HS Code 11.08 – Starches; inulin

HS code 1108 is a 4-digit heading in the Harmonized System that covers: Starches; inulin. Heading 1108 encompasses 'Starches; inulin,' a critical category for a wide array of industrial and food applications. This classification includes various types of starches derived from cereals (e.g., corn, wheat, rice) and tuberous plants (e.g., potato, tapioca), along with inulin, a natural dietary fiber. The scope covers raw starches, chemically or physically modified starches (e.g., pregelatinized, oxidized, esterified, etherified), and inulin in powder or granular forms. It's crucial to distinguish these from more highly modified starches used as glues or adhesives (HS 3505) or prepared food products where starch is an ingredient but not the primary commodity (HS 2106). Key sub-categories include native starches like corn starch, potato starch, and tapioca starch, as well as various modified starches tailored for specific functionalities, and different forms of inulin (e.g., chicory inulin, agave inulin). Proper classification under 1108 is paramount for trade compliance, affecting import duties, food safety regulations, labeling requirements, and even potential subsidies or quotas. Starches have a long history of industrial use, and inulin has gained significant trade prominence as a functional food ingredient. This heading aligns perfectly with Chapter 11's focus on primary processed products from agricultural raw materials, highlighting their transformation into valuable intermediate goods.

Potato starch, corn starch, maize starch, wheat starch, tapioca starch, rice starch, pea starch, sago starch, arrowroot starch, sweet potato starch, modified corn starch, pregelatinized wheat starch, oxidized potato starch, esterified tapioca starch, soluble starch, inulin powder, chicory inulin, agave inulin, Jerusalem artichoke inulin, native potato starch, waxy maize starch, high amylose maize starch, dextrinized starch (if not falling under 3505), maltodextrin (if starch-based and not highly hydrolyzed).

Misclassification of products under HS 1108 often occurs with more highly processed or prepared starch products. HS 3505 (Dextrins and other modified starches and glues based on starches) is frequently confused, as it covers starches that have undergone more significant chemical modification or are specifically prepared as adhesives. Another common error is classifying prepared tapioca products, like tapioca pearls or sago, which fall under HS 1903 (Tapioca and substitutes therefor prepared from starch). Finally, food preparations where starch is an ingredient but not the primary product (e.g., instant pudding mixes) are generally classified under HS 2106 (Food preparations not elsewhere specified or included). The key distinction for 1108 is that it covers starches and inulin as raw or simply modified ingredients, not as finished food items or complex chemical derivatives.

In 2025, the top exporters of HS code 1108 in UN Comtrade data were Thailand ($1.2B, 20% of world exports), Vietnam (about $971M) and Germany ($511M). World exports came to about $6.0B, 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 1108 in UN Comtrade data were China ($1.9B, 30% of world imports), the United States ($516M) and Germany ($360M). World imports came to about $6.5B, 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 1108 is a 4-digit heading under Chapter 11 of the Harmonized System. The first 2 digits (11) identify the chapter, and digits 3-4 (08) specify the heading. This code contains multiple 6-digit subheadings for precise product classification.