Product classification
HS code for Hay: 1214.90
Forage products including swedes, mangolds, fodder roots, hay, sainfoin, clover, forage kale, lupines, vetches etc., pelletised or otherwise.
Classification of hay under HS 1214.90
Hay and related forage products are classified under HS code 1214.90. This classification falls within Chapter 12, which covers oil seeds, industrial plants, and fodder. Heading 1214 specifically includes swedes, mangolds, fodder roots, hay, lucerne (alfalfa), clover, sainfoin, forage kale, lupines, vetches, and similar forage products. The subheading 1214.90 serves as the category for these products when they are not specifically named in other subheadings (such as 1214.10 for lucerne meal). Hay is defined as grass or other herbaceous plants that have been cut and dried for use as animal fodder. The classification remains 1214.90 regardless of whether the hay is presented in its natural state, chopped, or compressed into pellets, provided it has not been mixed with other nutritional supplements that would reclassify it as a prepared animal feed under heading 2309.
- Covers
- Dried meadow hay
- Timothy hay
- Oat hay (dried forage)
- Pelletized hay for animal feed
- Mixed grass forage
- Also under 1214.90
- Oxbow Timothy Hay
- Standlee Premium Western Forage Orchard Grass
- M&R Forage Products Hay Bales
Codes often confused with 1214.90
Common mistake. Hay is frequently misclassified under HS code 1213.00, which is reserved for cereal straw and husks. While both are used for animal bedding or low-quality feed, straw is a byproduct of grain harvesting, whereas hay is grown specifically for forage. Another common error is using 2309.90, which covers prepared animal fodder; however, 1214.90 is the correct code for hay that has only undergone basic drying or pelletizing without the addition of other substances.
Top exporters and importers of HS 121490 (the code used for hay), 2025
In 2025, the largest exporter of HS 121490 (the code used for hay) in UN Comtrade data was the United States, with 49% of world exports; the largest importer in UN Comtrade data was Japan, 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 121490, not only hay.
Top exporters 2025 · share of world exports
- 1 United States $1.2B 49% of world exports
- 2 Australia $455M 19% of world exports
- 3 Spain $195M 8.0% of world exports
World total: $2.4B Reported figures on UN Comtrade ↗
Top importers 2025 · share of world imports
- 1 Japan $649M 25% of world imports
- 2 South Korea $408M 16% of world imports
- 3 China $383M 15% of world imports
World total: $2.6B 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 hay
Brazil classifies hay under NCM 1214.90.00: HS 1214.90 with 00 added.
Source: Siscomex NCM table, updated Oct 2026. The Portuguese text on each NCM page is the official one.
Questions about hay
What is the HS code for Hay?
The HS code for Hay is 121490 (Forage products including swedes, mangolds, fodder roots, hay, sainfoin, clover, forage kale, lupines, vetches etc., pelletised or otherwise). The standard HS code for hay and other forage products not elsewhere specified is 1214.90.
How do I classify Hay for customs?
Hay is classified under HS code 121490 — Forage products including swedes, mangolds, fodder roots, hay, sainfoin, clover, forage kale, lupines, vetches etc., pelletised or otherwise. This is a 6-digit subheading level code.
Is alfalfa classified under the same code as hay?
No, alfalfa (lucerne) meal and pellets are specifically classified under HS code 1214.10, while other hay products fall under 1214.90.
Which countries are the top exporters of hay (HS 121490)?
In 2025, the top exporters of HS 121490 (the code used for hay) in UN Comtrade data were the United States ($1.2B, 49% of world exports), Australia ($455M) and Spain ($195M). World exports came to about $2.4B, 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 hay (HS 121490)?
In 2025, the top importers of HS 121490 (the code used for hay) in UN Comtrade data were Japan ($649M, 25% of world imports), South Korea ($408M) and China ($383M). World imports came to about $2.6B, 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 Hay the same in all countries?
The base HS code 121490 for Hay 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 hay in Brazil?
In Brazil, hay (HS 121490) is classified under NCM 1214.90.00.