Product classification

HS code for Vanilla powder: 0905.20

Spices, vanilla, crushed or ground.

Classification of vanilla powder under HS 0905.20

Vanilla powder is classified under HS code 090520. This classification falls under Chapter 09 (Spices) and heading 0905 (Vanilla). The specific subheading 090520 is reserved for vanilla that has been 'crushed or ground.' This includes vanilla beans that have undergone mechanical processing to reduce them to a fine powder, granules, or small pieces. The classification is based on the physical transformation of the spice from its natural pod state. It is important to distinguish pure vanilla powder from vanilla-flavored sugar or synthetic vanillin. To be classified under 090520, the product must consist of the actual ground fruit of the vanilla plant. This code is used by food manufacturers and spice retailers to identify the processed form of the spice, which is often used in baking and confectionery where the whole pod is not required.

Covers
  • Pure ground vanilla beans
  • Crushed vanilla bean pieces
  • Vanilla bean powder (no additives)
  • Dehydrated and ground vanilla fruit
  • Sieved vanilla spice particles
Also under 0905.20
  • Nielsen-Massey Vanilla Bean Paste
  • Rodelle Vanilla Powder
  • Simply Organic Vanilla Powder
  • King Arthur Baking Vanilla Bean Powder
  • LorAnn Oils Ground Vanilla Bean

Codes often confused with 0905.20

Common mistake. Vanilla powder is frequently misclassified under 210690 (food preparations not elsewhere specified) if it contains significant additives like sugar, cornstarch, or dextrose. If the product is 'vanilla sugar,' it should be classified under 1701 or 1702. Furthermore, synthetic vanillin powder is classified under 291241 and should never be declared under the spice heading 0905.

2106.90Food preparations; n.e.c. in item no. 2106.1017.01Cane or beet sugar and chemically pure sucrose, in solid form17.02Sugars, including lactose, maltose, glucose or fructose in solid form; sugar syrups without added flavouring or colouring matter; artificial honey, whether or not mixed with natural honey; caramel2912.41Aldehydes; aldehyde-ethers, aldehyde-phenols and aldehydes with other oxygen function, vanillin (4-hydroxy-3-methoxybenzaldehyde)09.05Vanilla

Top exporters and importers of HS 090520 (the code used for vanilla powder), 2025

In 2025, the largest exporter of HS 090520 (the code used for vanilla powder) in UN Comtrade data was Germany, with 21% of world exports; the largest importer in UN Comtrade data was Germany, with 22% 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 090520, not only vanilla powder.

Top exporters 2025 · share of world exports

  1. 1 Germany $11M
  2. 2 France $9.1M
  3. 3 Madagascar $4.7M

World total: $52M Reported figures on UN Comtrade ↗

Top importers 2025 · share of world imports

  1. 1 Germany $12M
  2. 2 France $6.0M
  3. 3 Switzerland $3.2M

World total: $56M 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 that did not report are estimated from what other countries recorded trading with them. 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 vanilla powder

Brazil classifies vanilla powder under NCM 0905.20.00: HS 0905.20 with 00 added.

Source: Siscomex NCM table, updated Oct 2026. The Portuguese text on each NCM page is the official one.

Questions about vanilla powder

What is the HS code for Vanilla powder?

The HS code for Vanilla powder is 090520 (Spices; vanilla, crushed or ground). The HS code for pure crushed or ground vanilla is 090520.

How do I classify Vanilla powder for customs?

Vanilla powder is classified under HS code 090520 — Spices; vanilla, crushed or ground. This is a 6-digit subheading level code.

Is vanilla sugar classified under this code?

No, vanilla sugar is typically classified under Chapter 17 as a sugar preparation, not as a pure spice under 090520.

Which countries are the top exporters of vanilla powder (HS 090520)?

In 2025, the top exporters of HS 090520 (the code used for vanilla powder) in UN Comtrade data were Germany ($11M, 21% of world exports), France ($9.1M) and Madagascar ($4.7M). World exports came to about $52M, 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 vanilla powder (HS 090520)?

In 2025, the top importers of HS 090520 (the code used for vanilla powder) in UN Comtrade data were Germany ($12M, 22% of world imports), France ($6.0M) and Switzerland ($3.2M). World imports came to about $56M, 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 Vanilla powder the same in all countries?

The base HS code 090520 for Vanilla powder 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 vanilla powder in Brazil?

In Brazil, vanilla powder (HS 090520) is classified under NCM 0905.20.00.