Product classification
HS code for Wine lees: 2307.00
Wine lees, argol.
Classification of wine lees under HS 2307.00
Wine lees and argol are classified under HS code 2307.00. This classification falls within Chapter 23, which covers residues and waste from the food industries, as well as prepared animal fodder. Heading 2307 is a specific heading that encompasses both wine lees and argol. Wine lees are the sediment that settles at the bottom of a container of wine after fermentation, consisting of dead yeast cells, grape fragments, and other insoluble materials. Argol, also known as crude tartar, is the crystalline crust that forms on the sides of wine vats. These products are classified here because they are by-products of the vinification process and are often used as raw materials for the extraction of tartaric acid or as components in animal feed. The classification is straightforward as the heading specifically names these substances, leaving little room for ambiguity provided the product is in its crude or residual state. Under the Harmonized System, products that are residues of the food industry are generally grouped in Chapter 23 unless they have been processed to the point of becoming a chemical of Chapter 28 or 29. Since wine lees and argol are typically traded in their raw, residual form, 2307.00 is the appropriate code. This classification applies regardless of the grape variety or the type of wine from which the lees were derived.
- Covers
- Crude wine lees
- Argol (crude tartar)
- Potassium bitartrate deposits from wine vats
- Sedimentary residues from fermentation
- Also under 2307.00
- Oenobrands Wine Lees
- Laffort Argol
- local wineries' by-products
- industrial tartrate suppliers
- Viniflora Wine Lees.
Codes often confused with 2307.00
Common mistake. Wine lees are sometimes confused with HS code 2204, which covers wine itself. If the lees contain a significant amount of liquid wine, they might be misdeclared. Additionally, they are confused with 2918.12 (Potassium tartrate) if the argol has been refined into a pure chemical substance rather than remaining in its crude state.
Top exporters and importers of HS 230700 (the code used for wine lees), 2025
In 2025, the largest exporter of HS 230700 (the code used for wine lees) in UN Comtrade data was the United States, with 22% of world exports; the largest importer in UN Comtrade data was Spain, with 55% 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 230700, not only wine lees.
Top exporters 2025 · share of world exports
- 1 United States $2.7M 22% of world exports
- 2 France $2.3M 19% of world exports
- 3 Italy $1.9M 15% of world exports
World total: $12M Reported figures on UN Comtrade ↗
Top importers 2025 · share of world imports
- 1 Spain $6.3M 55% of world imports
- 2 Japan $2.0M 18% of world imports
- 3 Italy $1.4M 12% of world imports
World total: $12M 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 wine lees
Brazil classifies wine lees under NCM 2307.00.00: HS 2307.00 with 00 added.
Source: Siscomex NCM table, updated Oct 2026. The Portuguese text on each NCM page is the official one.
Questions about wine lees
What is the HS code for Wine lees?
The HS code for Wine lees is 230700 (Wine lees; argol). The HS code for wine lees and argol is 2307.00.
How do I classify Wine lees for customs?
Wine lees is classified under HS code 230700 — Wine lees; argol. This is a 6-digit subheading level code.
Is cream of tartar classified under this code?
No, refined cream of tartar (potassium bitartrate) is classified as a chemical under HS code 2918.12.
Which countries are the top exporters of wine lees (HS 230700)?
In 2025, the top exporters of HS 230700 (the code used for wine lees) in UN Comtrade data were the United States ($2.7M, 22% of world exports), France ($2.3M) and Italy ($1.9M). World exports came to about $12M, 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 wine lees (HS 230700)?
In 2025, the top importers of HS 230700 (the code used for wine lees) in UN Comtrade data were Spain ($6.3M, 55% of world imports), Japan ($2.0M) and Italy ($1.4M). World imports came to about $12M, 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 Wine lees the same in all countries?
The base HS code 230700 for Wine lees 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 wine lees in Brazil?
In Brazil, wine lees (HS 230700) is classified under NCM 2307.00.00.