Product classification

HS code for Safflower seeds: 1207.60

Oil seeds, safflower (Carthamus tinctorius) seeds, whether or not broken.

Classification of safflower seeds under HS 1207.60

Safflower seeds (Carthamus tinctorius) are classified under HS code 1207.60. Chapter 12 of the Harmonized System covers oil seeds and oleaginous fruits, miscellaneous grains, seeds, and fruit. Heading 1207 is a residual category for oil seeds and oleaginous fruits other than those specifically named in headings 1201 through 1206 (such as soya beans, groundnuts, or sunflower seeds). Safflower seeds are primarily used for the extraction of vegetable oils or as bird feed. The classification applies whether the seeds are whole or broken, provided they have not been processed beyond basic cleaning, drying, or hulling. The classification is determined by the botanical origin of the seed and its primary use as an oil-bearing seed. If the seeds have been roasted or otherwise prepared for human consumption as a snack, they would move to Chapter 20. However, for raw agricultural trade and oil production, 1207.60 is the definitive code.

Covers
  • Whole safflower seeds for oil extraction
  • Broken safflower seeds
  • Safflower seeds used in birdseed mixtures
  • Hulled safflower seeds (raw)
Also under 1207.60
  • Cargill Safflower Seeds
  • Bunge Safflower Products
  • ADM Safflower Oil Seeds
  • Wild Harvest Safflower Bird Seed

Codes often confused with 1207.60

Common mistake. Safflower seeds are sometimes confused with sunflower seeds, which are classified under HS code 1206.00. While they look similar and are both used for oil, they are botanically distinct. Another common misclassification occurs with HS code 1209.91 or 1209.99, which covers seeds for sowing. If the seeds are specifically prepared and packaged for planting (often treated with fungicides), they should be classified under 1209. Furthermore, safflower oil itself is classified in Chapter 15 under 1512.11 or 1512.19, not in Chapter 12.

1206.00Oil seeds; sunflower seeds, whether or not broken1209.91Seeds; vegetable seeds, of a kind used for sowing1209.99Seeds; n.e.c. in heading 1209, of a kind used for sowing12.09Seeds, fruit and spores; of a kind used for sowing1512.11Vegetable oils; sunflower seed or safflower oil and their fractions, crude, not chemically modified1512.19Vegetable oils; sunflower seed or safflower oil and their fractions, other than crude, whether or not refined, but not chemically modified

Top exporters and importers of HS 120760 (the code used for safflower seeds), 2025

In 2025, the largest exporter of HS 120760 (the code used for safflower seeds) in UN Comtrade data was Kazakhstan, with 41% of world exports; the largest importer in UN Comtrade data was China, with 29% 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 120760, not only safflower seeds.

Top exporters 2025 · share of world exports

  1. 1 Kazakhstan $26M
  2. 2 Russia* ~$14M
  3. 3 Spain $5.7M

World total: $63M Reported figures on UN Comtrade ↗

Top importers 2025 · share of world imports

  1. 1 China $18M
  2. 2 Türkiye $12M
  3. 3 Belgium $6.2M

World total: $63M 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 marked * did not, so their figures add up what other countries recorded trading with them, and their exports are valued at buyers' CIF prices. 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 codes for safflower seeds

Brazil splits HS 1207.60 into 2 NCM codes. Pick the one that matches your product:

Source: Siscomex NCM table, updated Oct 2026. The Portuguese text on each NCM page is the official one.

EU Regulatory Requirements

This product category is subject to the EU Deforestation Regulation (EUDR). Importers must provide due diligence statements proving the product was not produced on deforested land after December 31, 2020.

Questions about safflower seeds

What is the HS code for Safflower seeds?

The HS code for Safflower seeds is 120760 (Oil seeds; safflower (Carthamus tinctorius) seeds, whether or not broken). The specific HS code for safflower seeds is 1207.60.

How do I classify Safflower seeds for customs?

Safflower seeds is classified under HS code 120760 — Oil seeds; safflower (Carthamus tinctorius) seeds, whether or not broken. This is a 6-digit subheading level code.

Are safflower seeds for bird feed classified differently?

No, as long as the seeds are raw and not mixed with other grains in a way that changes their character, they remain under 1207.60 even if intended for animal or bird consumption.

Which countries are the top exporters of safflower seeds (HS 120760)?

In 2025, the top exporters of HS 120760 (the code used for safflower seeds) in UN Comtrade data were Kazakhstan ($26M, 41% of world exports), Russia (about $14M) and Spain ($5.7M). World exports came to about $63M, 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 safflower seeds (HS 120760)?

In 2025, the top importers of HS 120760 (the code used for safflower seeds) in UN Comtrade data were China ($18M, 29% of world imports), Türkiye ($12M) and Belgium ($6.2M). World imports came to about $63M, 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 Safflower seeds the same in all countries?

The base HS code 120760 for Safflower seeds 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 safflower seeds in Brazil?

Brazil splits HS 120760 into 2 NCM codes, so the right one for safflower seeds depends on the product's details: 1207.60.10 (Safflower seeds for sowing), 1207.60.90 (Safflower seeds, not for sowing).