Product classification
HS code for Sago: 1903.00
Food preparations, tapioca and substitutes thereof, prepared from starch in the form of flakes, grains, pearls, siftings or similar.
Classification of sago under HS 1903.00
Sago, when prepared as food in the form of pearls, grains, or flakes, is classified under HS code 1903.00. This heading is specifically for tapioca and substitutes prepared from starch. Unlike raw starch, products under 1903.00 have undergone a degree of processing—usually heating or moistening—to form specific shapes like the characteristic \"pearls\" used in culinary applications. This classification is based on the product's state as a \"food preparation\" rather than a raw agricultural commodity or a simple milled product. It includes sago derived from the pith of various palm trees, provided it has been processed into the forms mentioned in the heading description. The essential characteristic of items in this code is that they are ready for use in cooking or as a thickener after simple rehydration or boiling.
- Covers
- Sago pearls (small and large)
- Sago flakes
- Sago grains or siftings
- Tapioca substitutes made from sago starch
- Prepared sago for puddings and desserts
- Also under 1903.00
- Bob's Red Mill Tapioca Pearls
- Erawan Tapioca Starch
- Sago Palm Pearls
- Minute Tapioca
Codes often confused with 1903.00
Common mistake. Sago is frequently misclassified under HS code 1108.19, which covers pure starches. However, once the starch is processed into pearls or grains, it must be classified under 1903.00. It is also often confused with HS code 0714.90, which covers the raw sago pith. The distinction lies in the level of processing: 0714 is for the raw root/pith, 1108 is for the extracted starch powder, and 1903 is for the prepared food form (pearls/grains).
Top exporters and importers of HS 190300 (the code used for sago), 2025
In 2025, the largest exporter of HS 190300 (the code used for sago) in UN Comtrade data was Taiwan, with about 34% of world exports; the largest importer in UN Comtrade data was the United States, with 24% 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 190300, not only sago.
Top exporters 2025 · share of world exports
- 1 Taiwan* ~$61M 34% of world exports · partner records ↗
- 2 Thailand $34M 19% of world exports
- 3 China $25M 14% of world exports
World total: $180M Reported figures on UN Comtrade ↗
Top importers 2025 · share of world imports
- 1 United States $47M 24% of world imports
- 2 Canada $9.8M 4.9% of world imports
- 3 South Korea $9.7M 4.8% of world imports
World total: $200M 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. UN Comtrade records Taiwan as "Other Asia, not elsewhere specified". Saudi Arabia's exports under that code are left out: they are far too large to be trade with Taiwan, so mostly undisclosed partners. 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 sago
Brazil classifies sago under NCM 1903.00.00: HS 1903.00 with 00 added.
Source: Siscomex NCM table, updated Oct 2026. The Portuguese text on each NCM page is the official one.
Questions about sago
What is the HS code for Sago?
The HS code for Sago is 190300 (Food preparations; tapioca and substitutes thereof, prepared from starch in the form of flakes, grains, pearls, siftings or similar). The HS code for prepared sago (pearls or flakes) is 1903.00.
How do I classify Sago for customs?
Sago is classified under HS code 190300 — Food preparations; tapioca and substitutes thereof, prepared from starch in the form of flakes, grains, pearls, siftings or similar. This is a 6-digit subheading level code.
Is sago flour classified under 1903.00?
No, sago flour is typically classified under 1106.20 if it is a flour of the roots or tubers of Heading 0714, or 1108.19 if it is pure starch.
Which countries are the top exporters of sago (HS 190300)?
In 2025, the top exporters of HS 190300 (the code used for sago) in UN Comtrade data were Taiwan (about $61M, 34% of world exports), Thailand ($34M) and China ($25M). World exports came to about $180M, 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 sago (HS 190300)?
In 2025, the top importers of HS 190300 (the code used for sago) in UN Comtrade data were the United States ($47M, 24% of world imports), Canada ($9.8M) and South Korea ($9.7M). World imports came to about $200M, 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 Sago the same in all countries?
The base HS code 190300 for Sago 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 sago in Brazil?
In Brazil, sago (HS 190300) is classified under NCM 1903.00.00.