, as well as distinct products like malt, starches, inulin, and wheat gluten. The boundary of this classification lies in the degree of processing; it generally excludes raw, unprocessed grains (Chapter 10) and highly processed food preparations (Chapters 19 or 21). Key sub-categories within this chapter include headings for cereal flours (1101-1102), cereal groats, meal, and pellets (1103), other worked cereal grains (1104), flour and flakes of potatoes (1105), flour of dried leguminous vegetables and sago/tapioca (1106), malt (1107), starches and inulin (1108), and wheat gluten (1109). Accurate classification under Chapter 11 is paramount for trade compliance, as it directly impacts applicable import duties, taxes, quotas, and regulatory requirements, including food safety standards and phytosanitary certifications. Historically, these products have been vital commodities, underpinning global food security and serving as essential raw materials for baking, brewing, confectionery, and various industrial applications. The trade in these milled products reflects global dietary patterns and the intricate supply chains supporting the food and beverage sectors worldwide.
- Covers
- Wheat flour
- Rye flour
- Maize (corn) flour
- Rice flour
- Barley flour
- Oat flour
- Groats of oats
- Meal of wheat
- Pellets of maize
- Rolled oats
- Flaked barley
- Pearled barley
- Potato flour
- Potato flakes
- Pea flour
- Lentil flour
- Sago
- Tapioca starch
- Maize (corn) starch
- Potato starch
- Wheat starch
- Rice starch
- Inulin
- Roasted malt
- Unmalted wheat
- Wheat gluten
- Examples
A major European bakery chain in Germany regularly imports high-protein wheat flour (HS 1101.00) from Canada, leveraging established transatlantic shipping routes to ensure consistent quality for their bread and pastry production. In another scenario, a craft brewery in Japan sources specialty roasted barley malt (HS 1107.10) from Belgium, utilizing containerized ocean freight across the Pacific to achieve specific flavor profiles in their beers. Furthermore, a large food manufacturer in the United States imports tapioca starch (HS 1108.14) from Thailand, where it is a primary agricultural export, for use as a thickening agent in sauces and processed foods, often shipped via bulk carriers through the Pacific Ocean. A health and wellness company in Australia imports inulin powder (HS 1108.20) from the Netherlands for its dietary fiber supplements, typically using air cargo for higher value, lower volume shipments.
Headings in chapter 11 9
Codes often confused with 11
Common mistake. Traders frequently make classification errors when dealing with Chapter 11 products. A common mistake is confusing them with raw cereals classified under Chapter 10 (e.g., un-milled wheat, maize). The key distinction lies in the level of processing: Chapter 10 is for whole, unprocessed grains, while Chapter 11 covers products that have undergone milling or other initial processing. Another frequent error is classifying more highly processed food preparations, such as pasta, bread, biscuits, or malt extract, under Chapter 11. These typically fall under Chapter 19 ('Preparations of cereals, flour, starch or milk'), as they involve further manufacturing beyond primary milling. Lastly, residues from the milling industry, like bran or sharps, are often confused with milled products but are correctly classified under Chapter 23 ('Residues and waste from the food industries'), as they are by-products rather than the primary intended milled product.
Top exporters and importers of HS code 11, 2025
In 2025, the largest exporter of HS code 11 in UN Comtrade data was Germany, with 9.9% of world exports; the largest importer in UN Comtrade data was the United States, with 9.0% 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 Germany $2.5B 9.9% of world exports
- 2 Belgium $1.5B 6.0% of world exports
- 3 Thailand $1.4B 5.5% of world exports
World total: $25.1B Reported figures on UN Comtrade ↗
Top importers 2025 · share of world imports
- 1 United States $2.3B 9.0% of world imports
- 2 China $2.2B 8.3% of world imports
- 3 Germany $1.1B 4.1% of world imports
World total: $26.1B 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.
Questions about HS 11
What is HS code 11?
HS code 11 is a 2-digit chapter in the Harmonized System that covers: Products of the milling industry; malt, starches, inulin, wheat gluten. Chapter 11 of the Harmonized System (HS) is dedicated to 'Products of the milling industry; malt, starches, inulin, wheat gluten,' encompassing a crucial segment of global agricultural trade. This chapter primarily covers the initial stages of processing cereals, leguminous vegetables, and certain roots and tubers, transforming them into foundational ingredients for various industries. Its scope includes flours, groats, meal, pellets, flakes, granules, and other worked cereal grains, as well as distinct products like malt, starches, inulin, and wheat gluten. The boundary of this classification lies in the degree of processing; it generally excludes raw, unprocessed grains (Chapter 10) and highly processed food preparations (Chapters 19 or 21). Key sub-categories within this chapter include headings for cereal flours (1101-1102), cereal groats, meal, and pellets (1103), other worked cereal grains (1104), flour and flakes of potatoes (1105), flour of dried leguminous vegetables and sago/tapioca (1106), malt (1107), starches and inulin (1108), and wheat gluten (1109). Accurate classification under Chapter 11 is paramount for trade compliance, as it directly impacts applicable import duties, taxes, quotas, and regulatory requirements, including food safety standards and phytosanitary certifications. Historically, these products have been vital commodities, underpinning global food security and serving as essential raw materials for baking, brewing, confectionery, and various industrial applications. The trade in these milled products reflects global dietary patterns and the intricate supply chains supporting the food and beverage sectors worldwide.
What products fall under HS code 11?
Wheat flour, rye flour, maize (corn) flour, rice flour, barley flour, oat flour, groats of oats, meal of wheat, pellets of maize, rolled oats, flaked barley, pearled barley, potato flour, potato flakes, pea flour, lentil flour, sago, tapioca starch, maize (corn) starch, potato starch, wheat starch, rice starch, inulin, roasted malt, unmalted wheat, wheat gluten
What are common misclassifications for HS code 11?
Traders frequently make classification errors when dealing with Chapter 11 products. A common mistake is confusing them with raw cereals classified under Chapter 10 (e.g., un-milled wheat, maize). The key distinction lies in the level of processing: Chapter 10 is for whole, unprocessed grains, while Chapter 11 covers products that have undergone milling or other initial processing. Another frequent error is classifying more highly processed food preparations, such as pasta, bread, biscuits, or malt extract, under Chapter 11. These typically fall under Chapter 19 ('Preparations of cereals, flour, starch or milk'), as they involve further manufacturing beyond primary milling. Lastly, residues from the milling industry, like bran or sharps, are often confused with milled products but are correctly classified under Chapter 23 ('Residues and waste from the food industries'), as they are by-products rather than the primary intended milled product.
Which countries are the top exporters of goods under HS code 11?
In 2025, the top exporters of HS code 11 in UN Comtrade data were Germany ($2.5B, 9.9% of world exports), Belgium ($1.5B) and Thailand ($1.4B). World exports came to about $25.1B, 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 11?
In 2025, the top importers of HS code 11 in UN Comtrade data were the United States ($2.3B, 9.0% of world imports), China ($2.2B) and Germany ($1.1B). World imports came to about $26.1B, 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 11 structured?
HS code 11 is a 2-digit chapter code in the Harmonized System maintained by the World Customs Organization. It represents a broad category of goods and contains multiple 4-digit headings and 6-digit subheadings for more specific classifications.