HS Code for Soybean meal

Soybean meal is classified under HS code 2304.00. This heading is specifically designated for oil-cake and other solid residues, whether or not ground or in the form of pellets, resulting from the extraction of soya-bean oil. This classification is part of Chapter 23, which covers residues and waste from the food industries and prepared animal fodder. The defining characteristic for this code is that the material must be a byproduct of the oil extraction process. Soybean meal is the most significant protein source used in animal feed globally, and its classification depends on its origin as a residue rather than a primary flour or meal produced directly from whole beans.

Products Included

• Solvent-extracted soybean meal
• Mechanically extracted soybean cake
• De-hulled soybean meal
• Soybean flakes (post-oil extraction)
• Pelletized soybean residue

Common Misclassification

The most common misclassification is with HS code 1208.10 (soy flour). The distinction lies in the intent and the process: 1208.10 is for flour made from whole or processed beans, whereas 2304.00 is strictly for the residue left after oil has been removed. Another confusion occurs with 2309.90, which covers complete animal feed preparations. Soybean meal is an ingredient (a residue), not a finished "prepared" feed, so it belongs in 2304.00.

FAQ

What is the HS code for soybean meal?

The HS code for soybean meal resulting from oil extraction is 2304.00.

Can soybean meal be classified in Chapter 12?

Only if it is not a residue from oil extraction. If it is ground whole beans, it belongs in 1208.10; if it is an extraction byproduct, it must be in 2304.00.