Product classification
HS code for Brined gherkins: 0711.40
Vegetables, cucumbers and gherkins, provisionally preserved but unsuitable in that state for immediate consumption.
Classification of brined gherkins under HS 0711.40
Brined gherkins are classified under HS code 0711.40. This code falls under Heading 0711, which is designated for vegetables that are provisionally preserved but unsuitable in that state for immediate consumption. Gherkins and cucumbers in this category are typically stored in large vats of high-concentration brine, sulfur dioxide gas, or other preservative solutions. This state allows for long-term storage and transport before the gherkins are desalted, processed, and repacked into vinegar or other media for retail sale. The classification is determined by GRI 1. The critical factor is the 'provisional' nature of the preservation; the gherkins are effectively 'raw' but chemically stabilized. If the gherkins were ready to be eaten directly from the container (such as standard pickles in a jar), they would be excluded from Chapter 7. The HS Explanatory Notes emphasize that Heading 0711 only applies to products that require further processing to be edible, distinguishing them from the prepared vegetables found in Chapter 20.
- Covers
- Gherkins in bulk brine for industrial processing
- Cucumbers provisionally preserved in sulfur water
- Gherkins kept in sulfur dioxide gas for transport
- Salt-cured cucumbers in large drums
- Also under 0711.40
Vlasic Pickling Cucumbers (before final processing), Mt. Olive Brined Gherkins (industrial supply), Kühne Gurken (raw material for pickling), B&G Pickles (bulk brined stock), Indian Gherkins (for export to processors)
Codes often confused with 0711.40
Common mistake. The most frequent misclassification is HS code 2001.10, which covers cucumbers and gherkins prepared or preserved by vinegar or acetic acid. Most retail 'pickles' fall under 2001.10 because they are ready to eat and preserved in vinegar. Another potential error is 0707.00, which is for fresh or chilled cucumbers and gherkins. If any preservative solution has been added to the gherkins, they can no longer be classified as fresh under 0707.00 and must move to 0711.40 (if provisional) or 2001.10 (if prepared).
Top exporters and importers of HS 071140 (the code used for brined gherkins), 2025
In 2025, the largest exporter of HS 071140 (the code used for brined gherkins) in UN Comtrade data was India, with 69% of world exports; the largest importer in UN Comtrade data was France, with 19% of world imports. Countries that did not report 2025 data are estimated from partner records, which can understate them.
Figures cover everything classified under HS 071140, not only brined gherkins.
Top exporters 2025 · share of world exports
- 1 India $100M 69% of world exports
- 2 China $10.0M 6.9% of world exports
- 3 Netherlands $7.8M 5.4% of world exports
World total: $145M Reported figures on UN Comtrade ↗
Top importers 2025 · share of world imports
- 1 France $32M 19% of world imports
- 2 Spain $19M 12% of world imports
- 3 Russia* ~$18M 11% of world imports · partner records ↗
World total: $163M 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 brined gherkins
Brazil classifies brined gherkins under NCM 0711.40.00: HS 0711.40 with 00 added.
Source: Siscomex NCM table, updated Oct 2026. The Portuguese text on each NCM page is the official one.
Questions about brined gherkins
What is the HS code for Brined gherkins?
The HS code for Brined gherkins is 071140 (Vegetables; cucumbers and gherkins, provisionally preserved but unsuitable in that state for immediate consumption). The HS code for cucumbers and gherkins that are provisionally preserved in brine is 0711.40.
How do I classify Brined gherkins for customs?
Brined gherkins is classified under HS code 071140 — Vegetables; cucumbers and gherkins, provisionally preserved but unsuitable in that state for immediate consumption. This is a 6-digit subheading level code.
How do I distinguish between 0711.40 and 2001.10?
Use 0711.40 for gherkins in a high-salt or chemical brine that are not ready to eat and are intended for further processing. Use 2001.10 for gherkins that are preserved in vinegar or acetic acid and are ready for consumption (standard pickles).
Which countries are the top exporters of brined gherkins (HS 071140)?
In 2025, the top exporters of HS 071140 (the code used for brined gherkins) in UN Comtrade data were India ($100M, 69% of world exports), China ($10.0M) and the Netherlands ($7.8M). World exports came to about $145M, 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 brined gherkins (HS 071140)?
In 2025, the top importers of HS 071140 (the code used for brined gherkins) in UN Comtrade data were France ($32M, 19% of world imports), Spain ($19M) and Russia (about $18M). World imports came to about $163M, 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.
Is the HS code for Brined gherkins the same in all countries?
The base HS code 071140 for Brined gherkins is internationally standardized for the first 6 digits across 200+ countries. Individual countries may add additional digits for national tariff lines and specific classifications.
What is the NCM code for brined gherkins in Brazil?
In Brazil, brined gherkins (HS 071140) is classified under NCM 0711.40.00.