Product classification
HS code for Pre-cooked cereals: 1904.90
Food preparations, cereal or cereal products (excluding maize), in grain form, pre-cooked or otherwise prepared.
Classification of pre-cooked cereals under HS 1904.90
Pre-cooked cereals are classified under HS code 190490. This code belongs to Chapter 19, which covers preparations of cereals, flour, starch, or milk, and pastrycooks' products. Heading 1904 specifically includes prepared foods obtained by the swelling or roasting of cereals or cereal products, as well as cereals (other than maize) in grain form that have been pre-cooked or otherwise prepared. Subheading 190490 is a residual category for these prepared grains that do not fit into the more specific categories of puffed or roasted cereals or preparations from unroasted cereal flakes. This classification applies to grains that have undergone a cooking process, such as steaming, parboiling, or boiling, to make them ready for consumption or to significantly reduce final preparation time for the consumer. The key factor for this classification is that the cereal remains in grain form rather than being ground into flour or meal, and it must be more than just simply dried or cleaned.
- Covers
- Pre-cooked rice (not puffed or roasted)
- Parboiled grains ready for quick preparation
- Ready-to-eat grain mixes (e.g., quinoa or farro)
- Pre-cooked bulgur wheat preparations
- Cereals in grain form, steamed and dried
- Also under 1904.90
- Minute Rice (non-maize varieties)
- Seeds of Change Quinoa & Brown Rice
- Uncle Ben's Ready Rice (non-maize)
- Knorr Instant Polenta
Codes often confused with 1904.90
Common mistake. Pre-cooked cereals are often misclassified under HS code 190410, which is specifically for puffed or roasted cereals like corn flakes. Another common error is using Chapter 10 codes, such as 100630 for rice, which applies only to raw, semi-milled, or wholly milled rice that has not been cooked. If the product is a complex food preparation containing other ingredients like meat or large amounts of vegetables, it might be misclassified under 210690 (food preparations not elsewhere specified), though 190490 remains the primary code for prepared grains.
Top exporters and importers of HS 190490 (the code used for pre-cooked cereals), 2025
In 2025, the largest exporter of HS 190490 (the code used for pre-cooked cereals) in UN Comtrade data was Thailand, with 9.1% of world exports; the largest importer in UN Comtrade data was the United States, with 23% 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 190490, not only pre-cooked cereals.
Top exporters 2025 · share of world exports
- 1 Thailand $170M 9.1% of world exports
- 2 Poland $155M 8.3% of world exports
- 3 United Kingdom $137M 7.3% of world exports
World total: $1.9B Reported figures on UN Comtrade ↗
Top importers 2025 · share of world imports
- 1 United States $420M 23% of world imports
- 2 Germany $195M 11% of world imports
- 3 Canada $96M 5.3% of world imports
World total: $1.8B 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 pre-cooked cereals
Brazil classifies pre-cooked cereals under NCM 1904.90.00: HS 1904.90 with 00 added.
Source: Siscomex NCM table, updated Oct 2026. The Portuguese text on each NCM page is the official one.
Questions about pre-cooked cereals
What is the HS code for Pre-cooked cereals?
The HS code for Pre-cooked cereals is 190490 (Food preparations; cereal or cereal products (excluding maize), in grain form, pre-cooked or otherwise prepared). The HS code for pre-cooked cereals in grain form (excluding maize) is 190490.
How do I classify Pre-cooked cereals for customs?
Pre-cooked cereals is classified under HS code 190490 — Food preparations; cereal or cereal products (excluding maize), in grain form, pre-cooked or otherwise prepared. This is a 6-digit subheading level code.
Is raw parboiled rice under this code?
No, parboiled rice that is not further prepared or pre-cooked is generally classified under heading 1006; 190490 is for rice that has been further prepared for quick consumption.
Which countries are the top exporters of pre-cooked cereals (HS 190490)?
In 2025, the top exporters of HS 190490 (the code used for pre-cooked cereals) in UN Comtrade data were Thailand ($170M, 9.1% of world exports), Poland ($155M) and the United Kingdom ($137M). World exports came to about $1.9B, 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 pre-cooked cereals (HS 190490)?
In 2025, the top importers of HS 190490 (the code used for pre-cooked cereals) in UN Comtrade data were the United States ($420M, 23% of world imports), Germany ($195M) and Canada ($96M). World imports came to about $1.8B, 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 Pre-cooked cereals the same in all countries?
The base HS code 190490 for Pre-cooked cereals 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 pre-cooked cereals in Brazil?
In Brazil, pre-cooked cereals (HS 190490) is classified under NCM 1904.90.00.