HS code · 6-digit subheading
HS Code 1208.10 – Flours and meals; of soya beans
HS code 1208.10 is the 6-digit subheading for flours and meals, of soya beans. It is used for defatted soya bean meal, full-fat soya bean flour, toasted soya bean meal, organic soya bean flour and non-GMO soya bean meal.
What HS 1208.10 covers
Soya bean flour and meal are cornerstone commodities in global agricultural trade, primarily serving as a vital protein source in animal feed and increasingly in human food products. Soya bean meal, a byproduct of soybean oil extraction, is the most widely traded protein meal globally, essential for livestock, poultry, and aquaculture industries. Soya flour, on the other hand, is used in baking, as a thickener, and as a protein enhancer in various food applications, including plant-based meat alternatives. Major importers are typically countries with large livestock industries or growing demand for plant-based proteins, while exporters are dominant soybean-producing nations. Key things to know include the protein content (e.g., 44% or 48% protein meal), whether it's defatted or full-fat, and its non-GMO or organic status, all of which significantly impact market value. The EUDR tag is particularly relevant here, as soybeans are a major driver of deforestation in certain regions, necessitating rigorous due diligence for all imports into the EU market to ensure sustainable sourcing.
- Covers
- Defatted soya bean meal
- Full-fat soya bean flour
- Toasted soya bean meal
- Organic soya bean flour
- Non-GMO soya bean meal
- Soya protein concentrate
- Textured soya protein
- Examples
- ADM Soya Meal
- Cargill Soya Flour
- Bunge Soya Protein
- Louis Dreyfus Soya Meal
- Purina Animal Nutrition Soya Meal
Codes often confused with 1208.10
Common mistake. This code can be confused with 230400 (oil-cake and other solid residues of soya-bean oil extraction) which is essentially the same product but classified under a different chapter for residues.
Top exporters and importers of HS code 120810, 2025
In 2025, the largest exporter of HS code 120810 in UN Comtrade data was the United States, with 72% of world exports; the largest importer in UN Comtrade data was the Dominican Republic, with 23% 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 United States $1.0B 72% of world exports
- 2 Italy $152M 10% of world exports
- 3 Nigeria $63M 4.3% of world exports
World total: $1.5B Reported figures on UN Comtrade ↗
Top importers 2025 · share of world imports
- 1 Dominican Republic $154M 23% of world imports
- 2 Canada $127M 19% of world imports
- 3 Vietnam* ~$72M 11% of world imports · partner records ↗
World total: $678M 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 code for 1208.10
Brazil does not split HS 1208.10: its NCM code is 1208.10.00.
All Brazil NCM codes in heading 12.08 →
Source: Siscomex NCM table, updated Oct 2026. The Portuguese text is official; the English is our translation.
EU Regulatory Requirements
This product category is subject to the EU Deforestation Regulation (EUDR). Importers must provide due diligence statements proving the product was not produced on deforested land after December 31, 2020.
Questions about HS 1208.10
What is HS code 120810?
HS code 120810 is a 6-digit subheading in the Harmonized System that covers: Flours and meals; of soya beans. Soya bean flour and meal are cornerstone commodities in global agricultural trade, primarily serving as a vital protein source in animal feed and increasingly in human food products. Soya bean meal, a byproduct of soybean oil extraction, is the most widely traded protein meal globally, essential for livestock, poultry, and aquaculture industries. Soya flour, on the other hand, is used in baking, as a thickener, and as a protein enhancer in various food applications, including plant-based meat alternatives. Major importers are typically countries with large livestock industries or growing demand for plant-based proteins, while exporters are dominant soybean-producing nations. Key things to know include the protein content (e.g., 44% or 48% protein meal), whether it's defatted or full-fat, and its non-GMO or organic status, all of which significantly impact market value. The EUDR tag is particularly relevant here, as soybeans are a major driver of deforestation in certain regions, necessitating rigorous due diligence for all imports into the EU market to ensure sustainable sourcing.
What products fall under HS code 120810?
Defatted soya bean meal, Full-fat soya bean flour, Toasted soya bean meal, Organic soya bean flour, Non-GMO soya bean meal, Soya protein concentrate, Textured soya protein
What are common misclassifications for HS code 120810?
This code can be confused with 230400 (oil-cake and other solid residues of soya-bean oil extraction) which is essentially the same product but classified under a different chapter for residues.
Which countries are the top exporters of goods under HS code 120810?
In 2025, the top exporters of HS code 120810 in UN Comtrade data were the United States ($1.0B, 72% of world exports), Italy ($152M) and Nigeria ($63M). World exports 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.
Which countries are the top importers of goods under HS code 120810?
In 2025, the top importers of HS code 120810 in UN Comtrade data were the Dominican Republic ($154M, 23% of world imports), Canada ($127M) and Vietnam (about $72M). World imports came to about $678M, 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 120810 structured?
HS code 120810 is a 6-digit subheading under the Harmonized System. The first 2 digits (12) identify the chapter, digits 3-4 (08) identify the heading, and digits 5-6 (10) specify the subheading. This code is standardized globally by the World Customs Organization.
What is the Brazil NCM code for HS code 120810?
In Brazil, HS code 120810 is NCM 1208.10.00. The last two digits are 00 because Brazil does not split this HS code further.