Product classification

HS code for Sloes: 0809.40

Fruit, edible, plums and sloes, fresh.

Classification of sloes under HS 0809.40

Sloes, the fruit of the blackthorn (Prunus spinosa), are classified under HS code 0809.40. This classification is determined by the General Rules for the Interpretation of the Harmonized System (GRI), specifically focusing on Chapter 8, which covers edible fruit and nuts. Within this chapter, heading 0809 is reserved for stone fruits such as apricots, cherries, peaches, plums, and sloes, provided they are in a fresh state. The botanical relationship between plums and sloes justifies their grouping under the same subheading. To qualify for this code, the fruit must not have been cooked, frozen, or preserved beyond the simple refrigeration required for transport. The classification remains consistent regardless of whether the sloes are intended for direct consumption or for industrial use, such as the production of gin or preserves, as long as they remain fresh and unprocessed at the time of customs declaration.

Covers
  • Fresh sloes (Prunus spinosa)
  • Wild sloes for commercial processing
  • Fresh bullaces (a variety of wild plum)
  • Fresh damson plums
Also under 0809.40
  • Chilean Plums
  • South African Plums
  • California Plums
  • European Sloes
  • Spanish Plums

Codes often confused with 0809.40

Common mistake. Sloes are frequently misclassified under HS code 0811.90, which covers fruit that has been frozen. If the sloes are imported in a frozen state to preserve them for off-season gin production, they must move to 0811. Another common error involves HS code 0812.90, which applies to fruit provisionally preserved (for example, by sulfur dioxide gas or in brine) but unsuitable in that state for immediate consumption. Dried sloes are classified under 0813.40. It is critical to distinguish between the fresh fruit and those that have undergone preservation processes.

0811.90Fruit, edible; fruit and nuts n.e.c. in heading no. 0811, uncooked or cooked, frozen whether or not containing added sugar or other sweetening matter08.11Fruit and nuts; uncooked or cooked by steaming or boiling in water, frozen, whether or not containing added sugar or other sweetening matter0812.90Fruit, edible; fruit and nuts n.e.c. in heading no. 0812, provisionally preserved, but unsuitable in that state for immediate consumption0813.40Fruit, edible; fruit n.e.c. in heading no. 0812, dried

Top exporters and importers of HS 080940 (the code used for sloes), 2025

In 2025, the largest exporter of HS 080940 (the code used for sloes) in UN Comtrade data was Chile, with 23% of world exports; the largest importer in UN Comtrade data was China, with 18% 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 080940, not only sloes.

Top exporters 2025 · share of world exports

  1. 1 Chile $284M
  2. 2 Spain $163M
  3. 3 Hong Kong $155M

World total: $1.2B Reported figures on UN Comtrade ↗

Top importers 2025 · share of world imports

  1. 1 China $237M
  2. 2 Hong Kong $156M
  3. 3 Germany $87M

World total: $1.3B 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 sloes

Brazil classifies sloes under NCM 0809.40.00: HS 0809.40 with 00 added.

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

Questions about sloes

What is the HS code for Sloes?

The HS code for Sloes is 080940 (Fruit, edible; plums and sloes, fresh). The HS code for fresh sloes is 0809.40, which covers plums and sloes.

How do I classify Sloes for customs?

Sloes is classified under HS code 080940 — Fruit, edible; plums and sloes, fresh. This is a 6-digit subheading level code.

Does this code apply to sloes used for making sloe gin?

Yes, as long as the sloes are fresh and have not been processed, frozen, or preserved in alcohol prior to importation, they fall under 0809.40.

Which countries are the top exporters of sloes (HS 080940)?

In 2025, the top exporters of HS 080940 (the code used for sloes) in UN Comtrade data were Chile ($284M, 23% of world exports), Spain ($163M) and Hong Kong ($155M). World exports came to about $1.2B, 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 sloes (HS 080940)?

In 2025, the top importers of HS 080940 (the code used for sloes) in UN Comtrade data were China ($237M, 18% of world imports), Hong Kong ($156M) and Germany ($87M). World imports came to about $1.3B, 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 Sloes the same in all countries?

The base HS code 080940 for Sloes 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 sloes in Brazil?

In Brazil, sloes (HS 080940) is classified under NCM 0809.40.00.