HS code · 6-digit subheading
HS Code 1208.90 – Flours and meals of oil seeds or oleaginous fruits; excluding soya beans and mustard seeds
HS code 1208.90 is the 6-digit subheading for flours and meals of oil seeds or oleaginous fruits, excluding soya beans and mustard seeds. It is used for sunflower seed meal, rapeseed meal (canola meal), linseed meal, palm kernel meal and cottonseed meal.
What HS 1208.90 covers
This HS code covers a diverse range of flours and meals derived from various oil seeds and oleaginous fruits, specifically excluding soya beans and mustard seeds. This category is crucial for specialized markets, offering alternative protein sources for animal feed, unique ingredients for human consumption, and raw materials for industrial applications. Examples include sunflower meal, rapeseed meal, linseed meal, and palm kernel meal, all byproducts of oil extraction. These products are traded globally, with importers seeking specific nutritional profiles for livestock, or unique textural and functional properties for food manufacturing. Exporters are typically countries with significant production of the respective oilseeds. Key things to know include the protein and fiber content, residual oil levels, and the presence of any anti-nutritional factors, which dictate their suitability for different uses. The EUDR designation means that the origin of the underlying oilseeds must be carefully traced to ensure they are not linked to deforestation, adding complexity to the supply chain for these diverse products.
- Covers
- Sunflower seed meal
- Rapeseed meal (canola meal)
- Linseed meal
- Palm kernel meal
- Cottonseed meal
- Peanut meal
- Safflower meal
- Sesame meal
- Examples
- Bunge Sunflower Meal
- Cargill Canola Meal
- ADM Linseed Meal
- Wilmar Palm Kernel Meal
- Louis Dreyfus Cottonseed Meal
Codes often confused with 1208.90
Common mistake. This code is often confused with 2306 (oil-cake and other solid residues of oil extraction) which covers similar products but is a broader category for residues, or with 120810 (soya bean flour/meal) if not carefully distinguishing the source.
Top exporters and importers of HS code 120890, 2025
In 2025, the largest exporter of HS code 120890 in UN Comtrade data was Greece, with 20% of world exports; the largest importer in UN Comtrade data was South Korea, with 28% 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 Greece $33M 20% of world exports
- 2 Italy $31M 19% of world exports
- 3 China $24M 14% of world exports
World total: $167M Reported figures on UN Comtrade ↗
Top importers 2025 · share of world imports
- 1 South Korea $58M 28% of world imports
- 2 Spain $20M 10.0% of world imports
- 3 United Kingdom $19M 9.4% of world imports
World total: $205M 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.
Brazil NCM code for 1208.90
Brazil does not split HS 1208.90: its NCM code is 1208.90.00.
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 1208.90
What is HS code 120890?
HS code 120890 is a 6-digit subheading in the Harmonized System that covers: Flours and meals of oil seeds or oleaginous fruits; excluding soya beans and mustard seeds. This HS code covers a diverse range of flours and meals derived from various oil seeds and oleaginous fruits, specifically excluding soya beans and mustard seeds. This category is crucial for specialized markets, offering alternative protein sources for animal feed, unique ingredients for human consumption, and raw materials for industrial applications. Examples include sunflower meal, rapeseed meal, linseed meal, and palm kernel meal, all byproducts of oil extraction. These products are traded globally, with importers seeking specific nutritional profiles for livestock, or unique textural and functional properties for food manufacturing. Exporters are typically countries with significant production of the respective oilseeds. Key things to know include the protein and fiber content, residual oil levels, and the presence of any anti-nutritional factors, which dictate their suitability for different uses. The EUDR designation means that the origin of the underlying oilseeds must be carefully traced to ensure they are not linked to deforestation, adding complexity to the supply chain for these diverse products.
What products fall under HS code 120890?
Sunflower seed meal, Rapeseed meal (canola meal), Linseed meal, Palm kernel meal, Cottonseed meal, Peanut meal, Safflower meal, Sesame meal
What are common misclassifications for HS code 120890?
This code is often confused with 2306 (oil-cake and other solid residues of oil extraction) which covers similar products but is a broader category for residues, or with 120810 (soya bean flour/meal) if not carefully distinguishing the source.
Which countries are the top exporters of goods under HS code 120890?
In 2025, the top exporters of HS code 120890 in UN Comtrade data were Greece ($33M, 20% of world exports), Italy ($31M) and China ($24M). World exports came to about $167M, 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 120890?
In 2025, the top importers of HS code 120890 in UN Comtrade data were South Korea ($58M, 28% of world imports), Spain ($20M) and the United Kingdom ($19M). World imports came to about $205M, 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 120890 structured?
HS code 120890 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 (90) specify the subheading. This code is standardized globally by the World Customs Organization.
What is the Brazil NCM code for HS code 120890?
In Brazil, HS code 120890 is NCM 1208.90.00. The last two digits are 00 because Brazil does not split this HS code further.