Product classification
HS code for Sea salt: 2501.00
Salt (including table salt and denatured salt), pure sodium chloride whether or not in aqueous solution, sea water.
Classification of sea salt under HS 2501.00
Sea salt is classified under HS code 2501.00. This heading is part of Chapter 25, which covers salt, sulfur, earths and stone, and other mineral products. Heading 2501 is a comprehensive category that includes all forms of sodium chloride. It explicitly mentions salt obtained from sea water, whether by solar evaporation or other industrial processes. The classification is straightforward because the heading text explicitly includes "sea water" and "salt (including table salt and denatured salt)." Even if the sea salt is refined, washed, or has added anti-caking agents or iodine (iodized salt), it remains within this heading. The Harmonized System does not differentiate between sea salt and rock salt at the four-digit level, nor does it distinguish based on the purity level, provided the substance remains essentially sodium chloride. This classification applies to bulk industrial sea salt as well as small containers of gourmet sea salt intended for retail sale, as long as no other flavoring ingredients are added.
- Covers
- Solar sea salt
- Refined sea salt
- Fleur de sel
- Celtic sea salt
- Sea water (natural or concentrated)
- Iodized sea salt for table use
- Also under 2501.00
- Morton Salt
- Cargill Salt
- Diamond Crystal Salt
- K+S Salt
- Himalayan Pink Salt
Codes often confused with 2501.00
Common mistake. Sea salt is often misclassified under HS code 2103.90 if it is mixed with spices or herbs to create a "seasoning salt." Once significant flavoring ingredients are added, it moves from Chapter 25 to Chapter 21. Additionally, "bath salts" intended for cosmetic use are classified under 3307.30, even if they are composed primarily of sea salt, because their intended use and presentation change the classification.
Top exporters and importers of HS 250100 (the code used for sea salt), 2025
In 2025, the largest exporter of HS 250100 (the code used for sea salt) in UN Comtrade data was India, with 11% of world exports; the largest importer in UN Comtrade data was the United States, 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 250100, not only sea salt.
Top exporters 2025 · share of world exports
- 1 India $404M 11% of world exports
- 2 Germany $391M 11% of world exports
- 3 Netherlands $335M 9.5% of world exports
World total: $3.5B Reported figures on UN Comtrade ↗
Top importers 2025 · share of world imports
- 1 United States $812M 16% of world imports
- 2 China $485M 9.6% of world imports
- 3 Japan $312M 6.2% of world imports
World total: $5.1B 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 codes for sea salt
Brazil splits HS 2501.00 into 4 NCM codes. Pick the one that matches your product:
- 2501.00.11Bulk sea salt, without additives
- 2501.00.19Other bulk salt, without additives
- 2501.00.20Table salt
- 2501.00.90Other salt, sodium chloride and sea water
Source: Siscomex NCM table, updated Oct 2026. The Portuguese text on each NCM page is the official one.
Questions about sea salt
What is the HS code for Sea salt?
The HS code for Sea salt is 250100 (Salt (including table salt and denatured salt); pure sodium chloride whether or not in aqueous solution; sea water). The HS code for sea salt, including refined and table versions, is 2501.00.
How do I classify Sea salt for customs?
Sea salt is classified under HS code 250100 — Salt (including table salt and denatured salt); pure sodium chloride whether or not in aqueous solution; sea water. This is a 6-digit subheading level code.
Is sea water classified under the same code?
Yes, HS code 2501.00 explicitly includes sea water as well as the salt extracted from it through evaporation.
Which countries are the top exporters of sea salt (HS 250100)?
In 2025, the top exporters of HS 250100 (the code used for sea salt) in UN Comtrade data were India ($404M, 11% of world exports), Germany ($391M) and the Netherlands ($335M). World exports came to about $3.5B, 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 sea salt (HS 250100)?
In 2025, the top importers of HS 250100 (the code used for sea salt) in UN Comtrade data were the United States ($812M, 16% of world imports), China ($485M) and Japan ($312M). World imports came to about $5.1B, 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 Sea salt the same in all countries?
The base HS code 250100 for Sea salt 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 sea salt in Brazil?
Brazil splits HS 250100 into 4 NCM codes, so the right one for sea salt depends on the product's details: 2501.00.11 (Bulk sea salt, without additives), 2501.00.19 (Other bulk salt, without additives), 2501.00.20 (Table salt), 2501.00.90 (Other salt, sodium chloride and sea water).