Product classification
HS code for Stripped tobacco: 2401.20
Tobacco, partly or wholly stemmed or stripped.
Classification of stripped tobacco under HS 2401.20
Stripped tobacco is classified under HS code 2401.20. This classification falls under Chapter 24, which covers tobacco and manufactured tobacco substitutes. Heading 24.01 is specifically for unmanufactured tobacco and tobacco refuse. The subheading 2401.20 is designated for tobacco that has been 'partly or wholly stemmed or stripped.' This refers to the mechanical or manual process of removing the midrib or the main stem from the leaf. This process is a preliminary step in tobacco production but does not constitute 'manufacturing' in the sense of creating a finished product like a cigarette. The tobacco remains in a raw or semi-processed state. This classification is vital for agricultural trade statistics and excise tax determinations, as stripped tobacco is a primary commodity for the global tobacco industry. It includes tobacco that has been threshed to separate the lamina from the stem.
- Covers
- Stemmed flue-cured tobacco leaves
- Threshed tobacco lamina
- Stripped Burley tobacco
- Oriental tobacco with stems removed
- Partially stemmed tobacco leaf scraps
- Also under 2401.20
- Philip Morris International processed tobacco
- British American Tobacco stemmed leaf
- Japan Tobacco International stripped tobacco
- specific grades of threshed tobacco
- Altria Group processed tobacco.
Codes often confused with 2401.20
Common mistake. The most frequent misclassification is HS code 2401.10, which is reserved for tobacco that is 'not stemmed or stripped' (i.e., the whole leaf with the stem intact). Another common error is classifying this under 2403.19 or 2403.91. Heading 24.03 is for manufactured tobacco; if the tobacco has been cut, ground, or pressed into sheets (homogenized), it can no longer be classified under 24.01.
Top exporters and importers of HS 240120 (the code used for stripped tobacco), 2025
In 2025, the largest exporter of HS 240120 (the code used for stripped tobacco) in UN Comtrade data was Brazil, with 26% of world exports; the largest importer in UN Comtrade data was China, with 17% 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 240120, not only stripped tobacco.
Top exporters 2025 · share of world exports
- 1 Brazil $3.0B 26% of world exports
- 2 Zimbabwe* ~$1.3B 11% of world exports · partner records ↗
- 3 India $1.3B 11% of world exports
World total: $11.4B Reported figures on UN Comtrade ↗
Top importers 2025 · share of world imports
- 1 China $1.9B 17% of world imports
- 2 Indonesia $1.1B 9.5% of world imports
- 3 Germany $999M 8.7% of world imports
World total: $11.5B 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 stripped tobacco
Brazil splits HS 2401.20 into 5 NCM codes. Pick the one that matches your product:
- 2401.20.10Stemmed tobacco leaf, not dried or fermented
- 2401.20.20Stemmed wrapper tobacco, dried or fermented
- 2401.20.30Stemmed flue-cured Virginia tobacco
- 2401.20.40Stemmed light air-cured Burley tobacco
- 2401.20.90Other stemmed or stripped tobacco
Source: Siscomex NCM table, updated Oct 2026. The Portuguese text on each NCM page is the official one.
Questions about stripped tobacco
What is the HS code for Stripped tobacco?
The HS code for Stripped tobacco is 240120 (Tobacco; partly or wholly stemmed or stripped).
How do I classify Stripped tobacco for customs?
Stripped tobacco is classified under HS code 240120 — Tobacco; partly or wholly stemmed or stripped. This is a 6-digit subheading level code.
What is the HS code for stemmed tobacco leaf?
The HS code for stemmed or stripped tobacco leaf is 2401.20.
Is threshed tobacco classified as stripped tobacco?
Yes, threshed tobacco, where the leaf has been broken to remove the stem, is classified under 2401.20 as it is considered wholly or partly stemmed.
Which countries are the top exporters of stripped tobacco (HS 240120)?
In 2025, the top exporters of HS 240120 (the code used for stripped tobacco) in UN Comtrade data were Brazil ($3.0B, 26% of world exports), Zimbabwe (about $1.3B) and India ($1.3B). World exports came to about $11.4B, 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 stripped tobacco (HS 240120)?
In 2025, the top importers of HS 240120 (the code used for stripped tobacco) in UN Comtrade data were China ($1.9B, 17% of world imports), Indonesia ($1.1B) and Germany ($999M). World imports came to about $11.5B, 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.
Is the HS code for Stripped tobacco the same in all countries?
The base HS code 240120 for Stripped tobacco 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 stripped tobacco in Brazil?
Brazil splits HS 240120 into 5 NCM codes, so the right one for stripped tobacco depends on the product's details: 2401.20.10 (Stemmed tobacco leaf, not dried or fermented), 2401.20.20 (Stemmed wrapper tobacco, dried or fermented), 2401.20.30 (Stemmed flue-cured Virginia tobacco), 2401.20.40 (Stemmed light air-cured Burley tobacco), 2401.20.90 (Other stemmed or stripped tobacco).