Product classification
HS code for Locust beans: 1212.92
Locust beans (carob), fit for human consumption, fresh, chilled, frozen or dried, whether or not ground.
Classification of locust beans under HS 1212.92
Locust beans, also known as carob, are classified under HS code 1212.92. Chapter 12 of the Harmonized System covers oil seeds and oleaginous fruits, miscellaneous grains, seeds, and fruit, as well as industrial or medicinal plants and straw. Heading 1212 includes fruit stones and kernels and other vegetable products of a kind used primarily for human consumption, not elsewhere specified. The sub-heading 1212.92 was specifically created for locust beans (carob). This classification applies whether the beans are fresh, chilled, frozen, or dried. It also covers locust beans that have been ground into a coarse or fine powder, provided they have not been further processed into mucilages or thickeners. The classification is determined by the botanical nature of the product and its primary use as a foodstuff or a source for further industrial processing. The carob pod and its seeds are treated as a single agricultural product under this code until they undergo chemical extraction or significant transformation into gums or resins.
- Covers
- Whole dried carob pods
- Kibbled locust beans (crushed pods)
- Carob powder (ground locust beans) for human consumption
- Fresh or chilled locust bean pods
- Also under 1212.92
- Bob's Red Mill (carob powder)
- NOW Foods (carob powder)
- TIC Gums (locust bean gum)
- Mediterranean Organic (carob products)
- CarobWay.
Codes often confused with 1212.92
Common mistake. Locust beans are frequently misclassified under HS code 1302.32, which is the code for mucilages and thickeners derived from locust beans (Locust Bean Gum). They may also be confused with 1212.91 (sugar beet) or 1212.93 (sugar cane). It is vital to distinguish between the raw or ground bean (1212.92) and the extracted gum (1302.32).
Top exporters and importers of HS 121292 (the code used for locust beans), 2025
In 2025, the largest exporter of HS 121292 (the code used for locust beans) in UN Comtrade data was Morocco, with 54% of world exports; the largest importer in UN Comtrade data was Thailand, 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 121292, not only locust beans.
Top exporters 2025 · share of world exports
- 1 Morocco $29M 54% of world exports
- 2 Spain $5.9M 11% of world exports
- 3 Italy $4.2M 7.8% of world exports
World total: $54M Reported figures on UN Comtrade ↗
Top importers 2025 · share of world imports
- 1 Thailand $8.3M 20% of world imports
- 2 Switzerland $6.2M 15% of world imports
- 3 Italy $3.5M 8.6% of world imports
World total: $41M 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 locust beans
Brazil classifies locust beans under NCM 1212.92.00: HS 1212.92 with 00 added.
Source: Siscomex NCM table, updated Oct 2026. The Portuguese text on each NCM page is the official one.
Questions about locust beans
What is the HS code for Locust beans?
The HS code for Locust beans is 121292 (Locust beans (carob); fit for human consumption, fresh, chilled, frozen or dried, whether or not ground). The HS code for locust beans, including carob pods and carob powder, is 1212.92.
How do I classify Locust beans for customs?
Locust beans is classified under HS code 121292 — Locust beans (carob); fit for human consumption, fresh, chilled, frozen or dried, whether or not ground. This is a 6-digit subheading level code.
Is carob powder classified under this code?
Yes, carob powder is classified under 1212.92, provided it is simply ground locust beans and has not been processed into a thickener or mucilage.
Which countries are the top exporters of locust beans (HS 121292)?
In 2025, the top exporters of HS 121292 (the code used for locust beans) in UN Comtrade data were Morocco ($29M, 54% of world exports), Spain ($5.9M) and Italy ($4.2M). World exports came to about $54M, 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 locust beans (HS 121292)?
In 2025, the top importers of HS 121292 (the code used for locust beans) in UN Comtrade data were Thailand ($8.3M, 20% of world imports), Switzerland ($6.2M) and Italy ($3.5M). World imports came to about $41M, 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 Locust beans the same in all countries?
The base HS code 121292 for Locust beans 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 locust beans in Brazil?
In Brazil, locust beans (HS 121292) is classified under NCM 1212.92.00.