HS code · 6-digit subheading
HS Code 1204.00 – Oil seeds; linseed, whether or not broken
HS code 1204.00 is the 6-digit subheading for oil seeds, linseed, whether or not broken. It is used for whole flaxseed, ground flaxseed, linseed oil seeds, flaxseed meal (as byproduct) and flaxseed flour (as byproduct).
What HS 1204.00 covers
Linseed, also known as flaxseed, is a significant agricultural commodity traded globally, primarily for its oil and nutritional benefits. Major exporters include Canada, Russia, and Kazakhstan, while key importers are often countries with developed food processing industries, such as Belgium, Germany, and the United States, where it's used in health foods, animal feed, and industrial applications like paints and linoleum. The trade in linseed is influenced by global demand for healthy oils, animal feed ingredients, and renewable industrial raw materials. Price fluctuations are common due to weather conditions affecting harvests, geopolitical factors, and shifts in dietary trends. Buyers often look for specific quality parameters, including oil content, purity, and absence of contaminants, making quality control a critical aspect of international transactions. The versatility of linseed ensures its consistent presence in global agricultural trade, supporting various sectors from food to manufacturing.
- Covers
- Whole flaxseed
- Ground flaxseed
- Linseed oil seeds
- Flaxseed meal (as byproduct)
- Flaxseed flour (as byproduct)
- Roasted flaxseed
- Organic flaxseed
- Examples
- Bob's Red Mill Organic Flaxseed Meal
- Spectrum Essentials Organic Ground Flaxseed
- Barlean's Organic Lignan Flax Oil (derived from seeds)
- Manitoba Harvest Hemp Yeah! Organic Flaxseed
- Nature's Way Flaxseed Oil (derived from seeds)
Codes often confused with 1204.00
Common mistake. This code might be confused with 120810 (Flours, meals and pellets of oil seeds or oleaginous fruits, of linseed) if the seeds are processed into flour or meal, or with 151511 (Linseed oil, crude) if the oil has already been extracted.
Top exporters and importers of HS code 120400, 2025
In 2025, the largest exporter of HS code 120400 in UN Comtrade data was Russia, with about 31% of world exports; the largest importer in UN Comtrade data was China, with 37% 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 Russia* ~$508M 31% of world exports · partner records ↗
- 2 Kazakhstan $428M 26% of world exports
- 3 Canada $167M 10% of world exports
World total: $1.6B Reported figures on UN Comtrade ↗
Top importers 2025 · share of world imports
- 1 China $557M 37% of world imports
- 2 Belgium $260M 17% of world imports
- 3 Germany $114M 7.6% of world imports
World total: $1.5B 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 marked * did not, so their figures add up what other countries recorded trading with them, and their exports are valued at buyers' CIF prices. 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 1204.00 2
Brazil splits HS 1204.00 into 2 NCM codes, Mercosur's 8-digit tariff lines.
- 1204.00.10 Linseed (flaxseed) for sowingPara semeadura (sementeira)
- 1204.00.90 Linseed (flaxseed), not for sowingOutras
All Brazil NCM codes in heading 12.04 →
Source: Siscomex NCM table, updated Oct 2026. The Portuguese text is official; the English is our translation.
Questions about HS 1204.00
What is HS code 120400?
HS code 120400 is a 6-digit subheading in the Harmonized System that covers: Oil seeds; linseed, whether or not broken. Linseed, also known as flaxseed, is a significant agricultural commodity traded globally, primarily for its oil and nutritional benefits. Major exporters include Canada, Russia, and Kazakhstan, while key importers are often countries with developed food processing industries, such as Belgium, Germany, and the United States, where it's used in health foods, animal feed, and industrial applications like paints and linoleum. The trade in linseed is influenced by global demand for healthy oils, animal feed ingredients, and renewable industrial raw materials. Price fluctuations are common due to weather conditions affecting harvests, geopolitical factors, and shifts in dietary trends. Buyers often look for specific quality parameters, including oil content, purity, and absence of contaminants, making quality control a critical aspect of international transactions. The versatility of linseed ensures its consistent presence in global agricultural trade, supporting various sectors from food to manufacturing.
What products fall under HS code 120400?
Whole flaxseed, Ground flaxseed, Linseed oil seeds, Flaxseed meal (as byproduct), Flaxseed flour (as byproduct), Roasted flaxseed, Organic flaxseed
What are common misclassifications for HS code 120400?
This code might be confused with 120810 (Flours, meals and pellets of oil seeds or oleaginous fruits, of linseed) if the seeds are processed into flour or meal, or with 151511 (Linseed oil, crude) if the oil has already been extracted.
Which countries are the top exporters of goods under HS code 120400?
In 2025, the top exporters of HS code 120400 in UN Comtrade data were Russia (about $508M, 31% of world exports), Kazakhstan ($428M) and Canada ($167M). World exports 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.
Which countries are the top importers of goods under HS code 120400?
In 2025, the top importers of HS code 120400 in UN Comtrade data were China ($557M, 37% of world imports), Belgium ($260M) and Germany ($114M). World imports came to about $1.5B, 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.
How is HS code 120400 structured?
HS code 120400 is a 6-digit subheading under the Harmonized System. The first 2 digits (12) identify the chapter, digits 3-4 (04) identify the heading, and digits 5-6 (00) specify the subheading. This code is standardized globally by the World Customs Organization.
What is the Brazil NCM code for HS code 120400?
Brazil splits HS code 120400 into 2 NCM codes: 1204.00.10 (Linseed (flaxseed) for sowing), 1204.00.90 (Linseed (flaxseed), not for sowing). The first 6 digits of each match the HS code.