HS Code for Rice husks

Rice husks are classified under HS code 1213.00, which covers cereal straw and husks in their unprepared state. This classification is part of Chapter 12, which encompasses various seeds, grains, and industrial plants. Rice husks, also known as rice hulls, are the hard protecting coverings of grains of rice. The Harmonized System groups these with other cereal straws because they are primary agricultural byproducts that have not undergone significant chemical or mechanical transformation. While the code allows for the husks to be chopped, ground, or pressed into pellets to facilitate handling and transport, they must remain essentially unprepared. If the husks were to be further processed into a specific animal feed preparation with added nutrients, they would be classified under heading 2309. If they were residues from the milling process containing significant portions of the grain (like bran), they would fall under 2302. The 1213.00 code is important for the biomass and agricultural sectors, as rice husks are increasingly traded globally for use as renewable fuel, insulation material, and as a silica source in industrial applications.

Products Included

• Raw rice husks (hulls)
• Ground rice husks
• Rice husk pellets (unprepared)
• Wheat straw
• Barley straw and husks

Common Misclassification

Rice husks are commonly confused with HS code 2302.40, which covers bran, sharps, and other residues of rice milling. The difference is that 1213.00 is for the outer husk only, whereas 2302 includes parts of the grain kernel removed during polishing. They are also sometimes confused with 1404.90 for vegetable products not elsewhere specified, but 1213.00 is more specific for cereal byproducts.

FAQ

What is the HS code for rice husks?

The HS code for rice husks, whether ground or in pellets, is 1213.00.

Are rice husk ash and rice husks the same code?

No, rice husk ash is a chemically altered product of combustion and is typically classified under 2621.90 as other slag and ash.