Product classification
HS code for Rice husks: 1213.00
Cereal straw and husks, unprepared, whether or not chopped, ground, pressed or in the form of pellets.
Classification of rice husks under HS 1213.00
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.
- Covers
- Raw rice husks (hulls)
- Ground rice husks
- Rice husk pellets (unprepared)
- Wheat straw
- Barley straw and husks
- Also under 1213.00
- Straw bales for bedding
- Rice hull animal bedding
- Mushroom growing substrate (straw)
- Straw pellets for fuel
Codes often confused with 1213.00
Common mistake. 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.
Top exporters and importers of HS 121300 (the code used for rice husks), 2025
In 2025, the largest exporter of HS 121300 (the code used for rice husks) in UN Comtrade data was Spain, with 19% of world exports; the largest importer in UN Comtrade data was Japan, with 16% 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 121300, not only rice husks.
Top exporters 2025 · share of world exports
- 1 Spain $96M 19% of world exports
- 2 France $89M 17% of world exports
- 3 Pakistan $68M 13% of world exports
World total: $519M Reported figures on UN Comtrade ↗
Top importers 2025 · share of world imports
- 1 Japan $108M 16% of world imports
- 2 Netherlands $84M 13% of world imports
- 3 Switzerland $80M 12% of world imports
World total: $662M 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 rice husks
Brazil classifies rice husks under NCM 1213.00.00: HS 1213.00 with 00 added.
Source: Siscomex NCM table, updated Oct 2026. The Portuguese text on each NCM page is the official one.
Questions about rice husks
What is the HS code for Rice husks?
The HS code for Rice husks is 121300 (Cereal straw and husks; unprepared, whether or not chopped, ground, pressed or in the form of pellets). The HS code for rice husks, whether ground or in pellets, is 1213.00.
How do I classify Rice husks for customs?
Rice husks is classified under HS code 121300 — Cereal straw and husks; unprepared, whether or not chopped, ground, pressed or in the form of pellets. This is a 6-digit subheading level code.
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.
Which countries are the top exporters of rice husks (HS 121300)?
In 2025, the top exporters of HS 121300 (the code used for rice husks) in UN Comtrade data were Spain ($96M, 19% of world exports), France ($89M) and Pakistan ($68M). World exports came to about $519M, 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 rice husks (HS 121300)?
In 2025, the top importers of HS 121300 (the code used for rice husks) in UN Comtrade data were Japan ($108M, 16% of world imports), the Netherlands ($84M) and Switzerland ($80M). World imports came to about $662M, 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 Rice husks the same in all countries?
The base HS code 121300 for Rice husks 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 rice husks in Brazil?
In Brazil, rice husks (HS 121300) is classified under NCM 1213.00.00.