Product classification
HS code for Coffee chaff: 0901.90
Coffee, husks and skins, coffee substitutes containing coffee in any proportion.
Classification of coffee chaff under HS 0901.90
Coffee chaff, also known as the silverskin or the integument of the coffee bean, is classified under HS code 0901.90. This code falls within Chapter 09, which encompasses coffee and its related products. Heading 0901 includes not only the beans themselves but also the byproducts of the coffee processing cycle. Subheading 0901.90 is a broad category that covers coffee husks and skins, as well as coffee substitutes containing coffee in any proportion. Chaff is the thin, papery skin that is shed from the coffee bean during the roasting process. Because it is a part of the coffee fruit (the skin/husk), it is specifically directed to this subheading rather than being classified as waste or animal feed in other chapters. The classification is driven by the botanical origin of the material and its direct relationship to the coffee bean processing industry. Even though chaff is often considered a byproduct or waste material, the Harmonized System provides a specific place for it within the coffee heading to ensure uniform global tracking of all coffee-related biomass.
- Covers
- Coffee silverskin
- Coffee husks
- Dried coffee skins
- Coffee chaff from roasting
- Coffee parchment (endocarp)
- Coffee substitutes containing coffee
- Also under 0901.90
- Cascara tea
- various chicory-coffee blends (e.g., Cafe du Monde)
- coffee flour products
- agricultural coffee husk pellets
Codes often confused with 0901.90
Common mistake. Coffee chaff is sometimes misclassified under HS code 2308.00, which covers vegetable materials and vegetable waste, vegetable residues and by-products used in animal feeding. However, because heading 0901 specifically mentions "husks and skins," GRI 1 dictates that the more specific heading takes precedence. It may also be confused with 1404.90 (vegetable products not elsewhere specified), but the direct association with coffee keeps it in Chapter 09.
Top exporters and importers of HS 090190 (the code used for coffee chaff), 2025
In 2025, the largest exporter of HS 090190 (the code used for coffee chaff) in UN Comtrade data was France, with 11% of world exports; the largest importer in UN Comtrade data was France, with 16% 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 090190, not only coffee chaff.
Top exporters 2025 · share of world exports
- 1 France $13M 11% of world exports
- 2 South Africa $9.9M 8.8% of world exports
- 3 Netherlands $8.4M 7.4% of world exports
World total: $113M Reported figures on UN Comtrade ↗
Top importers 2025 · share of world imports
- 1 France $17M 16% of world imports
- 2 Canada $12M 11% of world imports
- 3 United Kingdom $8.2M 7.5% of world imports
World total: $109M 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 coffee chaff
Brazil classifies coffee chaff under NCM 0901.90.00: HS 0901.90 with 00 added.
Source: Siscomex NCM table, updated Oct 2026. The Portuguese text on each NCM page is the official one.
Questions about coffee chaff
What is the HS code for Coffee chaff?
The HS code for Coffee chaff is 090190 (Coffee; husks and skins, coffee substitutes containing coffee in any proportion). The HS code for coffee chaff, husks, and skins is 0901.90.
How do I classify Coffee chaff for customs?
Coffee chaff is classified under HS code 090190 — Coffee; husks and skins, coffee substitutes containing coffee in any proportion. This is a 6-digit subheading level code.
Can coffee chaff be classified as fertilizer?
While coffee chaff is used as fertilizer, for customs purposes, it remains under 0901.90 as a coffee byproduct unless it has been significantly processed or mixed with other fertilizing minerals to fall under Chapter 31.
Which countries are the top exporters of coffee chaff (HS 090190)?
In 2025, the top exporters of HS 090190 (the code used for coffee chaff) in UN Comtrade data were France ($13M, 11% of world exports), South Africa ($9.9M) and the Netherlands ($8.4M). World exports came to about $113M, 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 coffee chaff (HS 090190)?
In 2025, the top importers of HS 090190 (the code used for coffee chaff) in UN Comtrade data were France ($17M, 16% of world imports), Canada ($12M) and the United Kingdom ($8.2M). World imports came to about $109M, 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 Coffee chaff the same in all countries?
The base HS code 090190 for Coffee chaff 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 coffee chaff in Brazil?
In Brazil, coffee chaff (HS 090190) is classified under NCM 0901.90.00.