Product classification
HS code for Sugar waste: 2303.20
Beet-pulp, bagasse and other waste of sugar manufacture, whether or not in the form of pellets.
Classification of sugar waste under HS 2303.20
Sugar waste is classified under HS code 2303.20. This classification is found in Chapter 23, which covers residues and waste from the food industries and prepared animal fodder. Heading 2303 specifically includes residues of starch manufacture and similar residues, beet-pulp, bagasse, and other waste of sugar manufacture. Subheading 2303.20 is the specific code for beet-pulp, bagasse, and other sugar manufacturing waste. These materials are the fibrous by-products remaining after the extraction of sugar from sugar beets or sugar cane. Bagasse, for instance, is the crushed stalk of the sugar cane, while beet pulp is the material left after the diffusion process. These products are classified here regardless of whether they are in the form of wet pulp, dried flakes, or compressed pellets. The primary factor for this classification is that the product is a residue of the industrial sugar extraction process and is generally intended for use as animal feed or as a raw material for paper or fuel.
- Covers
- Dried or wet sugar beet pulp
- Sugar cane bagasse
- Filter cake from sugar juice purification
- Defecation scum from sugar refining
- Pelletized beet pulp for animal feed
- Also under 2303.20
- British Sugar Beet Pulp
- Südzucker Dried Beet Pulp
- Tereos Bagasse Pellets
- Bunge Beet Pulp
- Cristal Union Beet Pulp
Codes often confused with 2303.20
Common mistake. Sugar waste is often confused with HS code 1703, which covers molasses. While molasses is a by-product of sugar refining, it is a liquid syrup and has its own specific heading in the sugar chapter. Another common error is using 2302, which is for bran, sharps, and other residues of cereals or leguminous plants. Because sugar waste comes from beets or cane rather than grains, 2303.20 is the only correct classification. Additionally, if the waste is highly processed into a specific chemical, it might move to Chapter 29, but in its raw or pelletized residue form, it stays in 2303.20.
Top exporters and importers of HS 230320 (the code used for sugar waste), 2025
In 2025, the largest exporter of HS 230320 (the code used for sugar waste) in UN Comtrade data was Russia, with about 29% of world exports; the largest importer in UN Comtrade data was China, with 13% 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 230320, not only sugar waste.
Top exporters 2025 · share of world exports
- 1 Russia* ~$224M 29% of world exports · partner records ↗
- 2 Egypt $155M 20% of world exports
- 3 United States $74M 9.6% of world exports
World total: $769M Reported figures on UN Comtrade ↗
Top importers 2025 · share of world imports
- 1 China $118M 13% of world imports
- 2 Morocco $104M 11% of world imports
- 3 Belgium $73M 7.8% of world imports
World total: $929M 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 waste
Brazil classifies sugar waste under NCM 2303.20.00: HS 2303.20 with 00 added.
Source: Siscomex NCM table, updated Oct 2026. The Portuguese text on each NCM page is the official one.
Questions about sugar waste
What is the HS code for Sugar waste?
The HS code for Sugar waste is 230320 (Beet-pulp, bagasse and other waste of sugar manufacture; whether or not in the form of pellets). The HS code for sugar waste, including beet pulp and bagasse, is 2303.20.
How do I classify Sugar waste for customs?
Sugar waste is classified under HS code 230320 — Beet-pulp, bagasse and other waste of sugar manufacture; whether or not in the form of pellets. This is a 6-digit subheading level code.
Is molasses considered sugar waste under this code?
No, molasses is classified separately under HS code 1703, as it is a distinct liquid by-product rather than a fibrous residue.
Which countries are the top exporters of sugar waste (HS 230320)?
In 2025, the top exporters of HS 230320 (the code used for sugar waste) in UN Comtrade data were Russia (about $224M, 29% of world exports), Egypt ($155M) and the United States ($74M). World exports came to about $769M, 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 waste (HS 230320)?
In 2025, the top importers of HS 230320 (the code used for sugar waste) in UN Comtrade data were China ($118M, 13% of world imports), Morocco ($104M) and Belgium ($73M). World imports came to about $929M, 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 Sugar waste the same in all countries?
The base HS code 230320 for Sugar waste 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 waste in Brazil?
In Brazil, sugar waste (HS 230320) is classified under NCM 2303.20.00.