HS 1801Agricultural commodities

HS Code for Cocoa Beans (HS 1801)

Cocoa beans are HS 1801 - whole or broken, raw or roasted. Priced on ICE London (GBP/t) and ICE US (USD/t). The EUDR (Regulation 2023/1115) requires geolocation proof that beans placed on the EU market are not from land deforested after 31 December 2020 - live from 30 December 2025 for large operators (postponed from Dec 2024).

Reviewed against WCO HS · WTO IDB · National customs schedules3 authoritative sourcesLast reviewed July 2026

Sample 6-digit codes

Code	Description
1801.00	Cocoa beans, whole or broken, raw or roasted
1802.00	Cocoa shells, husks, skins and other cocoa waste
1803.10	Cocoa paste, not defatted
1804.00	Cocoa butter, fat and oil

Need to check a specific code? Use the free HS code lookup tool.

Typical import duty by market

Market	Duty
European Union	0% MFN 0% but EUDR due diligence from Dec 2025 (large ops) / Jun 2026 (SME).
United Kingdom	0% UK Environment Act deforestation rules in preparation.
United States	0%
India	30% Plus 5% GST; protective duty for domestic production.

Worked landed-cost example

1,000 MT Grade I cocoa beans, FOB Abidjan USD 8,500/MT, CIF Amsterdam

FOB valueUSD 8,500,000

Freight + insuranceUSD 130,000

CIF valueUSD 8,630,000

EU dutyUSD 0

EUDR compliance cost (geolocation, verification)USD 20-60/MT typical

Landed cost ≈ USD 8.65m plus EUDR compliance. Fungibility of Ivorian beans through the 2025 default remains the operational risk to price into forward contracts.

Run your own numbers in the import duty & tax calculator.

Regulatory checkpoints

· EUDR (2023/1115): geolocation polygons, deforestation-free proof, human rights due diligence.
· ISO 2451 - grading (Grade I / II) by bean count, defects, moisture.
· FCC Code (Federation of Cocoa Commerce) contracts governing quality arbitration.
· Ochratoxin A (OTA) limits: EU 8 μg/kg for beans, 3 μg/kg for cocoa powder.
· Cadmium limits per Regulation 2023/915 - critical for South American origins.

Top exporting countries

· Cote d'Ivoire
· Ghana
· Ecuador
· Nigeria
· Cameroon
· Indonesia

Frequently asked questions

What does EUDR require for cocoa?

For each consignment: (i) geolocation polygons of plots where beans were grown, (ii) evidence plots were not deforested after 31 Dec 2020, (iii) human-rights due diligence, (iv) a Due Diligence Statement lodged in the EU IT system before customs release.

How is cocoa priced?

ICE Futures Europe (London, GBP/t) - benchmark for West African origin. ICE US (New York, USD/t) - benchmark for Latin American origin. Physical trades are ICE +/- differential for origin, quality, and shipment period.

What is the cadmium risk?

Latin American beans, particularly Ecuadorian and Peruvian, can exceed EU cadmium limits (0.6-0.8 mg/kg for chocolate). Blending with African origin is common; certification (Rainforest Alliance, Fair Trade) does not exempt cadmium testing.