Product classification
HS code for Sugar cane: 1212.93
Sugar cane, fit for human consumption, fresh, chilled, frozen or dried, whether or not ground.
Classification of sugar cane under HS 1212.93
Sugar cane is classified under HS code 1212.93. This code is situated within Chapter 12, which encompasses various plant materials used in industry. Heading 1212 specifically identifies sugar cane as a product that, like sugar beet, is a primary source for sucrose production. The classification applies to sugar cane that is fresh, chilled, frozen, or dried. It also includes sugar cane that has been ground or chopped into smaller pieces. For the product to remain under this code, it must be in its raw or minimally processed state. Once the juice has been extracted or the cane has been processed into raw sugar, the classification moves to Chapter 17. The inclusion of sugar cane in 1212.93 is based on its status as a raw vegetable product fit for human consumption (often chewed for its juice) or for industrial processing into sweeteners.
- Covers
- Fresh sugar cane stalks
- Chilled sugar cane segments
- Frozen sugar cane pieces
- Dried sugar cane, whole or ground
- Sugar cane sticks for retail sale (for chewing)
- Also under 1212.93
- Florida Crystals
- Raízen (Brazil)
- Wilmar International (Asia)
- Louis Dreyfus Company
- American Sugar Refining
- Inc.
Codes often confused with 1212.93
Common mistake. Sugar cane is often misclassified under HS code 1701.13 or 1701.14, which are codes for raw cane sugar. However, Chapter 17 codes are for the extracted sugar, not the plant itself. Another frequent error is the use of HS code 2303.20 for bagasse. Bagasse is the fibrous residue left after the juice is extracted from the sugar cane; while the raw cane is 1212.93, the waste product is 2303.20. Additionally, some may confuse it with bamboo (1401.10) due to physical similarity, but their botanical and economic uses are entirely different.
Top exporters and importers of HS 121293 (the code used for sugar cane), 2025
In 2025, the largest exporter of HS 121293 (the code used for sugar cane) in UN Comtrade data was Laos, with about 82% of world exports; the largest importer in UN Comtrade data was China, with 93% of world imports. Mexico reports $2.3B of its chapter 12 imports without product detail (confidential), so it may also belong among the top importers.
Figures cover everything classified under HS 121293, not only sugar cane.
Top exporters 2025 · share of world exports
- 1 Laos* ~$76M 82% of world exports · partner records ↗
- 2 Vietnam* ~$5.7M 6.1% of world exports · partner records ↗
- 3 Malaysia $3.5M 3.8% of world exports
World total: $93M Reported figures on UN Comtrade ↗
Top importers 2025 · share of world imports
- 1 China $239M 93% of world imports
- 2 Singapore $4.0M 1.5% of world imports
- 3 United States $3.9M 1.5% of world imports
Mexico reports $2.3B of its chapter 12 imports without product detail (confidential), so it may also belong among the top importers.
World total: $257M 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 code for sugar cane
Brazil classifies sugar cane under NCM 1212.93.00: HS 1212.93 with 00 added.
Source: Siscomex NCM table, updated Oct 2026. The Portuguese text on each NCM page is the official one.
Questions about sugar cane
What is the HS code for Sugar cane?
The HS code for Sugar cane is 121293 (Sugar cane; fit for human consumption, fresh, chilled, frozen or dried, whether or not ground). The HS code for sugar cane in its natural or dried state is 1212.93.
How do I classify Sugar cane for customs?
Sugar cane is classified under HS code 121293 — Sugar cane; fit for human consumption, fresh, chilled, frozen or dried, whether or not ground. This is a 6-digit subheading level code.
Is sugar cane considered a fruit or a vegetable in the HS system?
In the Harmonized System, sugar cane is classified in Chapter 12 under industrial plants, rather than as a fruit (Chapter 8) or a standard vegetable (Chapter 7).
Which countries are the top exporters of sugar cane (HS 121293)?
In 2025, the top exporters of HS 121293 (the code used for sugar cane) in UN Comtrade data were Laos (about $76M, 82% of world exports), Vietnam (about $5.7M) and Malaysia ($3.5M). World exports came to about $93M, 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 sugar cane (HS 121293)?
In 2025, the top importers of HS 121293 (the code used for sugar cane) in UN Comtrade data were China ($239M, 93% of world imports), Singapore ($4.0M) and the United States ($3.9M). World imports came to about $257M, adding countries' reported figures and partner-based estimates for those that did not report (UN Comtrade data). Mexico reports $2.3B of its chapter 12 imports without product detail (confidential), so it may also belong among the top importers.
Is the HS code for Sugar cane the same in all countries?
The base HS code 121293 for Sugar cane 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 sugar cane in Brazil?
In Brazil, sugar cane (HS 121293) is classified under NCM 1212.93.00.