Product classification
HS code for Corn flour: 1102.20
Cereal flour, of maize (corn).
Classification of corn flour under HS 1102.20
Corn flour is classified under HS code 1102.20. Chapter 11 of the Harmonized System covers products of the milling industry, malt, starches, inulin, and wheat gluten. Heading 1102 is designated for cereal flours other than wheat or meslin. For maize products to be classified as flour under 1102.20, they must satisfy specific technical criteria regarding their physical properties. According to the Chapter 11 notes, at least 95% of the product by weight must pass through a woven metal wire cloth sieve with an aperture of 2 mm. If the product is finer than this and consists of the milled endosperm of the corn kernel, it is classified as flour. This distinguishes it from coarser products like groats or meal. Corn flour is typically used in the food industry for baking, as a thickener, or in the production of various snack foods. It is important to note that this classification applies to the whole or degermed grain that has been ground into a fine powder, but does not include corn starch, which is chemically or physically separated from the other components of the grain and falls under a different heading.
- Covers
- Fine corn flour
- Degermed maize flour
- Whole grain corn flour
- Masa harina (corn flour treated with lime)
- Also under 1102.20
- Maseca Masa Harina
- Bob's Red Mill Cornmeal
- Quaker Corn Meal
- Goya Masa Harina
Codes often confused with 1102.20
Common mistake. The most common misclassification is with HS code 1108.12, which is for corn starch. While flour is made by grinding the whole or degermed kernel, starch is a pure carbohydrate extracted through a more complex process. Another common error is confusing flour with corn groats or meal (1103.13). The distinction is based on particle size; if more than 5% of the product is retained on a 2mm sieve, it is generally classified as meal or groats rather than flour.
Top exporters and importers of HS 110220 (the code used for corn flour), 2025
In 2025, the largest exporter of HS 110220 (the code used for corn flour) in UN Comtrade data was Mexico, with 26% of world exports; the largest importer in UN Comtrade data was the United States, with 25% 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 110220, not only corn flour.
Top exporters 2025 · share of world exports
- 1 Mexico $190M 26% of world exports
- 2 Italy $69M 9.4% of world exports
- 3 United States $58M 7.9% of world exports
World total: $729M Reported figures on UN Comtrade ↗
Top importers 2025 · share of world imports
- 1 United States $209M 25% of world imports
- 2 Mozambique $66M 7.8% of world imports
- 3 DR Congo* ~$59M 7.0% of world imports · partner records ↗
World total: $849M 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 corn flour
Brazil classifies corn flour under NCM 1102.20.00: HS 1102.20 with 00 added.
Source: Siscomex NCM table, updated Oct 2026. The Portuguese text on each NCM page is the official one.
Questions about corn flour
What is the HS code for Corn flour?
The HS code for Corn flour is 110220 (Cereal flour; of maize (corn)). The HS code for corn (maize) flour is 1102.20.
How do I classify Corn flour for customs?
Corn flour is classified under HS code 110220 — Cereal flour; of maize (corn). This is a 6-digit subheading level code.
Is corn starch the same as corn flour?
No, corn starch is classified under 1108.12, while corn flour is classified under 1102.20. They are different products with different manufacturing processes.
Which countries are the top exporters of corn flour (HS 110220)?
In 2025, the top exporters of HS 110220 (the code used for corn flour) in UN Comtrade data were Mexico ($190M, 26% of world exports), Italy ($69M) and the United States ($58M). World exports came to about $729M, 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 corn flour (HS 110220)?
In 2025, the top importers of HS 110220 (the code used for corn flour) in UN Comtrade data were the United States ($209M, 25% of world imports), Mozambique ($66M) and the DR Congo (about $59M). World imports came to about $849M, 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 Corn flour the same in all countries?
The base HS code 110220 for Corn flour 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 corn flour in Brazil?
In Brazil, corn flour (HS 110220) is classified under NCM 1102.20.00.