HS 1005.90Grains

HS Code for US No.2 Yellow Corn (HS 1005.90)

US No.2 Yellow Corn is the global benchmark maize - fed grade, GMO permitted. CBOT corn futures (5,000 bushels ~= 127 MT) settle physical to Chicago. Actual trade prices as FOB Gulf/PNW basis + CBOT. Mexico, Japan, South Korea, Egypt are top importers.

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

Sample 6-digit codes

Code	Description
1005.10	Corn seed
1005.90	Corn (maize), other than seed

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Typical import duty by market

Market	Duty
Mexico	0% USMCA duty-free.
Japan	0% TRQ managed.
South Korea	3% Concessional for feed.
European Union	0-95 EUR/MT Sliding scale, effectively 0% at current prices.
China	1% TRQ 7.2m MT/yr.

Worked landed-cost example

60,000 MT US No.2 Yellow Corn, FOB NOLA USD 180/MT, CFR Ulsan Korea

FOBUSD 10,800,000

Freight Panama-PanamaxUSD 2,000,000

CFRUSD 12,800,000

Korea duty 3%USD 384,000

Landed ≈ USD 13.18m; ~USD 220/MT CFR into Korean feed compounder.

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

Regulatory checkpoints

· US Grain Inspection Service grading rules - No.1 to Sample Grade.
· GMO segregation - EU Reg 1829/2003, importer must have authorised events.
· GAFTA 30 CFR contract.
· Aflatoxin (max 20 ppb in US animal feed; EU 10-20 ppb).

Top exporting countries

· United States
· Brazil (September-February window)
· Argentina
· Ukraine
· Russia

Frequently asked questions

Gulf vs PNW basis?

US Gulf (NOLA - New Orleans) is the biggest export hub - Mississippi River draws from Midwest silos. Pacific Northwest (Kalama, Portland) is preferred for Asian buyers, saving Panama Canal transit but higher rail freight to origin. Basis spreads (Gulf vs PNW) fluctuate USD 5-20/MT.