Product classification
HS code for Buttermilk: 0403.90
Dairy produce, buttermilk, curdled milk or cream, kephir, fermented or acidified milk or cream, whether or not concentrated or containing added sweetening, flavouring, fruit, nuts or cocoa (excluding yoghurt).
Classification of buttermilk under HS 0403.90
Buttermilk is classified under HS code 040390 due to its nature as a fermented or acidified milk product. Chapter 4 of the Harmonized System covers "Dairy produce; birds' eggs; natural honey; edible products of animal origin, not elsewhere specified or included." Within this chapter, heading 0403 is dedicated to "Buttermilk, curdled milk and cream, yoghurt, kephir and other fermented or acidified milk and cream, whether or not concentrated or containing added sugar or other sweetening matter or flavoured or containing added fruit, nuts or cocoa." Subheading 040390 specifically encompasses "Other" fermented or acidified milk or cream, explicitly excluding yoghurt. Buttermilk, whether traditional (liquid left after churning butter) or cultured (fermented skim milk), perfectly fits this description, distinguishing it from fresh milk, cream, or butter.
- Covers
- Cultured buttermilk
- Traditional buttermilk (from butter churning)
- Fermented milk drinks (excluding yoghurt)
- Acidified cream
- Kephir
- Curdled milk
- Also under 0403.90
- Lifeway Kefir
- Organic Valley Buttermilk
- Wallaby Organic Kefir
- Daisy Sour Cream (cultured)
- Ryazhenka (fermented baked milk)
Codes often confused with 0403.90
Common mistake. 0401 (Milk and cream, not concentrated nor containing added sugar or other sweetening matter): Fresh milk or cream, which has not undergone fermentation or acidification, falls under 0401. Buttermilk (040390) is distinct because it has been fermented or acidified. Misclassification can occur if a product is simply referred to as "milk" without specifying its fermented nature, leading to incorrect categorization. 040310 (Yoghurt): Yoghurt is explicitly excluded from 040390 and has its own subheading, 040310. While both are fermented milk products, yoghurt is typically produced using specific bacterial cultures (e.g., Lactobacillus delbrueckii subsp. bulgaricus and Streptococcus thermophilus) and possesses a distinct texture and consistency. Misclassification can arise if a fermented milk product is generically termed "yoghurt" when its production method or bacterial cultures align more with buttermilk or other fermented milks.
Top exporters and importers of HS 040390 (the code used for buttermilk), 2025
In 2025, the largest exporter of HS 040390 (the code used for buttermilk) in UN Comtrade data was Germany, with 14% of world exports; the largest importer in UN Comtrade data was Italy, with 12% 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 040390, not only buttermilk.
Top exporters 2025 · share of world exports
- 1 Germany $375M 14% of world exports
- 2 France $373M 14% of world exports
- 3 Belgium $258M 9.5% of world exports
World total: $2.7B Reported figures on UN Comtrade ↗
Top importers 2025 · share of world imports
- 1 Italy $291M 12% of world imports
- 2 United Kingdom $172M 6.9% of world imports
- 3 Netherlands $167M 6.7% of world imports
World total: $2.5B 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 buttermilk
Brazil classifies buttermilk under NCM 0403.90.00: HS 0403.90 with 00 added.
Source: Siscomex NCM table, updated Oct 2026. The Portuguese text on each NCM page is the official one.
Questions about buttermilk
What is the HS code for Buttermilk?
The HS code for Buttermilk is 040390 (Dairy produce; buttermilk, curdled milk or cream, kephir, fermented or acidified milk or cream, whether or not concentrated or containing added sweetening, flavouring, fruit, nuts or cocoa (excluding yoghurt)). The HS code for buttermilk is 040390. This code covers buttermilk, curdled milk or cream, kephir, and other fermented or acidified milk or cream, whether or not concentrated or containing added sweetening, flavouring, fruit, nuts or cocoa, with the explicit exclusion of yoghurt.
How do I classify Buttermilk for customs?
Buttermilk is classified under HS code 040390 — Dairy produce; buttermilk, curdled milk or cream, kephir, fermented or acidified milk or cream, whether or not concentrated or containing added sweetening, flavouring, fruit, nuts or cocoa (excluding yoghurt). This is a 6-digit subheading level code.
Why is yoghurt excluded from HS code 040390?
Yoghurt is excluded from HS code 040390 because it has its own specific subheading, 040310. This distinction is primarily due to the specific bacterial cultures used in its production and its characteristic texture and consistency, which differentiate it from other fermented or acidified milk products like buttermilk.
Which countries are the top exporters of buttermilk (HS 040390)?
In 2025, the top exporters of HS 040390 (the code used for buttermilk) in UN Comtrade data were Germany ($375M, 14% of world exports), France ($373M) and Belgium ($258M). World exports came to about $2.7B, 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.
Which countries are the top importers of buttermilk (HS 040390)?
In 2025, the top importers of HS 040390 (the code used for buttermilk) in UN Comtrade data were Italy ($291M, 12% of world imports), the United Kingdom ($172M) and the Netherlands ($167M). World imports came to about $2.5B, 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.
Is the HS code for Buttermilk the same in all countries?
The base HS code 040390 for Buttermilk 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 buttermilk in Brazil?
In Brazil, buttermilk (HS 040390) is classified under NCM 0403.90.00.