Product classification
HS code for Soybean meal: 2304.00
Oil-cake and other solid residues, whether or not ground or in the form of pellets, resulting from the extraction of soya-bean oil.
Classification of soybean meal under HS 2304.00
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.
- Covers
- Solvent-extracted soybean meal
- Mechanically extracted soybean cake
- De-hulled soybean meal
- Soybean flakes (post-oil extraction)
- Pelletized soybean residue
- Also under 2304.00
- Cargill Soybean Meal
- ADM Soybean Meal
- Bunge Soybean Meal
- Louis Dreyfus Soybean Meal
- COFCO Soybean Meal
Codes often confused with 2304.00
Common mistake. 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.
Top exporters and importers of HS 230400 (the code used for soybean meal), 2025
In 2025, the largest exporter of HS 230400 (the code used for soybean meal) in UN Comtrade data was Brazil, with 31% of world exports; the largest importer in UN Comtrade data was Indonesia, with 7.6% 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 230400, not only soybean meal.
Top exporters 2025 · share of world exports
- 1 Brazil $7.9B 31% of world exports
- 2 Argentina $5.3B 21% of world exports
- 3 United States $4.9B 19% of world exports
World total: $25.2B Reported figures on UN Comtrade ↗
Top importers 2025 · share of world imports
- 1 Indonesia $2.2B 7.6% of world imports
- 2 Vietnam* ~$1.7B 5.8% of world imports · partner records ↗
- 3 Poland $1.4B 4.6% of world imports
World total: $29.6B 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 soybean meal
Brazil splits HS 2304.00 into 2 NCM codes. Pick the one that matches your product:
- 2304.00.10Soya-bean meal and pellets
- 2304.00.90Other soya-bean oil-cake and solid residues
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 soybean meal
What is the HS code for Soybean meal?
The HS code for Soybean meal is 230400 (Oil-cake and other solid residues; whether or not ground or in the form of pellets, resulting from the extraction of soya-bean oil). The HS code for soybean meal resulting from oil extraction is 2304.00.
How do I classify Soybean meal for customs?
Soybean meal is classified under HS code 230400 — 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 is a 6-digit subheading level code.
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.
Which countries are the top exporters of soybean meal (HS 230400)?
In 2025, the top exporters of HS 230400 (the code used for soybean meal) in UN Comtrade data were Brazil ($7.9B, 31% of world exports), Argentina ($5.3B) and the United States ($4.9B). World exports came to about $25.2B, 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 soybean meal (HS 230400)?
In 2025, the top importers of HS 230400 (the code used for soybean meal) in UN Comtrade data were Indonesia ($2.2B, 7.6% of world imports), Vietnam (about $1.7B) and Poland ($1.4B). World imports came to about $29.6B, 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 Soybean meal the same in all countries?
The base HS code 230400 for Soybean meal 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 soybean meal in Brazil?
Brazil splits HS 230400 into 2 NCM codes, so the right one for soybean meal depends on the product's details: 2304.00.10 (Soya-bean meal and pellets), 2304.00.90 (Other soya-bean oil-cake and solid residues).