HS code · 6-digit subheading
HS Code 2940.00 – Sugars, chemically pure, other than sucrose, lactose, maltose, glucose and fructose; sugar ethers, sugar acetals and sugar esters, and their salts, other than the products of heading 29.37, 29.38, or 29.39
HS code 2940.00 is the 6-digit subheading for sugars, chemically pure, other than sucrose, lactose, maltose, glucose and fructose, sugar ethers, sugar acetals and sugar esters, and their salts, other than the products of heading 29.37, 29.38, or 29.39. It is used for xylose, ribose, mannose, arabinose and rhamnose.
What HS 2940.00 covers
This HS code encompasses chemically pure sugars other than the common bulk sugars like sucrose, lactose, maltose, glucose, and fructose. It also includes sugar ethers, sugar acetals, and sugar esters, and their salts, provided they are not products of headings 29.37, 29.38, or 29.39. These specialized compounds are vital for the pharmaceutical industry, serving as excipients, active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs), or intermediates in complex drug synthesis. They are also used in biotechnology for cell culture media, in specialized food applications for unique functional properties, and extensively in scientific research. Trade involves high-purity, often expensive, compounds, typically in smaller volumes compared to bulk sugars. Importers are primarily pharmaceutical manufacturers, research laboratories, and specialized food ingredient companies. Exporters are chemical synthesis companies and specialized sugar refiners. Key considerations include stringent purity standards, regulatory compliance (especially for pharmaceutical use), and intellectual property for novel derivatives.
- Covers
- Xylose
- Ribose
- Mannose
- Arabinose
- Rhamnose
- Trehalose
- Chemically pure sorbitol
- Chemically pure mannitol
- Examples
- D-Xylose for diagnostic tests
- D-Ribose supplements
- Trehalose in food preservation
- Mannitol in pharmaceutical formulations
Codes often confused with 2940.00
Common mistake. This code can be confused with 1702 (other sugars in solid form) if the sugars are not chemically pure, or with 3824 (prepared binders for foundry moulds or products of the chemical or allied industries) if they are part of a mixture.
Top exporters and importers of HS code 294000, 2025
In 2025, the largest exporter of HS code 294000 in UN Comtrade data was Germany, with 22% of world exports; the largest importer in UN Comtrade data was the United States, with 14% 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 Germany $346M 22% of world exports
- 2 China $307M 20% of world exports
- 3 United States $191M 12% of world exports
World total: $1.6B Reported figures on UN Comtrade ↗
Top importers 2025 · share of world imports
- 1 United States $233M 14% of world imports
- 2 Germany $126M 7.5% of world imports
- 3 Japan $100M 6.0% of world imports
World total: $1.7B 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 2940.00 12
Brazil splits HS 2940.00 into 12 NCM codes, Mercosur's 8-digit tariff lines.
- 2940.00.1 Chemically pure sugarsAçúcares quimicamente puros Group
- 2940.00.11 GalactoseGalactose
- 2940.00.12 ArabinoseArabinose
- 2940.00.13 RhamnoseRamnose
- 2940.00.19 Other chemically pure sugarsOutros
- 2940.00.2 Lactobionic acid, its salts and its esters; halogenated, sulphonated, nitrated or nitrosated derivatives thereofÁcido lactobiônico, seus sais e seus ésteres; derivados halogenados, sulfonados, nitrados ou nitrosados destes produtos Group
- 2940.00.21 Lactobionic acidÁcido lactobiônico
- 2940.00.22 Calcium lactobionateLactobionato de cálcio
- 2940.00.23 Calcium bromolactobionateBromolactobionato de cálcio
- 2940.00.29 Other lactobionic acid salts and derivativesOutros
- 2940.00.9 OtherOutros Group
- 2940.00.92 Calcium or sodium fructose-1,6-diphosphateFrutose-1,6-difosfato de cálcio ou de sódio
- 2940.00.93 MaltitolMaltitol
- 2940.00.94 Calcium lactogluconateLactogluconato de cálcio
- 2940.00.99 Other sugar ethers, acetals and estersOutros
All Brazil NCM codes in heading 29.40 →
Source: Siscomex NCM table, updated Oct 2026. The Portuguese text is official; the English is our translation.
Questions about HS 2940.00
What is HS code 294000?
HS code 294000 is a 6-digit subheading in the Harmonized System that covers: Sugars, chemically pure, other than sucrose, lactose, maltose, glucose and fructose; sugar ethers, sugar acetals and sugar esters, and their salts, other than the products of heading 29.37, 29.38, or 29.39. This HS code encompasses chemically pure sugars other than the common bulk sugars like sucrose, lactose, maltose, glucose, and fructose. It also includes sugar ethers, sugar acetals, and sugar esters, and their salts, provided they are not products of headings 29.37, 29.38, or 29.39. These specialized compounds are vital for the pharmaceutical industry, serving as excipients, active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs), or intermediates in complex drug synthesis. They are also used in biotechnology for cell culture media, in specialized food applications for unique functional properties, and extensively in scientific research. Trade involves high-purity, often expensive, compounds, typically in smaller volumes compared to bulk sugars. Importers are primarily pharmaceutical manufacturers, research laboratories, and specialized food ingredient companies. Exporters are chemical synthesis companies and specialized sugar refiners. Key considerations include stringent purity standards, regulatory compliance (especially for pharmaceutical use), and intellectual property for novel derivatives.
What products fall under HS code 294000?
Xylose, Ribose, Mannose, Arabinose, Rhamnose, Trehalose, Chemically pure sorbitol, Chemically pure mannitol
What are common misclassifications for HS code 294000?
This code can be confused with 1702 (other sugars in solid form) if the sugars are not chemically pure, or with 3824 (prepared binders for foundry moulds or products of the chemical or allied industries) if they are part of a mixture.
Which countries are the top exporters of goods under HS code 294000?
In 2025, the top exporters of HS code 294000 in UN Comtrade data were Germany ($346M, 22% of world exports), China ($307M) and the United States ($191M). 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 294000?
In 2025, the top importers of HS code 294000 in UN Comtrade data were the United States ($233M, 14% of world imports), Germany ($126M) and Japan ($100M). World imports came to about $1.7B, 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 294000 structured?
HS code 294000 is a 6-digit subheading under the Harmonized System. The first 2 digits (29) identify the chapter, digits 3-4 (40) 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 294000?
Brazil splits HS code 294000 into 12 NCM codes: 2940.00.11 (Galactose), 2940.00.12 (Arabinose), 2940.00.13 (Rhamnose), 2940.00.19 (Other chemically pure sugars), 2940.00.21 (Lactobionic acid), 2940.00.22 (Calcium lactobionate), 2940.00.23 (Calcium bromolactobionate), 2940.00.29 (Other lactobionic acid salts and derivatives), and more listed on this page. The first 6 digits of each match the HS code.