Product classification

HS code for Whole milk powder: 0402.21

Dairy produce, milk and cream, concentrated, not containing added sugar or other sweetening matter, in powder, granules or other solid forms, of a fat content exceeding 1.5% (by weight).

Classification of whole milk powder under HS 0402.21

Whole milk powder is classified under HS code 0402.21. This classification falls within Chapter 4, which covers dairy produce. Heading 0402 is dedicated to milk and cream that has been concentrated or contains added sugar or other sweetening matter. To be classified under subheading 0402.21, the product must meet two specific criteria: it must be in a solid form (such as powder or granules) with a milk fat content exceeding 1.5% by weight, and it must not contain any added sugar or other sweetening matter. Whole milk powder typically contains between 26% and 40% milk fat, placing it firmly within this category. The absence of sweeteners is a defining characteristic of this specific code; if sugar were added, the product would move to subheading 0402.29. This classification is used by customs authorities to manage dairy quotas and apply specific agricultural duties. Importers must provide a laboratory analysis or a technical specification sheet to confirm the fat content and the purity of the milk powder to ensure compliance with this HS code.

Covers
  • Full cream milk powder
  • Whole milk granules
  • Dehydrated whole milk (fat > 1.5%)
  • Dry whole milk solids without sweeteners
Also under 0402.21
  • Fonterra Full Cream Milk Powder
  • Arla Foods Whole Milk Powder
  • FrieslandCampina Full Cream Milk Powder
  • Nestlé Nido Fortificada (unsweetened variant)
  • Saputo Dairy Australia Whole Milk Powder

Codes often confused with 0402.21

Common mistake. A common error is using HS code 0402.10, which is reserved for skimmed milk powder with a fat content of 1.5% or less. Another misclassification is 0402.29, which applies to whole milk powder that contains added sugar or other sweetening agents.

0402.10Dairy produce; milk and cream, concentrated or containing added sugar or other sweetening matter, in powder, granules or other solid forms, of a fat content not exceeding 1.5% (by weight)0402.29Dairy produce; milk and cream, containing added sugar or other sweetening matter, in powder, granules or other solid forms, of a fat content exceeding 1.5% (by weight)

Top exporters and importers of HS 040221 (the code used for whole milk powder), 2025

In 2025, the largest exporter of HS 040221 (the code used for whole milk powder) in UN Comtrade data was New Zealand, with 51% of world exports; the largest importer in UN Comtrade data was China, with 19% 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 040221, not only whole milk powder.

Top exporters 2025 · share of world exports

  1. 1 New Zealand $5.3B
  2. 2 Uruguay $671M
  3. 3 Netherlands $590M

World total: $10.4B Reported figures on UN Comtrade ↗

Top importers 2025 · share of world imports

  1. 1 China $2.0B
  2. 2 Algeria* ~$1.0B
  3. 3 Brazil $524M

World total: $10.6B 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 whole milk powder

Brazil splits HS 0402.21 into 3 NCM codes. Pick the one that matches your product:

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

Questions about whole milk powder

What is the HS code for Whole milk powder?

The HS code for Whole milk powder is 040221 (Dairy produce; milk and cream, concentrated, not containing added sugar or other sweetening matter, in powder, granules or other solid forms, of a fat content exceeding 1.5% (by weight)). The HS code for whole milk powder (unsweetened, fat > 1.5%) is 0402.21.

How do I classify Whole milk powder for customs?

Whole milk powder is classified under HS code 040221 — Dairy produce; milk and cream, concentrated, not containing added sugar or other sweetening matter, in powder, granules or other solid forms, of a fat content exceeding 1.5% (by weight). This is a 6-digit subheading level code.

What if the milk powder has added sugar?

If the milk powder contains added sugar or sweeteners, it must be classified under HS code 0402.29.

Which countries are the top exporters of whole milk powder (HS 040221)?

In 2025, the top exporters of HS 040221 (the code used for whole milk powder) in UN Comtrade data were New Zealand ($5.3B, 51% of world exports), Uruguay ($671M) and the Netherlands ($590M). World exports came to about $10.4B, 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 whole milk powder (HS 040221)?

In 2025, the top importers of HS 040221 (the code used for whole milk powder) in UN Comtrade data were China ($2.0B, 19% of world imports), Algeria (about $1.0B) and Brazil ($524M). World imports came to about $10.6B, 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 Whole milk powder the same in all countries?

The base HS code 040221 for Whole milk 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 whole milk powder in Brazil?

Brazil splits HS 040221 into 3 NCM codes, so the right one for whole milk powder depends on the product's details: 0402.21.10 (Unsweetened whole milk powder), 0402.21.20 (Unsweetened partly skimmed milk powder), 0402.21.30 (Unsweetened cream powder).