HS Code 11.02 – Cereal flours; other than of wheat or meslin

HS code 1102 is a 4-digit heading in the Harmonized System that covers: Cereal flours; other than of wheat or meslin. Heading 1102 specifically encompasses 'Cereal flours; other than of wheat or meslin'. This classification is crucial for distinguishing flours made from a wide array of cereals like corn, rice, oats, barley, rye, sorghum, millet, and buckwheat, from those derived from wheat or meslin (a mixture of wheat and rye) which fall under HS 1101. The scope extends to all forms of flour produced by the milling of these grains, regardless of their intended use, be it for human consumption, animal feed, or industrial applications. Key sub-categories often include specific cereal flours such as rice flour, corn flour, and oat flour, reflecting their distinct properties and market demands. This classification is vital for international trade compliance as it dictates applicable tariffs, import quotas, and food safety regulations, which can vary significantly between different types of cereal flours. For instance, gluten-free products heavily rely on flours from this heading, making accurate classification essential for consumer labeling and market access. Historically, the trade of these non-wheat flours has grown with dietary trends, such as the increasing demand for gluten-free alternatives and diverse culinary ingredients. This heading sits within Chapter 11, which covers 'Products of the milling industry; malt; starches; inulin; wheat gluten,' illustrating its role as an intermediate processed agricultural product, a step beyond raw grains (Chapter 10) but before more highly prepared foodstuffs (Chapters 19 or 20).

Corn flour, rice flour, oat flour, barley flour, rye flour, sorghum flour, millet flour, buckwheat flour, quinoa flour, teff flour, amaranth flour, brown rice flour, white rice flour, gluten-free flour blends (primarily non-wheat cereal), blue corn flour, yellow corn flour, black rice flour, glutenous rice flour, malted barley flour, pregelatinized corn flour, instant oat flour, organic rice flour, whole grain oat flour, sprouted grain corn flour

Common misclassifications under 1102 often involve confusing it with HS 1101 for wheat or meslin flour, which is a fundamental distinction. Another frequent error is classifying whole, unground cereal grains (e.g., rice of 1006, corn of 1005) under 1102, rather than Chapter 10, as 1102 specifically covers milled products. Traders might also mistakenly classify highly processed or prepared cereal products (e.g., prepared breakfast cereals of 1904) here, overlooking the fact that 1102 is for basic flours, not finished food items. The key is the degree of processing and the specific cereal type.

In 2025, the top exporters of HS code 1102 in UN Comtrade data were Mexico ($193M, 14% of world exports), Thailand ($169M) and Italy ($114M). World exports came to about $1.4B, 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.

In 2025, the top importers of HS code 1102 in UN Comtrade data were the United States ($289M, 18% of world imports), Spain ($90M) and Canada ($76M). 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.

HS code 1102 is a 4-digit heading under Chapter 11 of the Harmonized System. The first 2 digits (11) identify the chapter, and digits 3-4 (02) specify the heading. This code contains multiple 6-digit subheadings for precise product classification.