HS code · 6-digit subheading
HS Code 1704.90 – Sugar confectionery; (excluding chewing gum, including white chocolate), not containing cocoa
HS code 1704.90 is the 6-digit subheading for sugar confectionery, (excluding chewing gum, including white chocolate), not containing cocoa. It is used for gummy bears, lollipops, hard candies, toffees and marshmallows.
What HS 1704.90 covers
This category covers a broad spectrum of sugar confectionery, excluding chewing gum, but notably including white chocolate, all without cocoa. It's a vibrant and diverse sector of the food industry, catering to a wide range of tastes and preferences globally. Importers are typically countries with strong consumer markets for sweets, such as the USA, Germany, and the UK, while major exporters include countries with robust confectionery manufacturing, like Germany, the Netherlands, and China. The trade in these goods is often influenced by seasonal demand, cultural traditions, and marketing trends. Key considerations for traders include ingredient sourcing (sugar, glucose, gelatin, flavorings), packaging innovation, and compliance with food safety regulations. The market sees continuous innovation in flavors, textures, and dietary options, such as vegan or allergen-free candies.
- Covers
- Gummy bears
- Lollipops
- Hard candies
- Toffees
- Marshmallows
- White chocolate bars
- Jelly beans
- Liquorice
- Examples
- Haribo Goldbears
- Chupa Chups
- Werther's Original
- Cadbury White Chocolate
- Jelly Belly
Codes often confused with 1704.90
Common mistake. Often confused with 170410 (chewing gum) or 1806 (chocolate confectionery) if the cocoa content is ambiguous, especially for white chocolate which is explicitly included here.
Top exporters and importers of HS code 170490, 2025
In 2025, the largest exporter of HS code 170490 in UN Comtrade data was Germany, with 12% of world exports; the largest importer in UN Comtrade data was the United States, with 18% of world imports. Mexico reports $241M of its chapter 17 exports without product detail (confidential), so it may also belong among the top exporters.
Top exporters 2025 · share of world exports
- 1 Germany $2.1B 12% of world exports
- 2 China $1.8B 10% of world exports
- 3 Belgium $1.2B 6.9% of world exports
Mexico reports $241M of its chapter 17 exports without product detail (confidential), so it may also belong among the top exporters.
World total: $17.8B Reported figures on UN Comtrade ↗
Top importers 2025 · share of world imports
- 1 United States $3.2B 18% of world imports
- 2 United Kingdom $1.2B 6.9% of world imports
- 3 Germany $1.2B 6.8% of world imports
World total: $17.8B 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 codes for 1704.90 3
Brazil splits HS 1704.90 into 3 NCM codes, Mercosur's 8-digit tariff lines.
- 1704.90.10 White chocolateChocolate branco
- 1704.90.20 Caramels, comfits, drops and pastillesCaramelos, confeitos, dropes, pastilhas, e produtos semelhantes
- 1704.90.90 Other sugar confectionery without cocoaOutros
All Brazil NCM codes in heading 17.04 →
Source: Siscomex NCM table, updated Oct 2026. The Portuguese text is official; the English is our translation.
Questions about HS 1704.90
What is HS code 170490?
HS code 170490 is a 6-digit subheading in the Harmonized System that covers: Sugar confectionery; (excluding chewing gum, including white chocolate), not containing cocoa. This category covers a broad spectrum of sugar confectionery, excluding chewing gum, but notably including white chocolate, all without cocoa. It's a vibrant and diverse sector of the food industry, catering to a wide range of tastes and preferences globally. Importers are typically countries with strong consumer markets for sweets, such as the USA, Germany, and the UK, while major exporters include countries with robust confectionery manufacturing, like Germany, the Netherlands, and China. The trade in these goods is often influenced by seasonal demand, cultural traditions, and marketing trends. Key considerations for traders include ingredient sourcing (sugar, glucose, gelatin, flavorings), packaging innovation, and compliance with food safety regulations. The market sees continuous innovation in flavors, textures, and dietary options, such as vegan or allergen-free candies.
What products fall under HS code 170490?
Gummy bears, lollipops, hard candies, toffees, marshmallows, white chocolate bars, jelly beans, liquorice
What are common misclassifications for HS code 170490?
Often confused with 170410 (chewing gum) or 1806 (chocolate confectionery) if the cocoa content is ambiguous, especially for white chocolate which is explicitly included here.
Which countries are the top exporters of goods under HS code 170490?
In 2025, the top exporters of HS code 170490 in UN Comtrade data were Germany ($2.1B, 12% of world exports), China ($1.8B) and Belgium ($1.2B). World exports came to about $17.8B, adding countries' reported figures and partner-based estimates for those that did not report (UN Comtrade data). Mexico reports $241M of its chapter 17 exports without product detail (confidential), so it may also belong among the top exporters.
Which countries are the top importers of goods under HS code 170490?
In 2025, the top importers of HS code 170490 in UN Comtrade data were the United States ($3.2B, 18% of world imports), the United Kingdom ($1.2B) and Germany ($1.2B). World imports came to about $17.8B, 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 170490 structured?
HS code 170490 is a 6-digit subheading under the Harmonized System. The first 2 digits (17) identify the chapter, digits 3-4 (04) 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 170490?
Brazil splits HS code 170490 into 3 NCM codes: 1704.90.10 (White chocolate), 1704.90.20 (Caramels, comfits, drops and pastilles), 1704.90.90 (Other sugar confectionery without cocoa). The first 6 digits of each match the HS code.