Product classification
HS code for Groundnut meal: 2305.00
Oil-cake and other solid residues, whether or not ground or in the form of pellets, resulting from the extraction of ground-nut oil.
Classification of groundnut meal under HS 2305.00
Groundnut meal is classified under HS code 230500 because it represents the solid residue remaining after the extraction of oil from groundnuts, commonly known as peanuts. According to the General Rules of Interpretation (GRI) and the Harmonized System Explanatory Notes, Chapter 23 encompasses residues and waste from the food industries and prepared animal fodder. Specifically, heading 2305 is dedicated to oil-cake and other solid residues resulting from the extraction of groundnut oil, whether or not they are ground or in the form of pellets. This classification applies regardless of whether the extraction process was mechanical, such as expeller pressing, or chemical, such as solvent extraction. The product is primarily utilized as a high-protein ingredient in animal feed formulations, though the classification remains the same even if the meal is intended for other industrial uses, provided it retains the character of a residue from oil extraction.
- Covers
- Groundnut oil-cake
- Groundnut meal (solvent extracted)
- Groundnut meal (expeller pressed)
- Groundnut residue pellets
- De-oiled groundnut cake
- Also under 2305.00
- Olam Groundnut Meal
- Archer Daniels Midland Peanut Meal
- Wilmar Groundnut Cake
- Bunge Peanut Oil-cake
- Godrej Agrovet Groundnut Meal
Codes often confused with 2305.00
Common mistake. Groundnut meal is frequently confused with HS code 2306, which covers oil-cake and other solid residues resulting from the extraction of other vegetable fats or oils, such as cotton seeds, linseed, or sunflower seeds. It is also sometimes misclassified under 1202, which covers groundnuts themselves (whether or not shelled or broken), but 1202 is reserved for the whole or broken nuts before oil extraction. Additionally, if the groundnut meal has been further processed into a prepared animal feed with added minerals or other nutrients, it may fall under 2309.
Top exporters and importers of HS 230500 (the code used for groundnut meal), 2025
In 2025, the largest exporter of HS 230500 (the code used for groundnut meal) in UN Comtrade data was Argentina, with 42% of world exports; the largest importer in UN Comtrade data was Chile, with 35% of world imports. Nicaragua did not report 2025 data, and its estimate from partner records misses its trade with other countries that did not report: in 2024 that was 47% of its exports here ($1.7M, CEPII BACI), so it may also belong among the top exporters.
Figures cover everything classified under HS 230500, not only groundnut meal.
Top exporters 2025 · share of world exports
- 1 Argentina $8.7M 42% of world exports
- 2 India $7.4M 36% of world exports
- 3 United States $1.3M 6.4% of world exports
Nicaragua did not report 2025 data, and its estimate from partner records misses its trade with other countries that did not report: in 2024 that was 47% of its exports here ($1.7M, CEPII BACI), so it may also belong among the top exporters.
World total: $21M Reported figures on UN Comtrade ↗
Top importers 2025 · share of world imports
- 1 Chile $12M 35% of world imports
- 2 United States $7.0M 19% of world imports
- 3 Thailand $4.0M 11% of world imports
World total: $36M 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 groundnut meal
Brazil classifies groundnut meal under NCM 2305.00.00: HS 2305.00 with 00 added.
Source: Siscomex NCM table, updated Oct 2026. The Portuguese text on each NCM page is the official one.
Questions about groundnut meal
What is the HS code for Groundnut meal?
The HS code for Groundnut meal is 230500 (Oil-cake and other solid residues; whether or not ground or in the form of pellets, resulting from the extraction of ground-nut oil). The HS code for groundnut meal and other solid residues from groundnut oil extraction is 230500.
How do I classify Groundnut meal for customs?
Groundnut meal is classified under HS code 230500 — Oil-cake and other solid residues; whether or not ground or in the form of pellets, resulting from the extraction of ground-nut oil. This is a 6-digit subheading level code.
Does this code include groundnut flour for human consumption?
If the groundnut flour is a residue of oil extraction, it typically remains in 230500. However, if it is specifically prepared as a foodstuff for human consumption and is not a residue, it might be classified under 1106.
Which countries are the top exporters of groundnut meal (HS 230500)?
In 2025, the top exporters of HS 230500 (the code used for groundnut meal) in UN Comtrade data were Argentina ($8.7M, 42% of world exports), India ($7.4M) and the United States ($1.3M). World exports came to about $21M, adding countries' reported figures and partner-based estimates for those that did not report (UN Comtrade data). Nicaragua did not report 2025 data, and its estimate from partner records misses its trade with other countries that did not report: in 2024 that was 47% of its exports here ($1.7M, CEPII BACI), so it may also belong among the top exporters.
Which countries are the top importers of groundnut meal (HS 230500)?
In 2025, the top importers of HS 230500 (the code used for groundnut meal) in UN Comtrade data were Chile ($12M, 35% of world imports), the United States ($7.0M) and Thailand ($4.0M). World imports came to about $36M, 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 Groundnut meal the same in all countries?
The base HS code 230500 for Groundnut meal 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 groundnut meal in Brazil?
In Brazil, groundnut meal (HS 230500) is classified under NCM 2305.00.00.