Product classification
HS code for White chocolate: 1704.90
Sugar confectionery, (excluding chewing gum, including white chocolate), not containing cocoa.
Classification of white chocolate under HS 1704.90
White chocolate is classified under HS code 1704.90 because it does not contain cocoa solids, which is the defining characteristic for products in Chapter 18. While white chocolate contains cocoa butter, the Harmonized System distinguishes between sugar confectionery and cocoa preparations based on the presence of non-fat cocoa constituents. According to Chapter 18 Note 2, heading 1806 includes sugar confectionery containing cocoa, but white chocolate is explicitly excluded from this chapter by the Explanatory Notes. Instead, it is placed under heading 1704, which covers sugar confectionery not containing cocoa. The classification is based on the ingredients: sugar, cocoa butter, milk powder, and flavorings. Since cocoa butter is a fat and not a cocoa solid, the product is treated as a sugar-based sweet. This distinction is critical for customs purposes, as products in Chapter 17 and Chapter 18 often face significantly different tariff rates and import regulations depending on the country of entry.
- Covers
- White chocolate bars
- White chocolate chips for baking
- White chocolate couverture (without cocoa solids)
- White chocolate hollow figures
- White chocolate decorative shapes
- Also under 1704.90
- Haribo Goldbears
- Chupa Chups
- Werther's Original
- Cadbury White Chocolate
- Jelly Belly
Codes often confused with 1704.90
Common mistake. The most common misclassification for white chocolate is HS code 1806.31 or 1806.32, which applies to chocolate containing cocoa solids. Importers often assume that because the product is called "chocolate" and contains cocoa butter, it belongs in Chapter 18. Another misclassification occurs with HS code 1905.31, where white chocolate-coated biscuits are sometimes incorrectly declared as white chocolate rather than as a baker's product. It is vital to confirm the absence of cocoa powder or cocoa paste to justify the use of 1704.90.
Top exporters and importers of HS 170490 (the code used for white chocolate), 2025
In 2025, the largest exporter of HS 170490 (the code used for white chocolate) in UN Comtrade data was Germany, with 12% of world exports; the largest importer in UN Comtrade data was the United States, with 18% of world imports. Mexico reports $241M of its chapter 17 exports without product detail (confidential), so it may also belong among the top exporters.
Figures cover everything classified under HS 170490, not only white chocolate.
Top exporters 2025 · share of world exports
- 1 Germany $2.1B 12% of world exports
- 2 China $1.8B 10% of world exports
- 3 Belgium $1.2B 6.9% of world exports
Mexico reports $241M of its chapter 17 exports without product detail (confidential), so it may also belong among the top exporters.
World total: $17.8B Reported figures on UN Comtrade ↗
Top importers 2025 · share of world imports
- 1 United States $3.2B 18% of world imports
- 2 United Kingdom $1.2B 6.9% of world imports
- 3 Germany $1.2B 6.8% of world imports
World total: $17.8B 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 codes for white chocolate
Brazil splits HS 1704.90 into 3 NCM codes. Pick the one that matches your product:
- 1704.90.10White chocolate
- 1704.90.20Caramels, comfits, drops and pastilles
- 1704.90.90Other sugar confectionery without cocoa
Source: Siscomex NCM table, updated Oct 2026. The Portuguese text on each NCM page is the official one.
Questions about white chocolate
What is the HS code for White chocolate?
The HS code for White chocolate is 170490 (Sugar confectionery; (excluding chewing gum, including white chocolate), not containing cocoa). White chocolate is classified under HS code 1704.90, which covers sugar confectionery not containing cocoa.
How do I classify White chocolate for customs?
White chocolate is classified under HS code 170490 — Sugar confectionery; (excluding chewing gum, including white chocolate), not containing cocoa. This is a 6-digit subheading level code.
Why is white chocolate not in the cocoa chapter?
Under the Harmonized System, Chapter 18 is reserved for products containing cocoa solids. Since white chocolate only contains cocoa butter (the fat) and no cocoa powder or paste, it is classified as sugar confectionery.
Which countries are the top exporters of white chocolate (HS 170490)?
In 2025, the top exporters of HS 170490 (the code used for white chocolate) in UN Comtrade data were Germany ($2.1B, 12% of world exports), China ($1.8B) and Belgium ($1.2B). World exports came to about $17.8B, adding countries' reported figures and partner-based estimates for those that did not report (UN Comtrade data). Mexico reports $241M of its chapter 17 exports without product detail (confidential), so it may also belong among the top exporters.
Which countries are the top importers of white chocolate (HS 170490)?
In 2025, the top importers of HS 170490 (the code used for white chocolate) in UN Comtrade data were the United States ($3.2B, 18% of world imports), the United Kingdom ($1.2B) and Germany ($1.2B). World imports came to about $17.8B, 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 White chocolate the same in all countries?
The base HS code 170490 for White chocolate 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 white chocolate in Brazil?
Brazil splits HS 170490 into 3 NCM codes, so the right one for white chocolate depends on the product's details: 1704.90.10 (White chocolate), 1704.90.20 (Caramels, comfits, drops and pastilles), 1704.90.90 (Other sugar confectionery without cocoa).