Product classification
HS code for Guar gum: 1302.32
Mucilages and thickeners, whether or not modified, derived from locust beans, locust bean seeds or guar seeds.
Classification of guar gum under HS 1302.32
Guar gum is classified under HS code 130232, which covers mucilages and thickeners derived from vegetable products. Specifically, this code includes products derived from locust beans, locust bean seeds, or guar seeds, whether or not they have been modified. Guar gum is a galactomannan polysaccharide extracted from the endosperm of the guar bean (Cyamopsis tetragonoloba). The classification under 130232 is appropriate because the product is a natural vegetable mucilage used primarily for its thickening, emulsifying, and stabilizing properties in food, pharmaceutical, and industrial applications. Even if the guar gum has been modified (e.g., by etherification or esterification) to enhance its solubility or viscosity, it remains within this heading as long as it retains its character as a vegetable thickener. This classification is distinct from starches or flours, as it focuses on the mucilaginous nature of the extract rather than the nutritional or structural properties of the whole seed flour.
- Covers
- Refined guar gum powder
- Modified guar gum (e.g., hydroxypropyl guar)
- Guar gum splits
- Food-grade guar gum thickener
- Industrial-grade guar gum for oil drilling
- Also under 1302.32
- Bob's Red Mill Guar Gum
- NOW Foods Guar Gum
- TIC Gums Guar Gum
- Cargill Locust Bean Gum
- DuPont Danisco LBG
Codes often confused with 1302.32
Common mistake. Guar gum is frequently misclassified under 1106.10, which covers flour, meal, and powder of the dried leguminous vegetables. However, because guar gum is an extract (mucilage) rather than a simple ground seed, 130232 is the correct code. It is also sometimes confused with 3505.10, which covers modified starches and glues, but 130232 takes precedence for products derived specifically from guar seeds.
Top exporters and importers of HS 130232 (the code used for guar gum), 2025
In 2025, the largest exporter of HS 130232 (the code used for guar gum) in UN Comtrade data was India, with 45% of world exports; the largest importer in UN Comtrade data was the United States, with 20% 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 130232, not only guar gum.
Top exporters 2025 · share of world exports
- 1 India $408M 45% of world exports
- 2 Spain $84M 9.4% of world exports
- 3 Italy $71M 7.9% of world exports
World total: $897M Reported figures on UN Comtrade ↗
Top importers 2025 · share of world imports
- 1 United States $182M 20% of world imports
- 2 Germany $90M 9.7% of world imports
- 3 Russia* ~$81M 8.7% of world imports · partner records ↗
World total: $932M 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 codes for guar gum
Brazil splits HS 1302.32 into 3 NCM codes. Pick the one that matches your product:
- 1302.32.11Locust bean gum (endosperm flour)
- 1302.32.19Other locust bean mucilages and thickeners
- 1302.32.20Guar gum and guar seed thickeners
Source: Siscomex NCM table, updated Oct 2026. The Portuguese text on each NCM page is the official one.
Questions about guar gum
What is the HS code for Guar gum?
The HS code for Guar gum is 130232 (Mucilages and thickeners; whether or not modified, derived from locust beans, locust bean seeds or guar seeds). The HS code for guar gum, whether in powder or split form, is 130232.
How do I classify Guar gum for customs?
Guar gum is classified under HS code 130232 — Mucilages and thickeners; whether or not modified, derived from locust beans, locust bean seeds or guar seeds. This is a 6-digit subheading level code.
Is industrial-grade guar gum classified differently than food-grade?
No, both food-grade and industrial-grade guar gum are classified under HS code 130232, as the classification is based on the origin and nature of the substance rather than its end-use purity.
Which countries are the top exporters of guar gum (HS 130232)?
In 2025, the top exporters of HS 130232 (the code used for guar gum) in UN Comtrade data were India ($408M, 45% of world exports), Spain ($84M) and Italy ($71M). World exports came to about $897M, 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 guar gum (HS 130232)?
In 2025, the top importers of HS 130232 (the code used for guar gum) in UN Comtrade data were the United States ($182M, 20% of world imports), Germany ($90M) and Russia (about $81M). World imports came to about $932M, 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 Guar gum the same in all countries?
The base HS code 130232 for Guar gum 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 guar gum in Brazil?
Brazil splits HS 130232 into 3 NCM codes, so the right one for guar gum depends on the product's details: 1302.32.11 (Locust bean gum (endosperm flour)), 1302.32.19 (Other locust bean mucilages and thickeners), 1302.32.20 (Guar gum and guar seed thickeners).